China to treat drones as aircraft under new laws to improve safety

China is set to implement new aviation regulations from July 1, 2026, that will formally classify drones as aircraft under its Civil Aviation Law, marking a significant shift from their previous ambiguous legal status. These rules will introduce stringent requirements including certification for all industry participants—designers, manufacturers, importers, maintenance firms, and operators—and mandate unique ID codes linked to real-name registrations for each drone. This framework aims to enhance traceability, accountability, and safety, particularly addressing issues like unsafe drone operations near airports, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment. The regulatory overhaul reflects China’s intent to standardize and safely scale its rapidly growing drone industry, which was valued at around 500 billion yuan in 2023 and is projected to surpass 2 trillion yuan (approximately $280 billion) by 2030. Rather than restricting drone development, the laws signal strong state support for drones as a key economic sector, including emerging applications such as parcel delivery, urban logistics, passenger drones, and air