With the increasing popularity of drones in China, the country is now considering whether to draft a military administrative law on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), an air traffic management official revealed on Sept. 19.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 6th China International UAS Conference, Liu Hao, deputy director of the National Research Center of Air Traffic Management Law and Standards, said that the National Air Traffic Committee Office is leading efforts to draft a regulation, which would act as the basis for more legislation.

“The law’s implementation is reliant on a coordinated cooperation between military and local authorities to guarantee safety. It will also be based on experience and data collected through pilot projects and strengthened education for drone pilots,” Liu said.

Mike Lissone, secretary general of Joint Authorities for Rulemaking on Unmanned Systems (JARUS), told the conference that China, being an important member of the organization, has offered valuable experience in UAS management. Drones operate under multiple regulations in China, including regulations on pilots and commercial use.

“While achievements have been made, challenges remain, including uncertainty regarding China’s transportation administration and how China will lay out a development plan for UAS applications and boost industry development. There are also questions like how to supervise drones to guarantee safety. This will be decided not only by businesses within the industry, but also by those at the top level,” said Director Li Bo of the Aircraft Airworthiness Inspection Office under the Civil Aviation Administration of China, at the UAS conference.

（Photo/ Courtesy of International UAS China 2016）

The 6th UAS conference is currently being held in Beijing. This year brings a doubled exhibition space for the conference, with more than 300 representatives from 100 institutes and companies in attendance. Guests include 18 senior officials and UAS experts from China and abroad. 

The 6th China International UAS Conference & Exhibition (UAS 2016) opens in Beijing on Sept. 20. The exhibition will last till Sept. 23.