Shenzhen officially launched China’s first trial program for traffic management of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Monday, establishing an aerial zone for testing micro-sized and light UAVs and streamlining the application process for some flight plans.
The program contains a new online platform for UAV management, which could offer services such as quick approval of flight applications, real-time flight paths, quick verification of identities and information broadcasting.
“Linking the management systems of the air force, the civil aviation administration and the municipal government, the platform represents innovative cooperation between the military and civilian sectors,” said Ge Xiaoming, director of the pilot program’s office.
UAV users can register on the platform via the website www.utmiss.com.
Based on grid-enabled management technology, the program designates aerial space for micro-sized and light UAVs. According to the latest rules, application and approval procedures for some flight plans will be streamlined.
For instance, light drones no longer need to ask permission to fly in nonforbidden aerial space, while some light UAVs can get real-time feedback upon applying to fly in restricted aerial space.
Applications from national drones that are carrying out missions, such as war, anti-terrorism or rescue operations, can be streamlined as well. Meanwhile, the approval time for emergency flight missions has been shortened from one hour to 30 minutes before the flight.
Small, medium and large drones are subject to stricter rules due to safety considerations. For instance, these UAVs must apply to the management authority five days before their flights and submit flight plans before 3 p.m. the day before the operation. The authority will provide feedback before 9 p.m. the same day.
China is one of the largest manufacturers of drones globally with 70 percent of its output being sold abroad, according to the Ministry of Industry and IT. It produced nearly 500,000 drones in 2017.
Shenzhen is dubbed “the heart of the drone economy” as DJI, the global leader in manufacturing drones, is based here. The company is by far the largest, responsible for more than 70 percent of the world’s drone market, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Shenzhen Vice Mayor Wu Yihuan attended the launch ceremony. She addressed the rapid development of the UAV industry in recent years, but noted that many safety hazards and management loopholes have emerged at the same time.
The trial program could enhance Shenzhen’s management of the UAV industry, and the city is aiming to become a model for UAV management, said the vice mayor.