Will Institute A Real-Name System To Track Owners

In an effort to better regulate the operation of drones in China, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAC) is set to introduce a "real-name" registration system to better regulate UAV operations there.

The Beijing News reports that Feng Zhenglin, head of the CAAC, said that the government's priority is to "have UAVs registered with the owner's real name and to supervise operators."

Feng also told the paper that the country plans to institute geofencing around airports to prevent drones from operating near the airports.

The market research firm IDC found that over 80,000 UAVs were sold in China last year. A drone hobbyist was detained in January for flying near an airport and recording video of a landing aircraft, according to the report.

Li Sheng Rui, deputy to the National People's Congress, said that private UAVs fall outside the purview of the CAAC, and their operators are not properly regulated. Li has proposed the geo-fencing around airports, as well as other anti-drone measures around government buildings.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.caac.gov.cn/en/SY