China's Civil Aviation Regulator Creates Drone Industry Roadmap For Business And Transportation

China is more serious about developing civilian drones for transportation. (photo: twitter @droneraceleague)

JAKARTA - China's civil aviation regulator on Monday, August 22 proposed a roadmap for the development of its civil drone industry. They say they want to increase their use in inner-city logistics and eventually for the transportation of goods over long distances.

The plan, proposed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, details various targets that regulators want the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry to achieve by 2025, 2030, and 2035. The program includes improving regulations and expanding airspace capacity for civilian UAVs.

Several companies in China have for years explored using drones or robots like boxes on wheels to deliver packages, but widespread adoption has been slow amid regulatory hurdles and heavy reliance on human couriers.

The program's aim is to "enhance China's international competitiveness in the field of unmanned aviation as well as the country's right to talk about international civil aviation rules and standards. "Our goal is to become a global civil aviation power," said a source at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). ) as quoted by Reuters.

CAAC said its plans were open for public comment until September 5. If this plan is implemented, China will be the first country to regulate drone flights for business and commercial purposes.