This week, the Japanese government amended the Aviation Law to add regulations for drones. Although the content is brief—only a few hundred words—a new chapter, “Chapter 9 Unmanned Aircraft,” was specifically created, showing the importance placed on this emerging technology.

Here is a brief introduction to its contents.

The first part concerns flight airspace regulations; aside from the following conditions, you must apply to the relevant authorities:

1. Flight time is limited to after sunrise and before sunset.
2. The drone and its surrounding conditions must be constantly monitored via Visual Line of Sight (VLOS).
3. A certain distance from people and buildings must be maintained.
4. Entry into venues where crowds gather, such as holidays, public events, or exhibitions, is prohibited.
5. Carrying flammable or explosive items, or other objects that could easily harm people or ground structures, is prohibited.
6. Dropping objects that could easily harm people or ground structures is prohibited.

Additionally, anyone who violates the above regulations will be subject to a fine of up to 500,000 yen.

The Aviation Law serves as a basic law regarding aviation. For example, there is no specific distance defined in point #3 above, so it is expected that more detailed rules will be formulated in the future.

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Reference for drone regulations in mainland China http://www.guokr.com/blog/744056/ http://proarticle.ccaonline.cn/20150115/3298.html