Beijing Drone Owners Sell Aircraft Ahead of Citywide Ban

New rules will prohibit private drone possession and storage across the Chinese capital beginning November 15

Drone owners in Beijing are selling or moving their aircraft before a sweeping citywide ban takes effect.

The Japan Times reports that owners are unloading drones as the deadline approaches. The response reflects the broad reach of the new rules, which prohibit more than unauthorized flights.

Beginning November 15, individuals and businesses may not possess or store drones or key drone components within Beijing. Authorities may confiscate prohibited equipment and impose fines for violations.

Owners can sell their drones through designated channels, scrap them for recycling or move them outside Beijing. The city has also announced subsidies to help owners dispose of affected aircraft. Visitors may not bring drones into the city.

Beijing Expands Earlier Controls

The restrictions build upon rules that Beijing approved in March and implemented May 1. Those measures prohibited drone sales and required existing owners to register their aircraft under their real identities.

Owners could initially keep registered drones under strict conditions. The September revision extends the policy by prohibiting possession and storage throughout the city.

The Associated Press reports that properly registered drone operations remain possible elsewhere in China. Beijing often applies tighter security rules than other parts of the country.

Separate Airspace Restrictions Take Effect

China has also established a much larger restricted airspace area centered on Beijing. That measure took effect September 20 and applies broadly to aviation, not only to drones.

Reuters reported that the permanent “Special Restricted Area” forms a circle about 600 kilometers wide. It covers more than 280,000 square kilometers.

The area includes Beijing and Tianjin, much of Hebei and parts of several neighboring regions. It extends from the ground upward without a stated altitude limit.

Scheduled airline service, approved business flights and certain government or emergency operations may continue. Approved aircraft must follow their flight plans, maintain radio contact and support continuous electronic identification and tracking.

The two measures serve different purposes. The Special Restricted Area governs aircraft operations across a large region. The November rule prohibits private drone possession and storage within Beijing itself.

The reported rush to sell drones shows the immediate effect on local owners. More broadly, the revised policy moves Beijing beyond flight and registration controls to a citywide prohibition on keeping private drones.

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