Recently, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) released regulations that require real-name registration for employing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The regulations stipulate that owners of UAVs which weigh more than 250 grams will have to register their personal information and information about their vehicles on an online system from June 1. UAV manufacturers are also required to register their products.

In recent years, disruptions to flights caused by UAVs have become frequent. On May 12, for instance, the Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport suffered four hours of disturbances due to UAVs, leading to diversion, delay or cancellation of more than 200 flights. Thousands of passengers were affected.

Although no serious accidents have occurred so far, there are always potential risks. Voices calling for UAVs to be reined in are growing louder and louder. The real-name registration system is widely seen as an important step forward. In the future, operators who do not follow existing regulations, particularly those whose behavior poses a threat to aviation safety, can be easily traced and punished. It is hoped that the new CAAC regulations can standardize UAV operations in the country.

However, some people argue that there is little room to fly UAVs in many cities. In addition, the process for applying for UAV flying permission is extremely complicated and time-consuming. While underlining the need to take effective measures to keep them from disturbing normal aviation flights, the right to fly UAVs should be respected.

Management matters

Wei Wenhu (www.zgswcn.com): More and more problems with UAVs are cropping up. Apart from low legal awareness, poor management is another major reason. There are almost no effective regulatory systems, and the threshold for UAV use is low.

The new regulations are expected to make a difference. More importantly, there must be a long-term management system to regulate UAVs. The paramount issue is to improve relevant laws. For instance, while people are free to buy UAVs, legal flying is often impossible since it is difficult to get approval through normal channels. As a result, more and more UAVs are flown illegally.

There must be unified national standards on a set of indexes related to the vehicles, such as the height and distance UAVs are allowed to reach. There must be some restrictions. It's unacceptable for them to fly as high and as far as they wish.

Besides, the threshold for buyers must be enhanced. Not all people are allowed to buy UAVs. Buyers' qualifications must be processed. Buyers must register with real names, so that in case of accidents, owners of these objects can soon be located.

On the basis of strict application and approval procedures, there should be standard rules that decide whether one should be allowed to use UAVs. Saying no to all is not a wise practice, as this will lead to more and more illegal flying, which has already caused considerable disturbance.

As for sensitive venues like airports, rigid measures are necessary. If any UAV enters forbidden zones without approval, interception or forced landing is absolutely necessary.

Lu Zhonglin (Nanfang Daily): When planes fly at a high speed, a collision with a tiny bird is likely to cause serious accident. Some experts point out that the resultant power from a 1.8-kg bird is tantamount to that from a cannonball, or even greater. Generally, a UAV weighs between 1.5 and 150 kg. One can imagine what a big threat these objects can pose to planes. The lack of monitoring at airfields adds to the possibility of accidents.

Some have proposed to ban UAVs above airfields. However, this idea will not fundamentally help to solve the problem. UAVs are being widely used in various areas and increasingly affecting people's daily life. Lawmakers have to face up to problems concerning UAVs such as how to better protect people's privacy and effectively coordinate UAVs with other flying vehicles, like planes. If airport staff know clearly about every flight route, it's not that difficult to avert disturbances from UAVs. The key is not to forbid UAVs at airfields, but to have scientific management that can ensure harmonious coexistence between planes and UAVs.

Only part of the solution

Bi Xiaozhe (Nanfang Metropolis Daily): In recent years there has been an increase in UAV-related security problems. It's already a fact that they disturb and endanger flights, especially in airports. In this sense, the real-name registration system for UAVs will help to curb illegal UAV flying.

However, the system is only part of the important action to regulate UAVs. We can't turn a blind eye to the fact that UAV lovers intrude into forbidden zones because they can't find a proper space open to them. Crowded buildings in cities make it impossible for these people to fly UAVs in downtown areas. They have no place to turn to except for airfields or city peripheries. Some may say these people can go to the rural areas if they love UAVs. However, it takes time and money to go to the countryside.

Various reasons have contributed to the illegal flying of UAVs in and around airfields. Therefore, when the real-name registration system is implemented, the authorities should also pay heed to people's demand for space where their UAVs can fly legally. Different cities can adopt different measures to meet these legitimate requirements.

Besides, it's also necessary for the authorities to organize training programs for UAV operators so as to further standardize flying and prevent risks. Without a doubt, the booming UAV business needs support. The government should thus provide supportive services. In this way, possible resistance against real-name registration may lessen. The whole UAV industry should follow strict standards and rules, so that the real-name registration practice can work more effectively.

Wei Yingjie (Qianjiang Evening News): The real-name registration system will help a lot to standardize UAV flying. If UAVs continue to fly wherever they want to, they are as dangerous as time bombs. Flight delays or even cancellations in cities like Chongqing and Chengdu have already proved this.

Without stringent rules, the air space in airfields will always be under threat from invading UAVs. Visible and invisible risks from UAVs have triggered public anger toward them, and this will undermine this industry's healthy development. The lack of monitoring and regulations is not helpful but harmful to the UAV industry. Also, to practice real-name registration and strengthen controls is a global trend. For example, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration produced similar rules in 2015 to regulate UAVs. Rule-breaking vehicles are traced through the registration system.

Of course, as for the management of UAVs, real-name registration alone will not help to solve all problems. Although the system will help to standardize the operations of UAVs to a large extent, still, there will be some "fish escaping from the net." Besides, generally speaking, operators who have registered tend to acquit themselves well, while the "escaped fish" will be hard to deal with.

Airports in different places have adopted different measures to tackle UAV-related problems. The Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport forbids any UAV, either registered ones or illegal ones, within a 15-km radius. Despite various measures, on the whole, China's UAV industry is thriving in an uncontrolled way, without effective technical or management measures to guide its growth. This makes it urgent to implement policies like the one on real-name registration.

Copyedited by Dominic James Madar

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