It's convenient to affix drone registration numbers with stickers! What are the rules for unmanned aircraft?

What are "drones, etc." and "unmanned aircraft" under the Civil Aeronautics Act?

"Drones, etc." under the Civil Aeronautics Act refer to the following:

• Airplanes, rotorcraft, gliders, and airships that cannot carry people and can be flown by remote control or automatic piloting.

And "unmanned aircraft" refer to the following:

• Airplanes, rotorcraft, gliders, and airships that cannot structurally carry people and can be flown by remote control or automatic piloting (excluding those weighing less than 100g (total weight of the aircraft body and battery)).

Cases requiring flight permission from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

The airspace above which unmanned aircraft require flight permission from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is as follows:

• Around airports (to avoid obstructing aircraft operations)
• Above 150m (because this is generally an area for aircraft to fly)
• Densely populated areas
• Emergency mission airspace

It can be said that places where it is difficult to fly aircraft safely or where there is a high risk of harming people on the ground if they fall are places where flight permission is required. In airspace other than the above, flight permission is generally not required. If you are considering flying a drone, it is important to check in advance whether flight permission is required.

Emergency mission airspace was added by the revision of the Civil Aeronautics Act in June 2021. This refers to airspace designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism during large-scale natural disasters, and areas where aircraft fly for search and rescue operations in cases such as forest fires and landslides.

Other cases requiring prior notification or permission

In the following airspace, prior notification to facility managers and the prefectural public safety commission, etc., is required:

• Important national facilities (National Diet Building, Prime Minister's Official Residence, Imperial Palace, etc.)
• Around foreign diplomatic missions
• Around defense-related facilities
• Around nuclear power plants

Rules for flying unmanned aircraft

Regardless of where you fly, the following rules must be strictly observed:

• Do not fly when under the influence of alcohol.
• Flight acts that bother others or are dangerous are prohibited.
• Do not fly at night.
• Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flights are prohibited.
• A distance of at least 30m must be maintained from people, buildings, and automobiles.
• Do not fly at event venues.
• Do not use for transporting dangerous goods such as poisons, flammable liquids, or explosives.
• Do not drop objects.

In addition to the above, sufficient pre-flight checks and collision prevention measures must always be taken. If you need to fly in a way that does not comply with the above rules, you must obtain prior permission from the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.