Are Drones Set to Break into the Market? First, Get a Solid Grasp of the Current Regulations and Standards for the Low-Altitude Economy!

ARNOOL

Suzhou Arnool testing and certification

Since our company began offering certification services for the low-altitude economy (drones), our clients have shown the greatest interest in product market access standards, laws and regulations, and regionally varying regulatory policies. Below, we have systematically organized the current regulations, standards, and policies governing the low-altitude economy (categorized by legal hierarchy and regulatory domain):

National Legal System

1. *Civil Aviation Law of the People's Republic of China*

· Article 107 : Specifies that civil aircraft must obtain an airworthiness certificate before being put into service

· Chapter 10: Establishing a Basic Framework for Aircraft Airworthiness Management

2. “Interim Regulations on the Management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operations”

· Article 8 : Classification by weight (micro/light/small/medium/large)

· Article 15 : Aircraft weighing 150 kg or more mustObtained the Type Certificate (TC)

· Article 32 : Establish a system for electronic airworthiness approval labels (including a unique traceability QR code)

Civil Aviation Regulatory System (Mandatory Enforcement)

Technical Standards System (Practical Guidelines)

1. National Standard (GB)

· “Safety Requirements for Civil Unmanned Aircraft Systems”

GB 42500-2023

· “Technical Requirements for the Safety of Lithium-Ion Batteries Used in Civilian Drones”

GB/T 39265-2023
▶ The battery pack did not catch fire during the needle-puncture test, and its cycle life is ≥500 cycles

2. Industry Standards (CTSO)

· CTSO-C206 Flight Control System: Requires a dual-redundant architecture with a failure rate of <1×10⁻⁹ per hour

· CTSO-C207 Battery System: No Fire or Explosion Even When Overcharged to 1.5 Times the Full Charge Capacity

Local Special Regulations (Regional Policies)

Core Regulatory Requirements (Legal Red Lines)

1. Airworthiness Labeling System

· Equipment weighing ≥25 kg must be installed Airworthiness Electronic Tag (Includes verification QR code)

· Area where the label is damaged or forged A fine of 100,000 to 500,000 yuan (Article 67 of the Regulations)

2. Traceability Management Requirements

· Full product lifecycle traceability (retention period ≥ design life + 1 year)

· Replacement of critical components must be reported to the Certification Department of the Civil Aviation Administration

3. Cross-Border Operating Rules

· Overseas equipment must be approved by CAAC VTC (Type Certificate)

· Must also meet the following requirements "Implementing Rules for the Airworthiness Certification of Foreign Aircraft" (AC-21-AA-2021-07)

Cases of Penalties and Warnings (Past 2 Years)

· Case 1: A logistics company used an unlicensed cargo drone
▶ Basis for the penalty: Article 65 of the Regulations
▶ Result: Confiscation of equipment + a fine of eight times the value of the goods (1.67 million yuan)

· Case 2: A manufacturer forged a CTSO-C207 battery test report
▶ Basis for the penalty: Article 216 of the Civil Aviation Law
▶ Result: Revocation of all certifications + criminal prosecution

Appendix

Latest List of Mandatory Documents

1. “Airworthiness Standards for Special-Purpose Unmanned Aircraft” (AC-92-AA-2024-01) (Effective July 2024)

2. “Guidelines for the Approval of Urban Air Mobility (UAM) Operations” (AC-136-TM-2024-002)

3. “Regulations on the Radio Management of Civil Unmanned Aircraft” (MIIT Radio [2023] No. 243)

4. Important Note: The "Measures for the Administration of Low-Altitude Flight Data Security," which will take effect in 2025, require all equipment to be equipped with a "black box" to record operational data.

Recommendations for Corporate Compliance Pathways:
1. Effective immediately:All aircraft have completed real-name registration on the Civil Unmanned Aircraft Comprehensive Management Platform (UOM)
2. 6-Month Plan:Airworthiness Approval Process for Equipment Weighing 25 kg or More (Approximate Duration: 9–18 Months)
3. Strategic Planning:Medium- and large-sized manufacturers should establish a self-audit and self-inspection system (in accordance with the DOA requirements of CCAR Part 21).

Suzhou Arnool

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Suzhou Arnool holds certifications such as CMA and CNAS, providing testing and certification services across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. These services span multiple sectors, including new energy EV charger and automotive electronics, and cover 97 standards. With state-of-the-art equipment and a professional team, we offer one-stop customized services to help companies meet domestic and international market demands.

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