You Can No Longer Fly Or Purchase a Drone In Beijing (petapixel.com)
- Reference: 0183951316
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/26/06/18/0040249/you-can-no-longer-fly-or-purchase-a-drone-in-beijing
- Source link: https://petapixel.com/2026/06/16/you-can-no-longer-fly-or-purchase-a-drone-in-beijing/
> China dominates the consumer drone market, so it is perhaps surprising that it is [2]no longer possible to fly or even purchase a drone in Beijing . The new law that passed last month makes it illegal to buy, rent, or fly a drone without prior approval from the authorities. Users must also complete an online training session and pass a test on drone regulations. Under the new rules, drone users are also not allowed to repair or replace their drones in Beijing. Not only that, but a drone in a repair shop must be picked up in-person, rather than sent back by delivery.
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> [3]The BBC reports that drones must now be registered before being brought into and out of the Chinese capital. "I have to apply for permission for each flight, which is very inconvenient," drone enthusiast Steven Wang [4]tells CNN . "And starting this year, the wait time is getting longer, and the reasons for rejection are becoming more vague." Despite China being the birthplace of the consumer drone industry, it is increasingly difficult for hobbyists to fly there. Beijing authorities say that the [5]rules are made to "strengthen the management of unmanned aerial vehicles" and "safeguard the security of the capital."
[1] https://slashdot.org/~schwit1
[2] https://petapixel.com/2026/06/16/you-can-no-longer-fly-or-purchase-a-drone-in-beijing/
[3] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gv4dvngygo
[4] https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/01/china/china-drones-beijing-ban
[5] https://www.beijing.gov.cn/zhengce/dfxfg/202604/t20260418_4591842.html
Dictators (Score:3)
Dictators are always afraid of their population.
And for good reasons.
Re: (Score:2)
Care to read the restrictions for flying drones in DC?
Clickbait (Score:3)
Drones now require training and a permit. Sounds accurate for a densely populated city. Next talk about motor vehicles.
Re: (Score:2)
> Next talk about motor vehicles.
Sure. Let's require a permit every time someone will drive. That'll make streets a lot safer and will protect our children.
Re: (Score:2)
Don't give them ideas.
Re: (Score:1)
Yeah, your point is perfectly reasonable. Who wants to walk in a city park with drone-freaks flying toyz up your *zzwhole.
Learned from the Russia-Ukraine war of aggression (Score:2)
You can refit every drone to make it a weapon, and there's nothing what CCP fears more - besides old age.
Why is that news? (Score:1)
It is the law in most countries that you can not operate a drone without proving you have the skills: aka having a license. /FACEPLAM
Some sensible regulations, some not (Score:2)
Requiring a drone license is reasonable; it's required here in Canada for any drone over 250 grams. You have to learn the regulations and pass a test to get your license.
But I don't see how forbidding buying or repairing drones in a specific city makes sense.
mmm fair enough I guess ... (Score:2)
I'm not keen on flying cameras in my personal airspace either. Guess they'll be more room for the state's eyes in the sky. Doh!