When using a drone in Japan, you must comply with various laws such as the Aviation Law. So, in this article, I will introduce all the information related to drones in order to solve the simple gimon "What is the law related to drones? How many rules are there?"
Table of contents
I understand quickly!List of main laws to check when using a drone
Before going into the details of each law, please see the list of major laws that you should check when using a drone to get a complete picture.
* In addition to the above, the River Law, Port Regulations Law, Port Law, and Natural Parks Law may be involved when using a drone, but the part that clearly defines "drone" and "unmanned aerial vehicle" in the law is Therefore, as a general rule, each time you fly, you will need to consult and confirm with the administrator in advance and make adjustments.
* When using a drone, it is required to follow "manners" in addition to the law. Be careful not to neglect other than drone users.
Now let's check the details of each law.
Summary of laws related to drones
Law on drones Aviation law
The "Revised Aviation Law Overview Poster" released by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which has jurisdiction over the Aviation Law, is easy to understand with illustrations and is recommended for a quick understanding of the aviation law related to drones, so please have a look there first.
You can see at a glance!Drone and aviation law seen in the illustration
Image Source: Amendment Aviation Law Overview Poster | Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and TourismRules of Aviation Law Concerning Drones
The contents of the above illustration are itemized as follows.
No-fly zone
In principle, drone flight is prohibited in the following three patterns, and if you want to fly, you need to obtain permission through the procedure with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
You can check whether or not it corresponds to the above "airport area" and "concentrated area of houses (commonly known as DID)" on the map provided by the Geographical Survey Institute (commonly known as GSI Maps). The image when checking the GSI Maps is as follows, and the red area is the restricted area.
You can access the GSI Maps from the link below.
GSI Maps (airspace around densely populated areas, airports, etc.)
How to fly
The following rules must be observed when flying a drone.
In cases other than the above, for example, "flying at night" or "flying outside the visual range", it is necessary to obtain approval through the procedure with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
Please see this article for the application destination and this article for the application method.
What if I violate the Aviation Law?
The Aviation Law stipulates "crimes related to the flight of unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.", and if this is the case, a fine of up to 500,000 yen will be imposed.
In the past, there have been cases where people who actually violated the Aviation Law were arrested, and it has become clear that malicious acts that violate drone regulations will be severely punished.
Suspicion of flying a drone without permission The first arrested person in Fukuoka
Aircraft that are not subject to the Aviation Law
The Aviation Law states that drones weighing less than 200 grams are not subject to regulation.
It should be noted that the "total weight of the main body and battery" is less than 200 grams, and if "the main body alone weighs 199 grams and the battery is attached, it exceeds 200 grams", it is subject to regulation. Be careful as it will become.
Law related to drones Flight prohibition law for small unmanned aerial vehicles, etc.
The "Flight Prohibition Law for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, etc." stipulates that the area around the Diet Building, the Prime Minister's Office, foreign public halls, and nuclear power plants is a no-fly zone. In addition, for example, at the time of "a specific event such as the arrival date and time of the President of the United States", the area around the president's accommodation may be designated as a flight prohibited area.
Laws related to drones Road Traffic Law
According to Article 77 of the Road Traffic Act (Road Traffic Act), a "road use permit application (application fee 2,100 yen)" is submitted to the police station in charge of " a person who intends to construct or work on the
road". It stipulates that a permit must be obtained in advance. If you want to take off and land the drone on the road or on the shoulder, you need to apply because this case applies. A similar permit is also required when flying low altitudes that affect vehicles traveling on the road.
Law related to drones Civil law
The Civil Code stipulates that the ownership of land extends above and below the land within the limits of the law as the "scope of land ownership". Therefore, it is advisable to obtain the permission of the owner or administrator when flying a drone over someone's private land. In addition, the height of ownership is not specified in the Civil Code.
Also, even if you are sued for flying a drone, it is a delicate matter whether you are said to have "infringed the rights of the right holder". However, from the viewpoint of etiquette, there is no doubt that the permission of the land right holder should be obtained, so when flying over the land of a third party, contact in advance and obtain permission. Is recommended.
In addition, since private land includes train stations, railroad tracks, shrines and temples, sightseeing spots, forests, etc., you cannot fly a drone at these places without the permission of the owner.
Law Concerning Drones Radio Law
Since radio waves are used to operate the drone, it is obligatory to obtain a "certificate of conformity with technical standards for specific radio equipment (commonly known as technical suitability)" in order to prevent crosstalk with other devices. There is no problem with drones sold by authorized distributors of major manufacturers such as DJI and Parrot because they have already passed the technical suitability, but if you say "I bought a drone overseas and brought it back", the aircraft has not passed the technical suitability. Be careful as it is likely to be.
For aircraft that have not acquired technical suitability, follow the rules of not flying and not emitting radio waves, and use it as a display (for ornamental use).
For an overview of technical suitability, see the quote from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications website below.
Ordinance on drones
The laws introduced so far apply everywhere in Japan, but apart from that, the use of drones may be prohibited or restricted by prefectural ordinances and municipal ordinances.
Examples of ordinances prohibiting the use of drones
Don't use drones in metropolitan parks Notify 81 locations in Tokyo | Nikkei Newspaper
About the notice of drone prohibition in the prefectural city park | Chiba Prefectural Government
Parks / Public Facilities Frequently Asked Questions | Sagamihara City
The content varies from region to region, so be sure to check in advance if you want to use the drone in a place managed by a prefecture or municipality.
Points to watch out for other than the law related to drones
There are some things to avoid and be careful about when using a drone, even if it is not a prohibited matter specified by law.
Avoid flying over highways, bullet trains, etc.
Here, from the "Guidelines for safe flight of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, radio-controlled aircraft, etc.)" described in the flight rules of aviation: unmanned aerial vehicles (drones, radio-controlled aircraft, etc.) on the website of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Here are some points to watch out for.
In addition to the above, another case to watch out for is flying over a general road. Even if you do not occupy the road or sidewalk, you cannot deny the possibility of trouble due to reports from neighboring residents, so it is recommended that you notify the police station in your jurisdiction in advance.
This may not only give you advice on your surroundings, but may also prevent the situation from getting worse in the event of a local problem. In addition, when shooting on the road, if you shoot by tracking another person's car without permission, it may be regarded as a violation of privacy, so carelessly make people around you feel uncomfortable or anxious. Don't fly the drone the way you give it.
Also, this may be too obvious, but ... It is cautioned not to fly even if you are ingesting alcohol (drunk), in windy conditions, or if the aircraft is damaged. Please refrain from flying even in such cases.
You should refrain from flying drones over US military bases
The Ministry of Defense, the Police Agency, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly released a poster on February 20, 2018 that `` notice and request'' to stop the act of flying drones etc. over U.S. military facilities. increase.
Flying a drone over US military facilities can cause major troubles and accidents, so be sure to check if there are any bases around the planned flight.
There are also restrictions on drones weighing less than 200g
Up to this point, ordinary drones (airplanes, rotorcraft, gliders, and airships that weigh less than 200 g and that are structurally inaccessible to humans and can be flown by remote control or autopilot. ) Has been introduced.
However, to be precise, there are laws and regulations that can result in penalties if you do not follow drones weighing less than 200g. The laws and regulations for small drones with a body weight of less than 200 g, called toy drones, are explained in detail in the linked article below.
If you don't understand the law related to drones, ask here first!
The following Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism telephone support desk (unmanned aerial vehicle help desk) is for responding to inquiries about the aviation law under the jurisdiction of the ministry, but it is also possible to ask general questions regarding the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. ..
Of course, as a manner, it is NG to ask "what you can understand immediately if you look it up" or "something that is too irrelevant", but if you do not know where to contact, please contact here and introduce an appropriate inquiry window etc. I often get it.
In my personal opinion, when I actually called the unmanned aerial vehicle help desk, they often answered the questions very carefully, and I often felt that I was grateful for the professional response. ..
Flying with an uncertain understanding of the rules regarding the use of drones is a serious problem that not only leads to danger to the surroundings but also may result in penalties for the operator himself, so if there is any ambiguity, "Well, We strongly recommend that you check in advance without having to say "OK".
Editor's Note
The drone is expected to be used for a wide range of purposes such as aerial photography, inspection, surveying, remote sensing, and logistics, but it is also true that some people are worried about its use due to accidents at events. If bad news continues, stricter regulations may be imposed, the range of drone availability may be narrowed, and even drone utilization in Japan may be delayed. In order to prevent such a situation and use the drone for work and hobbies, we hope that you will know the laws and ordinances and use this article as a reference for operating the drone safely.
[Disclaimer / Precautions] * This page is created based on the information at the time of writing the article. * We are not responsible for any damage or loss caused by using the information posted on this site. * The images in this article are obtained from a photo stock service that can be used for commercial purposes and does not require attribution.