CAAC recently issued the Management Procedures for Trial Operation of Specific Types of UAS (Interim) (hereinafter referred to as the Procedures), encouraging and promoting orderly trial and demonstrative operation of UAS in typical operating environments and scenarios, and exploring as well as standardizing UAS operation with high safety risk. This is a brand-new aviation management measure proposed by CAAC for the purpose of adapting to new technologies. It not only realizes classified operation of UAS, but also integrates the certification and evaluation of each link, and consolidates the basis of UAS operation management standards and legal system, which is of great significance for accelerating the development of new commercial modes for UAS.

The Procedures clarifies the UAS that requires risk assessment and certification, including three specific types of UAS: UAS with takeoff weight between 25 to 150 kg, between 7 to 25 with high operational risk, and above 150 kg with low operational risk. Certification for trial operation is not required for light and small UAS. In short, the Procedures is applicable to most of UAS operations except for the UAS that has a takeoff weight below 7 kg, agriculture spraying drone and unmanned airship.