China’s ‘black flying’ drone dilemma: when tech advancement clashes with aviation safety

After drones were flown in China at heights above 8,000 metres (26,247 feet) – approaching that of Mount Everest – the authorities are moving to crack down on illegal flights that threaten the safety of commercial aviation.

The controversy highlights the regulatory dilemma China faces as it pushes to develop a low-altitude economy while ensuring aviation safety. Industry insiders say that with technological progress and upgraded oversight, China may eventually allow drones to fly as high as 6,000 metres (19,685 feet).

Chinese regulations cap the altitude at which light drones can be flown at 120 metres (394 feet). Any operation above that ceiling requires formal airspace approval, and only licensed drone pilots can apply. Unauthorised operations above the 120-metre limit – a practice dubbed “black flying” in China – are illegal.

The issue burst into public view recently when a content creator on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, exposed a drone pilot who repeatedly posted videos showing drones climbing above 8,000 metres over the provinces of Hunan and Guangdong – which feature some of China’s busiest commercial air corridors – while using forged flight-approval documents. Hunan police have opened an investigation.

By matching the footage with flight dates, altitude readings and commercial air routes, the blogger found that the drone had flown dangerously close to multiple passenger aircraft, in some cases as little as 200 to 500 metres (656 to 1,640 feet) away. One Shenzhen–Beijing flight could have passed within five metres (16.4 feet) of the drone’s projected path.

“If you ever look out a plane window and see a drone, that’s no longer a joke,” the blogger warned. One of the illegal flight zones – above the city of Yingde in Guangdong – lies directly beneath key flight paths for major Greater Bay Area airports, with planes passing every few minutes.

State media outlets including Xinhua and Workers’ Daily followed up with articles condemning illegal high-altitude drone flights as a threat to aviation safety and public security. Hong Kong film actor Waise Lee also posted a video condemning the drone operator for “gambling with the lives of people on aeroplanes” that fuelled further online debate.

Tan Chaochen, the chairman of the Shenzhen Baoan Low-Altitude Economy Industry Association, said initial reports suggest the drone used in the 8,000-metre flights was made by DJI. “From a technical perspective, this actually illustrates the high performance of DJI’s drones,” he said.

Tan, a former senior civil aviation official and an expert reviewer for China’s customs drone technology centre, said illegal drone activity was a global regulatory challenge and China needed to implement real-name registration for all drone operations.