Necessary Procedures based on the Drone Act

Flying drones, etc. over and around certain key facilities is prohibited under the Drone Act.

When flying a drone, etc. in a flight restriction zone,

(ⅰ)  The flight must be exempt from the ban, such as by consent from the administrator of the relevant facility.
(ⅱ)  You must report the flight information to the Prefectural Public Safety Commission (PPSC) via the police station having jurisdiction at least 48 hours before the flight.
(ⅲ)  Depending on the facility, you must report the flight information to related organizations additionally.


The details of (ⅱ) and (ⅲ) are below.

How to report to a PPSC via a police station
（都道府県公安委員会等への通報）

You must report the flight information to the Prefectural Public Safety Commission (PPSC) via the police station having jurisdiction at least 48 hours before the flight.
In case of a flight in a flight restriction zone surrounding the Imperial Palace, the Akasaka Estate or the Takanawa Imperial Residence, you must also report the flight information to the Chief of Imperial Guard Headquarters via the same police station.

The necessary procedures are as follows.

Submit the prescribed form

・Submit the prescribed form to the police station having jurisdiction over the flight restriction zone at least 48 hours before the flight.
・Attach a map showing the flight area to the form.
Form (Japanese)

Submit proof of exemption from the ban

・If you have written consent from the administrator of the relevant facility or the owner, etc. of the relevant land, submit a copy of the written consent.
・When flying an aircraft to carry out national or local governmental affairs, submit a copy of the proof (e.g., a contract).

Show your aircraft at the police station

・Show your aircraft at the police station.
・If you live too far from the police station or your aircraft is too big, you may submit a photo of it instead.


[Attention]

・When the flight area extends over multiple jurisdictions in the same prefecture, you only have to report via the police station of one of them.
・When the flight area extends over multiple prefectures, you have to report to all PPSCs which have jurisdiction.
・In unavoidable cases such as a disaster, you only have to report your flight information orally before the flight.
（In such cases, you must obtain the necessary consent before the oral report.）


[Information]

For the details of the report to the PPSC, please ask the police station with jurisdiction over the relevant facility.

How to report to the Commander of a Regional Coast Guard Headquarters（sea area）
（管区海上保安本部長への通報　※海域の場合）

When flying a drone, etc. in a flight restriction zone containing a sea area, you must report the flight information to the Commander of the Regional Coast Guard Headquarters via a coast guard office additionally.

[Information]

For the details of the report to the Commander of the Regional Coast Guard Headquaters, please ask the coast guard office with jurisdiction over the zone.

How to report to an administrator（defense-related facilities and airports）
（施設管理者への通報　※対象防衛関係施設及び対象空港の場合）

When flying a drone, etc. in the flight restriction zone of a defense-related facility or an airport covered by the Drone Act, you must report the flight information to the administrator of the facility additionally.

[Information]

For the details of the report to the administrator, please ask the administrator of the facility.

Links

〇 About the Drone Act (NPA HP)

〇 About the Aviation Act (MLIT HP)

〇 Japanese page（NPA HP）