The Drone Act
Contents
Restrictions on Drones
Drone flights are restricted by two laws: the Drone Act and the Civil Aeronautics Act.
All drones, etc., including those less than 100g, are within the scope of the Drone Act.
Drones that weigh 100g or more are within the scope of the Civil Aeronautics Act.
All drones, etc., including those less than 100g, are within the scope of the Drone Act.
Drones that weigh 100g or more are within the scope of the Civil Aeronautics Act.
See below for the overview of the restirctions of the Drone Act and the Civil Aeronautics Act.
○Leaflet
● Information about the Civil Aeronautics Act
What is the Drone Act？
In principle, the flight of small unmanned aircraft system, etc., is prohibited over the airspace above premises or areas (Red Zone) of important facilities and the surrounding area of approximately 300 meters of the Red Zone (Yellow Zone).
Click here for the outline.
Please refer to the relevant laws and regulations for details.
Flights Subject to the Drone Act
(ⅰ) Flying a small unmanned aircraft system of any weight such as
・a radio control airplane
・a drone
(ⅱ) Flying using a specific aerial equipment such as
・a baloon
・a hang glider
・a paraglider
Flight restriction zones
(ⅰ) Red Zone
The premises or areas of facilities covered by the Drone Act
(ⅱ) Yellow Zone
Surrounding area of approximately 300 meters of the Red Zone
Facilities covered by the Drone Act
(ⅰ) National important facilities, etc.
・National Diet Building, Prime Minister's Office, Supreme Court Building, Imperial Palace, etc.
・Office buildings of administrative organs responsible for crisis management
・Political parties' offices*
(ⅱ) Diplomatic establishments, etc.*
(ⅲ) Defense facilities* (Added by the 2019 amendment)
(ⅳ) Airports* (Added by the 2020 amendment)
(ⅴ) Nuclear facility sites*
*These facilities are covered by the Drone Act upon designation by relevant Minister pursuant to the Act.
For more details, see below. (NPA HP)
Some facilities require additional procedures.
For more details, see below. (NPA HP)
Check "GSI Maps" for the flight restriction zones
The map of Red / Yellow Zones based on the Drone Act is available on "GSI Maps" operated by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan.
Map of flight restriction zones in central Tokyo
In Tokyo, the flight of small unmanned aircraft system, etc., is prohibited in many areas.
(The map below is an example. The red-bordered area in the diagram represents the Red Zone, and the yellow-bordered area represents the Yellow Zone.)
Exemptions
Following flights are exempt from the prohibition.
(ⅰ) Flights over the Red / Yellow Zone by the facility administrator or a person who has obtained consent from the administrator;
When obtaining consent from an administrator, written consent is necessary.
(ⅱ) Flights over the relevant land by the landowner or a person who has obtained consent from the landowner, etc;
When obtaining consent from a landowner, etc., written consent is necessary.
(ⅲ) Flights over the Red / Yellow Zone for the purpose of performing the duties of the national or local governments
When carrying out the duties of the national or local governments, you need to prepare a proof (such as contract).
[Attention]
Flights over the Red Zone of designated defense facilities and airports are exempt from the prohibition only in the case of ( i ).
Necessary Procedures
Even in an exemptional case where the prohibition on flights by the Drone Act does not apply, when flying a small unmanned aircraft system, etc., in Red / Yellow Zone, notification of the flight information to the Prefectural Public Safety Commission is required at least 48 hours before the flight.
For more details, see below. (NPA HP)
● Necessary Procedures based on the Drone Act (English page)
● 小型無人機等飛行禁止法に基づく通報手続の概要 (Japanese page)
● 小型無人機等飛行禁止法に基づく通報手続の概要 (Japanese page)
Orders and Measures, and Penal Provisions
Orders and Measures
Police officers and others may order a violator to take necessary actions such as removing the equipment from the prohibited area (order to take measures).
To the extent unavoidable, police officers and others may take necessary measures, such as obstructing the flight or destroying the equipment, etc.
Coast guard officers (sea area), Imperial Guards (Imperial Palace, etc.), Self-Defense Forces personnel assigned to facility security (Defense Facilities) and Airport Managers, etc. (Airports) can also issue orders and take measures.
Penal Provisions
Violation of the prohibition on flights above the Red Zone, or the order to take measures shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or a fine not more than 500,000 yen.