Drone owners must register real names

Drone owners will be required to register their small aircraft under their real names starting June 1, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on Tuesday.

Drones that weigh more than 250 grams must be registered, according to Zhang Ruiqing, deputy head of the Office of Air Traffic Regulation of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The preliminary registration system has been completed and online testing will begin on Thursday, he said.

Also on Thursday, the administration will announce protective zones around 155 airports and will develop more technical means, such as electronic fences, to keep drones away from the airports.

"Drones have become a serious hazard in many Chinese cities, and have severely interfered with civil aviation," he said.

On Sunday, more than 6,000 passengers were stranded at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport because of flights that were diverted, returned or canceled because of drone interference.

Since April, eight cases of a drone flying without a permit occurred at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, causing flights to be diverted, returned or canceled. More than 10,000 passengers were stranded in the airport.

Drone hazards also cropped up in other cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Anyone flying drones illegally will be punished in accordance with public security regulations, the authorities have said.