China's top legislature to update civil aviation law

A draft law on civil aviation that proposes the inclusion of airworthiness certification for unmanned aerial vehicles is to be reviewed by Chinese lawmakers, an official from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, announced on Friday.

Huang Haihua, spokesman for the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, told a news conference that the draft amendment to the Civil Aviation Law will be discussed during next week's session of the Standing Committee, which will run from Monday to Saturday in Beijing.

While including provisions regarding unmanned aerial vehicles, Huang said the draft amendment is also expected to strengthen the rights of passengers and enhance civil aviation safety.

"Civil aviation is a vital strategic industry for China and also a key component of building a strong transportation network," he said.

"The nation's civil aviation sector has seen rapid development in recent decades, with continuous improvements in industry scale, service capacity and safety standards, while new business models and applications, such as the low-altitude economy, have also been emerging."

Huang added that revising the law is essential to keep pace with developments in the field and to balance domestic needs with international standards, thus providing strong legal support for the high-quality development of China's civil aviation industry.

The draft amendment will offer a stronger basis for the growth of the industry by improving airspace management, flight support, infrastructure, transportation services and talent cultivation, he said, adding that it also clearly prohibits actions that could jeopardize the safety and order of civil aviation.

In addition, the draft aims to enhance the protection of passenger rights by standardizing the compensation responsibilities of domestic and international air carriers. The new regulations are also expected to address issues such as general conditions of carriage, flight delays and cancellations, with the goal of enhancing the quality and standards of civil aviation transport services, Huang said.

Also at next week's NPC session, lawmakers are to review a draft law on childcare services and another on activities and environmental protection in Antarctica.

Several other legislative items, including a draft environmental code, a draft law promoting ethnic unity and progress, a draft on national development planning and draft revisions to the foreign trade law, are also scheduled to be submitted to the session.

Legislators will also review a draft decision concerning the fourth plenary of the 14th NPC.