No-fly zones for drones expanded in Okinawa
In Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, no-fly zones around critically important facilities, including military bases and airports, have been expanded following a revision of drone legislation. The new rules, which took effect on July 14, are already affecting construction and tourism companies that use drones.
As The Japan Times reports, citing investigative sources, more than 10 cases of suspected illegal flights have already been confirmed in the prefecture. Okinawa hosts a significant number of defense facilities, including U.S. bases, meaning large areas have fallen within the updated restrictions.
The restriction radius has been increased
Japanese law prohibits flights of small unmanned aircraft directly over designated key facilities. These facilities are classified as red zones, while the areas around them are designated yellow zones. Following the changes, the radius of yellow zones was increased from approximately 300 meters to about one kilometer.
According to the Okinawa Prefectural Police, 49 key facilities have been designated in the region: Naha Airport, 22 Japan Self-Defense Forces facilities, and 26 U.S. military facilities. The towns of Kadena and Chatan have fallen entirely under restrictions due to Kadena Air Base. Significant parts of the city of Ginowan, where the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma is located, as well as the town of Kin, which hosts Camp Hansen, have also been classified as red or yellow zones.
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Impact on local businesses
Construction companies use drones to inspect sites, but are now forced to commission video filming from contractors or conduct inspections from the ground, which, according to industry representatives, increases costs. One contractor said that a plot of land where his company trained drone operators has become entirely a no-fly zone.
A representative of a wedding photography company that conducts shoots in the villages of Yomitan and Onna stated that approximately half of the areas where the business operated have become unavailable for flights. According to him, obtaining consent from the U.S. military to fly near its facilities can take about a month, so clients are being offered changes to shooting locations.
To fly in no-fly zones, an operator must notify local police at least 48 hours in advance and obtain the consent of the administrator of the relevant facility. Near U.S. facilities or Japan Self-Defense Forces facilities, the relevant bodies must also be notified in advance. An unauthorized flight in a red zone is punishable by up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 yen, while a flight without permission in a yellow zone is punishable by up to six months in prison or the same fine.
