TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said Tuesday that it met with central government ministries and local officials to discuss drone test sites, enforcement, and no-fly zone management, according to a Ministry of Transportation and Communications press release.
The CAA held its first county and city government drone management meeting of the year to discuss test site planning, violation enforcement, and critical infrastructure flight bans. The administration also detailed drone activity based on operator and application data.
The CAA said there were 42,016 registered drones and 23,518 professional operator certificates held by 17,343 individuals as of June. Kaohsiung, Taichung, and New Taipei had the highest numbers of professional operator certificates, indicating emerging drone industry clusters.
The CAA said 895 legal entities were qualified to apply for drone activities, while 31,613 activity applications had been approved. Of those, aerial photography accounted for 84.75%, agricultural spraying 4.51%, and data monitoring 2.71%. The CAA noted that there are 10 logistics pilot projects, with three trial operations delivering essentials and medical supplies to remote areas.
The CAA has identified 18 small-to-medium test sites and simplified applications via its Drone Management Information System. For large-scale testing, Chiayi Airport and Pingtung County's Hengchun Airport are now available for mid-to-high-altitude, long-endurance, high-wind, and special-payload trials.
The CAA also warned that entering red zones without permission can incur fines of up to NT$300,000 (US$9,300), with serious offenses punishable by drone confiscation. Local governments are designated as primary enforcers for no-fly zones, while the CAA pledged further cross-agency coordination and standardized inspection protocols.
The CAA said county and city representatives raised practical concerns, including mapping standards and advance notice periods for red-zone designations. The CAA said it would address these issues through regulatory revisions, technical support, management procedures, and information system integration.
The CAA urged operators to check its website or mobile application for updated flight restrictions before takeoff. It also encouraged users to follow the latest regulations and safety advisories.
(Transportation Ministry photo)
