Scheduled drone performances at tourist attractions and events across China have been grounded as the country steps up scrutiny of low-altitude aviation, although in many cases no clear reason was given for the cancellation.
Tourist attractions and event organisers in 11 provinces and regions – including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Shandong, Guangdong and Hainan – took the unusual step last week of announcing that drone shows scheduled from Friday onwards were cancelled. By Monday, none had announced that the performances would resume.
This comes after Beijing further tightened its control over drones and general aviation aircraft after a two-seat sport aircraft crashed into Citic Tower, Beijing’s tallest skyscraper, killing the pilot at the scene and injuring 13 people in June.
Many of the cancellation notices said the performances had been called off to “comply with airspace controls”, without offering more specific details of the new restrictions.
“Due to airspace controls, the drone performance has been temporarily cancelled. Please follow announcements from us for information on when it will resume,” a tourist attraction in Dunhuang, Gansu province, said on Friday.
“To strictly comply with airspace management regulations and in accordance with airspace route requirements, the drone performance scheduled for August 8 is cancelled,” the tourism authorities in Sonid Left Banner in Inner Mongolia autonomous region said on Saturday.
Notices issued about tourist attractions in Guizhou and Zhejiang said adverse weather brought about by Typhoon Dolphin had prompted the cancellations.
Typhoon Dolphin made landfall on China’s southeastern coast on Sunday, bringing heavy rainfall.