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Japan Removes Limit on Number of Drones One Pilot May Operate
The transport ministry removed the cap of five drones per operator to support logistics, inspections and disaster response. Revised guidelines address risks for flights beyond visual range in unmanned areas.
The Japan TimesAudio version
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Japan's transport ministry has removed the previous five-drone limit on how many drones one pilot can operate at once, officials said. The previous cap stood at five drones. The change targets improvements in logistics, infrastructure inspections, and damage assessment and search operations during disasters.
In March 2025 the ministry issued initial guidelines for simultaneous multi-drone flights and has now revised those rules to remove the numerical restriction. The guidelines cover operations in which drones fly outside a pilot’s visible range in unmanned areas without third-party access.
As the number of aircraft rises, operator workload and the chance of errors increase, so the rules list specific risks and required countermeasures.
Operators must display the aircraft number of each drone on the operation-system screen to avoid mix-ups. They are also advised to assess the local communication environment in advance and determine how many drones can be flown safely in the given airspace. The Japan Times reported the ministry’s announcement on June 22, 2026.
