BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s lawmakers will consider a draft revision of the Civil Aviation Law this week to enhance safety in the aviation industry, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.
The proposed legislative amendments follow a fatal crash of a China Eastern Airlines passenger jet in March 2022. Investigations are still ongoing into the cause of the crash, which killed all 123 passengers and nine crew members.
The draft revisions, submitted to China’s highest legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), for its first review, contain “comprehensive amendments and improvements” to the existing Civil Aviation Law, which was first implemented on March 1, 1996, Xinhua reported.
Key amendments include measures to enhance the security of civil aviation activities, empower aircraft captains to take necessary actions under exceptional circumstances and prohibit disruptive behaviours.
Such behaviours include unauthorised opening of aircraft emergency exits, causing disturbances or instigating trouble within the aircraft and spreading rumours about civil aviation safety.
The draft law also requires civil airports to possess the capability to prevent and manage incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reflecting increasing concern over the impact of UAVs on aviation operations.
Bills typically require up to three reviews by the NPCSC before they are voted on and passed. The NPCSC convenes approximately every two months.
(Reporting by Sophie Yu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
