Abstract: In view of the problems of hole collapse and burying drilling caused by cable measurement while drilling (MWD) system using the center cable-type drilling rod for data transmission and mud pulse wireless MWD system using drilling fluid for data transmission in soft coal drilling, the solution of soft coal air drilling using electromagnetic wave MWD technology is proposed, and the YSDC electromagnetic wave MWD system is developed and tested for soft coal air drilling at a coal mine in Huainan. The results show that YSDC electromagnetic wave MWD system is stable and reliable in the whole drilling process. It provides new technology and equipment support for soft coal drilling, and has the characteristics of not being bound by the center cable-type drilling rode and drilling fluid, which can significantly improve the drilling depth and drilling efficiency along the soft coal seam.