In a press conference with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, the FAA clarified its long awaited drone registration program this morning.
Saying that registration was focused on education more than enforcement, the FAA announced that the drone registration program would be active on Monday, December 21, although the website is still in Beta. The details of the program have been published in a 211 page document here, but they follow reasonably closely with expectations set by the drone registration task force last month.
- All drones weighing between .55 pounds and 55 pounds must be registered.
- Operators over the age of 13 may register themselves; younger operators must have a guardian register.
- The registration will require name, address, email address, and a credit card for identification verification and to process the $5 fee, which will be refunded for registrations that occur during the first 30 days after the December 21 start date.
- Drones purchased prior to December 21, 2015 will have until February 19, 2016 to register; those purchased after December 21 must be registered prior to first flight.
- Registrations will be valid for 3 years.
- Operators will receive a single registration number to mark on all aircraft; there is no limit to the number of aircraft permitted per registration.
The most notable difference from task force recommendations is in the fee – the FAA will charge a $5 fee for registration which will be refunded if drones are registered within the first 30 days of the program. The $5 fee is the same as the cost of registering any aircraft, including large passenger jets. During a question and answer session, FAA administrators admitted that the fee is insufficient to meet the costs of the program but stated that they have been unable to pass legislation to raise registration fees.
The FAA is using a number of different means to get the word out about the registration requirement to consumers, including working with NFL football teams to make announcements during games and working with manufacturers to include educational materials with drones.
The drone registration program was first announced in October. The FAA formed a task force including members of both the drone industry and the airline pilots association to make recommendations, which were delivered at the end of November. The registration program is one response to the expected flood of hobby drones received as gifts during the holiday season.
Owners may register through a web-based system at www.faa.gov/uas/registration.
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
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Whats next? Will we have to get background checks to fly?
Dronez Authority
I’ve been flying RC planes and helis since I was 12 – just over 18 years. And now I’m finally on my way to being a commercial pilot. Total BS. Sad day for this country when you could literally GO TO JAIL for playing with a ‘toy’ airplane.
And for the record, there is a HUGE difference between a ‘drone’ and a traditional model aircraft. Even what these government & media jerk-offs are calling drones, are NOT drones.
I for one don’t appreciate being lumped into the same category with a bunch of dimwitted, ignorant and reckless people who are flying these multi-rotor camera platforms that a 3 year old could ‘fly.’ I have ‘fly’ in quotes because you don’t fly them – they largely fly themselves, which is precisely why any skill-less idiot can go and get themselves into the types of situations that got us to this point.
We who actually practice the HOBBY with pride, responsibly & skill do not deserved to be dragged through the dirt on this.
It’s no different than gun registration, and the only reason I’m even considering complying with registering, is because I’m not about to chance those F***ks coming after my pilot’s license. I just know the next time I’m at the park I’m gonna get a tap on my shoulder and it’s going to be officer dumb-sh*t looking to ask me for my registration…
Oooh what a free country!!
I’m only flying over my own property,a small farm.There is no interference with any type of air traffic in the rural area where the property is located.This is a ridiculous over reach,completely unnecessary as long as the drones aren’t near an airport.I won’t comply.Do they think some terrorists are going to use a small drone for something evil?That would have to be pretty big.Bird strikes happen ever day,rarely cause an accident,and nobody is calling for bird registration.Again,I will not comply.
For the average law abiding citizen, it’s mostly imposed in case of a “fly away” event. With the advent of GPS autopilots, these events are NOT uncommon at all.
What if I don’t have a credit card
This is nonsense, like with guns, registration is the first step to confiscation. No one should register.
Yeah
People are using these to spy on people my soon to be ex is harrassing me one constantly – I feel like I can’t even go outside without him watching my every move this is so wrong and laws need to be passed against harassment use of them
In your case Ms. Collins I agree you should be protected and any extension of harassment should be documented and used to gain a legal precedent on stalking.