As of right now, the plan is to have a free registration process that would take place through manufacturer’s websites. Logically, retailers would not be responsible for registering drones at the point of sale. This would have opened a whole other bag of worms. Additionally, having decided, for privacy reasons, to avoid asking for private identifiers, such as a Social Security number, the registration would require only a drone operator’s name and address, enabling the FAA to track a drone that has violated regulations or been lost back to its owner. Also, an e-mail address may be collected if the drone owner wishes to receive updated information about drone regulations or educational initiatives. Finally, drones will also have to display a registration number that is clearly readable and easily accessible.
This comes as a surprise to most, as the industry generally thought hobby drones would not be included in the registration process. While this is annoying and probably pretty asinine in the grand scheme of things, resistance is futile. The DOT and the FAA are determined to enact this regulation. However, how will this be enforced? There is no practical way this can be truly enforced for hobbyist drones as far as we can tell. Especially since, by some estimates, over a million drones will be sold this Christmas alone. The registration task force is rushing to get their recommendations before the FAA by November 20th of this year. The FAA has said that they hope to have this registration system functioning before Christmas. We have to remember, though, that however irritated we are with this proposed regulation, the FAA and the DOT are responding to a perceived threat to commercial manned aircraft.
Well done.
ReplyDeleteI believe we "need" some form of basic information on each off field operator and aircraft if it's not being flown at a sanctioned AMA field. Those pilots are already registered and if they are obeying the guidelines their aircraft already have their contact information as well as their AMA #.
This could be very simple and I hope it finalizes like that.
Ever been to an AMA field and watch their membership fly their lawn mowers in the sky at break neck speeds doing loops, twists, and spins that while look "cool" are inherently dangerous? There is a reason these fliers and their onlookers are behind safety lines or fences. Their operators are consistently flying in a reckless manner yet hide behind the AMA as being a "safe" model aviation club.
DeleteAs a commercial operator I am fine since we had to do it anyways, And if it is a simple task of doing so online, then I say go for it. After all everyone with model aviation experience saw this coming years ago. The drone was the aircraft you could finally fly at home and not at the field. However just like guns, I doubt if and when that time comes and a drone has a collision with a manned aircraft, I doubt that drone will be registered.
ReplyDelete"A roll of quarters" really puts it in perspective how small they are talking about needing to register.
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDeleteWhile the FAA rules keep changing in favor or not in favor of hobbyists, the only help I can offer is to suggest an article that talks about best hobby drone models, and offers reviews of them. You can check it out here: http://mydronelab.com/best-pick/best-hobby-drones.html
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