The task force released a 16-page report detailing recommendations for a UAS registration process. Yellowhead Helicopters Photo
All drones in the United States between 8.8 ounces and 55 pounds should be registered with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), according to recommendations made by the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force over the weekend.
Currently, only commercial drone operators are required to register their aircraft through the established manned aircraft registration process as a part of the Section 333 application.
Driven by dual goals of increasing operator accountability and assuring compliance with FAA regulations regarding UAS, the task force released a 16-page report detailing recommendations for a UAS registration process. The recommendations will be considered by FAA rule makers and could eventually lead to an enforceable rule.
In the document, the 25-member task force envisioned and recommended a free electronic registration process, available online and through apps, where a UAV owner registers using only the owner’s name and address. Any other information, such as phone number, citizenship of owner, or serial number of aircraft can be optionally shared, but is not required. The owner would then immediately receive an electronic certificate of registration and a personal universal registration number for use on all UAVs owned by that person. It is then the owner’s responsibility to affix the same registration number on all UAS aircraft owned by that person before flying the aircraft outside in the United States.
Other recommendations in the report require UAV owners to be at least 13 years of age to register (parents or guardians must register for owners younger than 13), the registration process to include an educational component such as the Know Before You Fly campaign materials, and an exemption from having to affix a registration number to a UAS if the serial number was provided at registration.
The committee also recommended the registration process only apply to small UAS (sUAS), which are defined as having a maximum takeoff weight less than 55 poundd. However, it recommended sUAS less than 250 grams (about 8.8 ounces) be exempt.
Under the recommendations, registration is not required at point of sale, but is required before the aircraft enters the national air system (when it flies outdoors within the United States).
In anticipation of the recommendations, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta commented on the report in a post on the agency’s website, “We will consider their recommendations and the public comments as we develop an interim final rule on registration, which will likely be released next month and go into effect shortly thereafter.”
When it comes to commercial operations, rules on commercial registration will be addressed in the final FAA recommendations, expected in early 2016.
The task force, formally announced on Oct. 22, was charged with identifying and recommending minimum requirements for UAS that would need to be registered, a registration process, and methods for providing registration and markings. The group met to tackle the issues in Washington D.C., Nov. 3 through Nov. 5 with direction to provide recommendations by Nov. 20.
The task force is comprised of aviation and non-aviation interests, including Helicopter Association International. Of the four members representing retail outlets, two are from Amazon, Amazon Prime Air and Amazon Retail, illustrating Amazon’s continued influence in UAV legislation.
To read the full report, click here.
