Driven by public safety concerns over the number
of recreational drones being sold for Christmas, on December 14, 2015, the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a rule targeted for owners and operators of hobby and recreational
small unmanned aircraft systems (“sUAS” a/k/a drones) that mandates registration
on the FAA’s new online drone registration portal. The FAA Interim Final
Rule (IFR) is available @ https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf
and The FAA’s drone registration portal is available @ https://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/. Another more comprehensive drone rule is
expected in 2016 to allow the use of drones for limited commercial purposes provided
the risk to public safety is low. The hobby drone rule, which goes into effect
on December 21, 2015 ahead of the holiday rush, requires all hobby-type drones
weighing between 0.55 pounds) and 55 pounds that have flown prior to December
21, 2015 to be registered no later than February 19, 2016. Model
radio-controlled aircraft of all types, including the type of fixed wing,
radio-controlled model aircraft used for decades fall within the rule. For
hobby drones in this weight class flying on or after December 21, 2015 (Christmas
gifts), the rule requires that the owner register the drone before its first
flight. To prod registration, the $5.00 registration fee will be credited back
to owners if they register within the first 30 days. The rule further provides
that a single registration applies to as many drones as an owner owns or
operates. However, the rule provides stiff civil penalties up to $27,500, and
criminal penalties including fines up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to
three years. U.S. citizens age 13 or older can register their drones at the
FAA’s registration portal. The registrant will need to provide the FAA with
their name, physical address, mailing address and email address. The FAA will then
provide the certificate holder, with a unique registration number that must be
affixed to each drone. In addition, each registration must be renewed
every 3 years and will require an additional $5.00 renewal fee. All operators
of hobby drones falling within the weight limits of the rule must carry proof
of registration in the form of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration either in
printed or electronic form