118 DOT/FAA to Require Unmanned Aircraft Registration
Analysis of the DOT/FAA announcement that operators will be required to register their unmanned aircraft.
News
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx Announces Unmanned Aircraft Registration Requirement
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and FAA Administrator Michael Huerta announced the creation of a task force to develop recommendations for a registration process for unmanned aircraft.
Secretary Foxx said, “Registering unmanned aircraft will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially with new users who have no experience operating in the U.S. aviation system. It will help protect public safety in the air and on the ground.”
Administrator Huerta said, “Registration will help make sure that operators know the rules and remain accountable to the public for flying their unmanned aircraft responsibly. When they don’t fly safely, they’ll know there will be consequences.”
For a video of the UAS registration announcement, see USDOT Press Conference [27 minutes].
These stakeholders were onstage at the announcement:
- The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
- Academy of Model Aeronautics
- Air Line Pilots Association
- American Association of Airport Executives
- Helicopter Association International
- PrecisionHawk
- AirMap
See also, Statements of support for DOT’s approach to UAS registration
The Problems with Mandatory Drone Registration
Jonathan Rupprecht, Esq., a commercial pilot and flight instructor with Rupprecht Law lays out 11 problems with UAS registration, including the number of available N-numbers, the definition of a UAS for registration purposes, the effectiveness of registration, DOT/FAA authority or jurisdiction to require registration, and where the funding will come from.
UAVUS Response to DOT Federal UAV Registry Announcement
The US Association of Unmanned Aerial Videographers (UAVUS) says they support “…the development of a streamlined registration process for small UAVs that meet an appropriate threshold for size, weight, and capabilities.”
UAVUS also feels the announced registration proposal is “…overly ambitious, and could add to the confusion created by the absence of the FAA’s final rulemaking for the commercial use of small UAVs.”
