Right up there with hoverboards, drones are one of the hottest gadgets making holiday wish lists this year. The Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) has now made it mandatory for drone owners to register the devices with the government.
All small, unmanned aircraft, or drones, that weigh between 0.55 lbs. (250 grams) and up to 55 lbs. (25 kilograms) must be registered. If you owned a drone before December 20, 2015, you have until February 19, 2016, to register and avoid fines of up to $250,000. Newer owners must register their drones before they can be flown.
The registration process appears to be fairly straightforward and owners are encouraged to register on the FAA’s site. The registration fee is $5, is valid for 3 years, and as an added incentive, if registration is completed before January 20, 2015, the fee will be refunded. Online users must be at least 13 years old in order to register.
Once the owner enters the required information, which includes complete name, mailing address, physical address and email address, a registration number and certificate will be issued. The certificate includes a registration number that must be marked on all aircraft meeting the registration requirement.
The FAA believes the new measures are important in their continued efforts to promote safety by giving them the opportunity to teach drone users the rules and regulations that must be followed when piloting devices. According to the FAA, safe operating includes:
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Flying below 400 feet altitude.
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Keeping your drone in sight at all times.
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Never flying near manned aircrafts, especially airports.
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Never flying over groups of people, stadiums, or sporting events.
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Never flying near emergency response efforts.
You may wish to check out the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Registration page, which provides many answers to frequently asked questions regarding registration.
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