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 WASHINGTON
– The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) today announced a streamlined and user-friendly
web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned
aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less
than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as
on-board cameras.
The Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA
Administrator Michael Huerta and Transportation Secretary Anthony
Foxx on November 21. The rule incorporates many of the task force
recommendations.
“Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft enthusiast are aviators, and
with that title comes a great deal of responsibility,” said U.S.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Registration gives us an
opportunity to work with these users to operate their unmanned
aircraft safely. I’m excited to welcome these new aviators into the
culture of safety and responsibility that defines American
innovation.”
Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all
aircraft. Under this rule, any owner of a small UAS who has
previously operated an unmanned aircraft exclusively as a model
aircraft prior to December 21, 2015, must register no later than
February 19, 2016. Owners of any other UAS purchased for use as a
model aircraft after December 21, 2015 must register before the
first flight outdoors. Owners may use either the paper-based process
or the new streamlined, web-based system. Owners using the new
streamlined web-based system must be at least 13 years old to
register.
Owners may register through a web-based system at: www.faa.gov/uas/registration
Registrants will need to provide their name, home address and e-mail
address. Upon completion of the registration process, the web
application will generate a Certificate of Aircraft
Registration/Proof of Ownership that will include a unique
identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on the
aircraft.
Owners using the model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only
have to register once and may use the same identification number for
all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.
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The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as
many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA is waiving this
fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).
“We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be
purchased this holiday season,” said FAA Administrator Huerta.
“Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace
users before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand
they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly.”
The online registration system does not yet support registration of
small UAS used for any purpose other than hobby or recreation – for
example, using an unmanned aircraft in connection with a business.
The FAA is developing enhancements that will allow such online
registrations by spring of 2016.
The full rule can be viewed here: www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf
For questions regarding this notice, contact Ken Kelley, AFS-850 by
email at Ken.R.Kelley@faa.gov or by telephone at (775) 858-7700 Ex
258.
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