FAA Press Release – FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule
To download the actual document - http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf
Short version:
The owner is registered, NOT each aircraft/drone. The registeree will receive one number, and must put that number on all applicable aircraft.
Registration fee & re-registration fee - $5, Deregistration fee - none.
Registration & re-registration period - 3 years.
Weight for "small unmanned aircraft" - between 0.55 and 55 lb (250 g and 25 kg)
Penalty for non-registration - up to$27,500 fine, while criminal penalties go as high as $250,000 and up to three years in prison.
Training/educational requirements - none announced. Yet.
At the moment the FAA is only talking about "registration".
"We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season," says FAA Administrator Michael 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."
With that statement, there will obviously be other requirements & laws in the future.
My take on this, is that it will have little effect for dedicated RC aircraft enthusiasts. Normal federal, state, & local laws will remain in effect.
As of now, I've seen no information as to just who will be enforcing the registration laws. It's a federal law, but local police will probably be authorized to investigate and arrest offenders.
Possible problems
Children under the age of 13 must have an adult register the aircraft. What happens when the 12 year old turns 13 and decides to fly "his" plane without his father/mother?
Most of the RC aircraft enthusiasts that I know are "old coots". Thirty days after they die, the registration becomes invalid. Will their widows be arrested for selling off un-registered (small) unmanned aircraft?
What happens if they send out a notification, but you have moved for one reason or another? New job? Lost your old job? Whatever. That little RC plane is in a box, up in the attic. Forgotten.
The system will send out a reminder at 6 months prior to certification expiration.
If the information provided to register the aircraft changes during the period of registration, the aircraft owner must update the Registry through the web-based registration system within 14 days of the change.
Clearly, at this point, they are only working on registration. But as the first quote above indicates, there will at some point be requirements for the owner to prove that they understand the FAA rules and regulations as they apply to unmanned aerial vehicles.
I have one 12oz RC airplane. It's a VERY basic beginners RC plane. I haven't flown it in over a year. There's some minor damage, easily repairable.
As I said, for regular RC enthusiasts, the rules (so far) aren't excessive.
But for me the liabilities outweigh the cost of the little plane. I'll just destroy it.
I wonder what I could use the servos and controller for.
PS - clearly, none of the regulations are intended to deter terrorists.
