Drones, an expensive hobby to have but also loads of fun to play around with considering the battery life on them is becoming much much better than what it was a few years ago. Using these unmanned machines was great up until the FAA wanted to make everyone register their drones, and of course that probably didn’t stop anyone even after it was made a law. Recreational drone use was under a forced registration for just over a year, and we can only imagine what those $5 fees went towards.
The rules went as follows:
This registration applies to any drone over .55 pounds, and under 55 pounds. There are a few hobby drones that are smaller than that, but most anything larger will be outside of recreational use. Operators must also be 13 or over to register. Anyone under 13 that intends to operate a drone would likely have to have a parent or legal guardian register for them.
Again, people most likely didn’t care for getting their drones registered, so those who have been flying theirs around out and about need not worry as the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has changed their mind (literally a year and a half later) because of the federal court in D.C making a decision where you won’t need to register non-commercial drones. Now, if you will be flying drones for commercial use, you will need to have it registered otherwise you’ll be getting a hefty fine.
It’s great that you won’t have to register your drones any longer, but drone companies aren’t happy about the court’s final result. Brendan Schulman, head of policy at DJI has this to say in an email,
The FAA’s innovative approach to drone registration was very reasonable, and registration provides for accountability and education to drone pilots. I expect the legal issue that impedes this program will be addressed by cooperative work between the industry and policymakers.
In the end of this all, if the FAA appeals this ruling, then we may have to register our newly bought drones, but at the same time, Congress could overrule and let things stay as they are for now, no registration. Kara Calvert, Executive Director of the Drone Manufacturers Alliance likes the fact that people who have drones or will be purchasing them would need to be registered because it protects the interests of safe and responsible pilots.
DMA is studying the implications of today’s registration-related court ruling, but believes the existing system has worked well to protect the interests of safe and responsible pilots as well as the interests of society at large. As we wait for word on whether the FAA will appeal this ruling, we hope all sides see the benefit of a reasonable and minimally restrictive form of basic regulation that has helped make drone operations in America overwhelmingly safe. We look forward to working with policymakers on a long-term legislative solution.
If any of you have your drones registered like I do, it’s nice to know that we don’t have to worry about registering another one in the near future, but for how long? What do you guys think about us not having to register drones any longer? Let us know by leaving your comments down below, or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.
[button link=”https://www.recode.net/2017/5/19/15663436/us-drone-registration-rules-faa” icon=”fa-external-link” side=”left” target=”blank” color=”285b5e” textcolor=”ffffff”]Source: Recode[/button]
