New registration rules for high-tech gift

Overwhelmed by a surge in close encounters between small drones and manned aircraft, the FAA announced Monday that registration will be required beginning December 21. Anyone who purchases a drone weighing between a half-pound and 55 pounds after December 21 will have to register it before its first flight; those who already own drones will have to register them by mid-February. Amazon was mentioned for its pet project delivery service, but technically anyone intending to make some money with their drone-say, those shooting weddings or real estate from above-will fall into this category and have to gain approval from the FAA in the form of an exemption of the agency’s Section 333 rule, which will be decided on a case-by-case basis. Recreational users are also prohibited from flying the drone out of sight.

At Falcon Hobby Supply, in Springfield, they average a couple dozen drones sold a day. They’ll also need to pay a $5 dollar fee.

But Whitaker said the registry isn’t regulation and is part of the FAA’s long-standing authority to register aircraft from a Cessna 172 to a Boeing 787. In addition, registration establishes a shared understanding that operating this type of aircraft for business or pleasure comes with certain responsibilities and expectations and that the public will be watching for and reporting bad actors, just as they do today for other safety and security-related concerns. Plus, that fee is being waived for the first 30 days of open registration (Dec. 21, 2015 to January 20, 2016). The Consumer Technology Association said this will be the “defining year” for drone sales. Recreational fliers can register as many aircraft as they desire on one registration number. Owners of consumer drones will have to begin registering with the US government starting next week under a policy issued in time for the expected holiday buying rush. “Damages from drones pose nothing new in this regard”, says State Farm spokesman Chris Pilcic.

If you have a drone that weighs more than 0.55 pounds but less than 55 pounds (total flying weight including anything it’s carrying), you must register it. It’s now the law.

Failure to register drones can result in hefty fines, up to $27,500 in civil penalties and up to $250,000 in criminal fines. People can register once and apply it to multiple drones. Despite those restrictions, airline pilots have reported hundreds of violations in which drones have intruded into restricted airspace, triggering calls for the new registration rules.

“I think the FAA was struggling with how do we educate new users and by creating this registry, now we have a direct link to every user which will allow us to do a tremendous amount of education”, said former FAA Assistant Administrator, Scott Brenner. The FAA is drafting separate regulations it expects to complete next year to govern small commercial drones.