Here's the deadline and cost for registering your drones with the Federal Aviation Administratio
- cpsims
- Dec 14, 2015
- 2 min read
By Leada Gore | lgore@al.com
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The Federal Aviation Administration has put a deadline and a cost on its plan for drone users to register their devices.
Users who have operated the small, unmanned aircraft prior to Dec. 21 have until Feb. 19, 2016 to register their devices. Those who purchase drones after Dec. 21, 2015 – or receive one as a gift – must register before their first flight. Registration is required for all drones that weigh between .55 pounds and 55 pounds.
"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."
All drones – whether flown by hobbyist or other operators – are required to register. That includes children's toys, though the FAA notes most of the drones it has found that cost below $100 don't meet the weight threshold for registration.
People who receive a drone as a gift are required to register once they receive the item. People who sell a drone are advised to go into the system and change the registration.
Filing the necessary information with the FAA will cost $5 but that fee is being waived from Dec. 21 to Jan. 20, 2016 to encourage early registration. There is an online registration process here and a paper system here.
Those registering their devices will be required to provide their name, home address and email address. Once that's done they will receive a certificate with a unique identification number that must be marked on the device. One registration number will cover all of an operator's aircraft, so you won't have to pay $5 per drone. The registration is valid for five years.
Failure to register an aircraft can result in civil penalties of up to $27,500 and criminal penalties of up to $250,000 and up to three years in prison. The guidelines do not apply to commercial drone users, which are already required to apply for a permit before operation.
As many as 700,000 people are expected to buy drones this Christmas season. The upswing in use of the increasingly affordable devices has raised concerns about close calls between drones and commercial airlines.
Currently, drone operators are required to fly their devices below 400 feet and obtain FAA permission before operating within five miles of an airport. Operators are also supposed to avoid passenger planes.
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