Does The Faa Require Rc Airplanes To Be Registered

FAA RC Registration - FAQ

past | Dec 14, 2015 | (18) Posted in News

If you own a drone, you must annals it with the Federal Aviation Administration'due south Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) registry. A federal police effective December 21, 2015 requires unmanned aircraft registration, and you lot are field of study to civil and criminal penalties if you lot practise non annals.

FAQ

Do I need to annals my hobby RC airplanes or "toy" quadcopters?

Yep. "Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all aircraft. Under this rule, whatsoever owner of a minor UAS who has previously operated an unmanned shipping exclusively as a model aircraft prior to December 21, 2015, must register no later than Feb 19, 2016."

Any aircraft over 0.55 pounds and under 55 pounds qualifies and must be registered.

Do I have to register each of my RC aircraft separately?

No. For those of y'all who have dozen's of aircraft, you annals once as a airplane pilot yous volition receive a registration number that must be displayed on all of your aircraft. As a pilot you volition need to give your name, home address and e-mail address.

Does it price?

Yes and no. There will be a $five fee for registering that is good for 3 years. All the same as a large 30 solar day push from (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016) to get every bit many people as possible registered they will be "refunding" the $5 to anyone who registers in this time frame.

Well what if I don't?

"Failure to register an aircraft may result in regulatory and criminal sanctions. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Cri minal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years."

Why is the FAA doing this now?

"We await hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft volition be purchased this vacation flavour," said FAA Administrator Huerta. "Registration gives usa the opportunity to educate these new airspace users earlier they fly so they know the airspace rules and sympathize they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly."

My Thoughts

There is obviously going to be some chaos with supposedly a million drones being sold this holiday season. However something that drone registration doesn't prevent is people doing really dumb things with their RC aircraft. All it does is mildly increases the chance of identifying and prosecuting someone who isn't enlightened of or doesn't intendance well-nigh the rules that keeps everyone safe.
I personally will be registering my shipping when the registration site becomes available but like most other people who will be quick to register, I am one of the least likely offenders of established rules.

Though registration is one fashion to increase accountability, education is a meliorate fashion to increase airplane pilot competency. We hope to go on to educate the ever growing number of RC enthusiasts and hope nosotros can go along counting on you guys to share the information.