FAA rules and registration

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The FAA has recently mandated that RC enthusiast register with the FAA. This video and article are to help clarify what the rules are. To do so we will talk about the who, what, when, where, why and how of drone registration.

First who must register with the FAA? Any person who is 13 year of age or old or older and a US citizen or legal permanent resident must register with the FAA. If a person under the age of 13 wants to fly, they must be accompanied by someone who is over the age of 13 and is registered with the FAA.

Second is what is being registered? You actually don’t have to register every aircraft you own. You register yourself as the pilot and attach a number that will be given to you, on all of your aircraft. It doesn’t matter whether you are flying a quadcopter, helicopter, jet, airplane, a flying lawn mower, etc. If it is between .55 lbs and 55 lbs. You must register as a pilot with the FAA.

When do you need to register? UAS registration took effect December 21st 2015. This means that you must register before you fly any RC aircraft that fits the parameters discussed above.

Why is the FAA doing this to us? It can be very difficult to understand why we have to do certain things, especially when we haven’t done anything wrong. The FAA explains why we must register. They say “Federal law requires aircraft registration. Registration helps us ensure safety – for you, others on the ground, and manned aircraft. UAS pose new security and privacy challenges and must be traceable in the event of an incident. It will also help enable the return of your UAS should it be lost.”

Unfortunately there people who do stupid things and affect the rest of us. This registration helps keep those people in check and helps keep all of us safe.

How do I register with the FAA? To register you need three things, an email address, a credit/debit card, and a physical address. You then go to www.registarmyuas.faa.gov and follow the simple steps. They charge you a 5 dollar fee to register as a pilot.

Are there rules to how and where I fly? Yes, there are some rules you must follow. Fortunately they are easy to follow and still allow RC enthusiasts to have fun flying. The rules are as follows: fly below 400 ft. and remain clear of surrounding obstacles, keep the aircraft within visual line of site at all times, remain well clear of all manned aircraft, do not fly within 5 miles of an airport without contacting the airport tower, don’t fly near people or stadiums, don’t fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55 lbs., and lastly don’t be careless or reckless with your UAS.

Basically use common sense, don’t fly in questionable situations, and you will be fine. I hope this helps clear up any doubts you might have about UAS registration and FAA rules and guidelines. The FAA has a lot of information on their website as well. Be sure to visit them if you have any other questions.