When the FAA reveals its new drone regulations, which are expected to be finalized as soon as next month, they will be easy to comply with and free, sources told The Wall Street Journal. The task force that met for three days last week is expected to recommend that registration will be required for all drones weighing more than 250 grams, or about nine ounces. Users will be required to enter their name and address into an FAA website or app, which will generate a registration number, then the user must attach the registration number to their drone. They can use the same registration number for all of their drones, and the number can be attached in whatever way works, including writing it directly on the drone using an indelible marker, like a Sharpie. “It just needs to be legible, so [authorities] are able to read it,” a source told the WSJ.
According to task-force member Matt Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association International, the group’s job last week was to answer three primary questions: which UAS need to be registered, how the registration process will work, and how the registration will be verified and marked on the aircraft. “What we achieved can be characterized as a package deal,” one task-force member told the WSJ. “No one got everything they wanted; you could say everyone is a little unhappy.” The task force is co-chaired by Earl Lawrence, director of the FAA’s UAS Integration Office, and Dave Vos, of Google X. Members of the group include representatives from AOPA, ALPA, NBAA, HAI, several UAS user groups, and representatives from companies, including Amazon and Wal-Mart, that sell or plan to use the drones.
The task force reportedly completed its preliminary work during last week’s meetings, and anticipates filing its final report by the Nov. 20 deadline. Penalties for noncompliance are expected to be similar to the penalties now on the books for those who violate existing federal rules regarding drone use — fines and up to three years in prison.
