The FAA’s Drone Registry Will Make Your Address Public

Operating a drone is kind of scary, but it is fun said Kasey Nakashima, a Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School student.

CTA and several other organizations – including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – support the Know Before You Fly consumer safety campaign encouraging responsible use of UAS. The database, said FAA spokesperson Elizabeth Cory, will help make owners more accountable. The registration will be valid for three years.

This, as some say the new registry goes too far. High-velocity motors on many drones can be risky to operators working on their machines and also potentially harmful if they crash into bystanders.

On Monday, the US FAA will launch its online registry for American drone operators with the aim of collecting personal information from the owners of these unmanned aircraft. Though the statement recommended that state and local governments consult with the FAA before considering any drone regulations, it’s pretty clear that the FAA would prefer that outlying lawmakers get out of the drone-regulation business entirely.

The task force recommended that any drone with a maximum takeoff weight of 250 grams, just under 9 ounces, or more be registered. But for the time being, the FAA has adopted regulations that respect the rights of drone owners while addressing the emerging threat posed by the machines. Existing owners will have to register by February 19, 2016, and new buyers will have to register before their first flight.

In the last two years, there have been 921 near-collisions between drones and manned aircraft, according to a report Friday from the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College.

Registration of drones will allow authorities to trace a drone back to an owner, which means it’s vital that owners are in compliance with laws and regulations and have the appropriate insurance coverage.

The green light to fly drones commercially can be arranged with what’s called a 333 waiver from the FAA, which requires 20 hours of training to learn how to fly airplanes. “When we did the project on the biomass plant in Koloa, we did discuss it with the people before getting started, and they told us what we were able to do and which areas were prohibited”.