Any RC flyers out there

[xsubsailor]

Remote-controlled aircraft that weigh at least 9 ounces flown by hundreds of thousands of hobbyists across the country will have to be registered starting Dec. 21, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Monday.

 

Penalties for failing to register could reach $27,500 in civil fines and $250,000 and three years in prison for criminal penalties. But Michael Whitaker, deputy administrator of FAA, said initial efforts will be to get everyone signed up rather than to punish owners, unless it is an egregious incident.

 

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/12/14/drone-registry-faa/77275676/

[TripleDigitRide]

I'm not quite sure if this is only for "drones", or all unmanned aircraft, such as airplanes and helicopters?

[xsubsailor]

I'm not quite sure if this is only for "drones", or all unmanned aircraft, such as airplanes and helicopters?

All unmanned aircraft between 1/2 lb and 55 lbs, even the control line planes.

[enfield]

Everybody gets punished when the idiots come out.

[TNWNGR]

The Fed's have been concerned about R/C aircraft since 9/11. The technology has improved to some very scary levels and some R/C aircraft flown on regular basis are the size of a Cessna 182, if not larger so its not like this hasn't been coming.

[NextExit]

 

“The FAA’s mandatory consumer drone registration scheme is both unreasonable and probably illegal,” said Eli Dourado, director of the technology policy program at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center, who said he expects the registry to be overturned if challenged in court. “There is little evidence that small consumer drones — essentially toys — pose a risk to the national airspace.”

A 2012 law that called for the FAA to develop rules for commercial drones explicitly prohibited the FAA from regulating “model aircraft” for “hobby or recreational use” that is operating within community-set guidelines.

Attention SCOTUS; your next case is on the way. :popcorn:

[R1100R]

The article is stating drones only that the OP posted.  Below from the FFA.

 

http://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/

Edited December 14, 2015 by R1100R

[peejman]

Registration and regulation are 2 different things.  There have been many, many instances of irresponsible drone operators interfering with (intentionally or unintentionally) aircraft carrying people and generally ignoring or being ignorant of the establish guidelines for flight. 

 

That said, I'm surprised the FAA went this far.  In the past, the FAA has distinguished between hobby aircraft and "drones" based on the capability of autonomous flight, and "drones" were always the thing they were interested in. 

 

http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf

 

http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/model_aircraft_spec_rule.pdf

 

http://www.faa.gov/uas/media/Sec_331_336_UAS.pdf

[RED333]

I am confused by all this as well, used to fly planes, run boats and cars.

So now all model aircraft are subject to this? I am confused.

[TripleDigitRide]

I am confused by all this as well, used to fly planes, run boats and cars.
So now all model aircraft are subject to this? I am confused.

According to a friend who lives and breathes RC planes, yes, all unmanned aircraft from 9 ounces to 55 pounds.

[ou812]

FAA Safety Team | Safer Skies Through Education

FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule
Notice Number: NOTC6328

Press Release – For Immediate Release

December 14, 2015
Contact: Les Dorr or Alison Duquette
Phone: (202) 267-3883

Registration will be free for the first 30 days!

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras.

The Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on November 21. The rule incorporates many of the task force recommendations.

“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.”

Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all aircraft.  Under this rule, any owner of a small UAS who has previously operated an unmanned aircraft exclusively as a model aircraft prior to December 21, 2015, must register no later than February 19, 2016. Owners of any other UAS purchased for use as a model aircraft after December 21, 2015 must register before the first flight outdoors. Owners may use either the paper-based process or the new streamlined, web-based system.  Owners using the new streamlined web-based system must be at least 13 years old to register.

Owners may register through a web-based system at:  www.faa.gov/uas/registration

Registrants will need to provide their name, home address and e-mail address. Upon completion of the registration process, the web application will generate a Certificate of Aircraft Registration/Proof of Ownership that will include a unique identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on the aircraft.

Owners using the model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only have to register once and may use the same identification number for all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.

The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA is waiving this fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).

“We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season,” said FAA Administrator Huerta. “Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace users before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly.”

The online registration system does not yet support registration of small UAS used for any purpose other than hobby or recreation – for example, using an unmanned aircraft in connection with a business. The FAA is developing enhancements that will allow such online registrations by spring of 2016.

The full rule can be viewed here:www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf

For questions regarding this notice, contactKen Kelley, AFS-850 by email atKen.R.Kelley@faa.gov or by telephone at(775) 858-7700 Ex 258.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk

Edited December 15, 2015 by ou812

[Sam1]

Attention SCOTUS; your next case is on the way. :popcorn:

 

Hopefully they will get tied up with it for a year and leave guns alone until we can get some good replacements in there.

[Clod Stomper]

It only takes a few (hundred) idiots to ruin it for everyone.

Morons have been flying them around airports, the White House, wildfires, everywhere anyone with any sense would know not to fly a UAV.

I've been wanting one too. Sheesh.

[peejman]

In the past the FAA has distinguished between a "drone" (capable of autonomous flight) and a hobby R/C aircraft (must be line-of-sight controlled 100% of the time). The FAA has always claimed that they have the authority to regulate essentially anything that flies, they just chose not to deal with hobby R/C aircraft since they were typically operated in a safe manner.  The 400ft max altitude rule was a good one as most people can't see the thing well enough to effectively fly it higher than that.   But I guess given the explosion of quad-rotors with their camera systems (some even have HUD's) and their frequent interference with manned aircraft, something had to give.  I fully expected to see some regulation on actual drones, but not every hobby R/C aircraft.  That said, I seriously doubt you'll get the SCOTUS to agree that requiring them to be registered is illegal.   

[Grand Torino]

All unmanned aircraft between 1/2 lb and 55 lbs, even the control line planes.

That's a load of crap.

[JWC]

oops. Double tap due to slow hughesnet internet Edited December 15, 2015 by JWC

[JWC]

do you have to register those real fancy kites?


To quote a great friend: "to be a free country we sure do have a lot of rules"

[xsubsailor]

I just got this via e-mail from the AMA;

 

AMA and the FAA Registration Process

 

Today the FAA announced plans for a model aircraft registration process to begin next week.  AMA was a member of the task force that helped develop recommendations for this registration rule and argued throughout the process that registration makes sense at some level but only for those operating outside the guidance of a community-based organization or flying for commercial purposes. 

 

Unfortunately, the new FAA registration rule does not include our advice. The rule is counter to Congress's intent in the Special Rule for Model Aircraft and makes the registration process an unnecessary burden for all of our members who have been operating safely for decades.

 

While we are disappointed with the new registration rule and still maintain that AMA members should be exempt from registration, the rule is being implemented over AMA objections. Therefore, we want to provide you with important information about the registration rule and how AMA members can comply with the new federal requirements: 

 

• All aircraft that are flown using a ground control system, such as a transmitter, are required to participate. This includes fixed-wing aircraft, not just multirotors or drones.
• Any pilot flying models weighing between .55 pounds (or 250 grams) and 55 lbs is required to register.
• You will not be required to register every aircraft individually. You only need to register yourself and can affix one registration number to all your aircraft. 
• You must mark all aircraft with your registration number. The number can be inside the aircraft, such as a battery hatch - but should not require tools to access.
• The FAA plans to launch the online registration website on Monday, December 21.
• There is a $5 fee to register, which is waived if you register within the first 30 days.
• You only need to register once every 3 years.

We are still working out the logistics for this process. Some details are still being discussed, including:

• We are seriously discussing with the FAA a system where your AMA number could be used as your federal registration number as well. At this point, this is only a proposal and details are not yet finalized. 
• At this time, AMA members will not automatically be registered when the registration website launches next week.  However, we are in conversations with the FAA about the best way to streamline the registration process for AMA members going forward.   

This is an ongoing process and we will continue to provide updates on the registration rule. Stay tuned to modelaircraft.org/gov, social media and your email for the latest news on the registration process.

 

Thank you,

AMA Government Relations and Advocacy Team

[glowdotGlock]

Do I fly..? Psh.. Me and my dad have been flying for years. He started in 1990. This is a portion of his "fleet". I haven't heard of this new rule but he may have. I'll show him this tonight.

[MP5_Rizzo]

Penalties for failing to register could reach $27,500 in civil fines and $250,000 and three years in prison for criminal penalties. But Michael Whitaker, deputy administrator of FAA, said initial efforts will be to get everyone signed up rather than to punish owners, unless it is an egregious incident.

 

 

Well this should work out just fine, because who would purposely plan and egregious incident and be legally registered?

 

I don't see any possible problems here!