Learn why you need to resister your drone with the FAA in order to fly in the United States. This covers policies that affect hobbyist and commercial flyers.
A Journey Into the Emotions of Software Developers
UAS & Drone Registration Overview
1. Registering a Drone
or Quadcopter
Unmanned Aircraft Systems Registration
Richard Harrington
2. Agenda
• Review the new requirements for Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (UAS) Registration
• Evaluate which devices are affected by the new rules
• Review the Registration and Marking Requirements for
Small Unmanned Aircraft Interim Final Rule
• Walk through the registration process
3. Who Am I?
• Publisher of photofocus.com
• Author 40+ Books for Photographers and
Video Pros
• Author 100+ Video Courses
• Program Manager for the National Association of
Broadcaster’s Post|Production World Conference
• Photographer
• Quadcopter hobbyist
4. Who I Am Not…
• A lawyer
• A pilot
• An employee of the Federal Aviation
Administration
7. “Make no mistake: unmanned
aircraft enthusiasts are aviators,
and with that title comes a great
deal of responsibility.”
– U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx
8. “Registration gives us an
opportunity to work with these
users to operate their unmanned
aircraft safely.”
– U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx
9. “I’m excited to welcome these
new aviators into the culture of
safety and responsibility that
defines American innovation.”
– U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx
10. Why the New Rules?
• The estimate for 2015 sales indicates that
1.6 million small unmanned aircraft intended
to be used as model aircraft are expected to
be sold.
• The rapid proliferation of new small UAS will
bring owners and operators who are new to
aviation and have no understanding of the
National Air Space or the safety
requirements for operating.
11. Why the New Rules?
• Registration will provide a means by which
to quickly identify these small unmanned
aircraft in the event of an incident or
accident involving the small UAS.
• Registration of small unmanned aircraft also
provides an immediate and direct
opportunity for the FAA to educate small
UAS owners on safety requirements before
they begin operating.
12. 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Hobbyist
(model aircraft)
1.6 1.9 2.3 2.9 3.5 4.3
Commercial
(non-model aircraft)
0.0 0.6 2.5 2.6 2.6 2.7
Total 1.6 2.5 4.8 5.4 6.1 7.1
Note: numbers may not add due to rounding
Sales Forecast
Summary Million sUAS units
13. Who’s Affected by the New Rules
• Owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55
pounds and less than 55 pounds
• This includes any payloads such as on-board cameras
• Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all aircraft
• A permit or license required by law to allow you to engage in a
certain activity
14. Who’s Affected by the New Rules
• 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.
15. Who’s Affected by the New Rules
• 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 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.
18. ANSWER:
A UAS is an unmanned aircraft system.
A drone and a UAS are the same for
registration purposes.
19. QUESTION:
Does the FAA have the authority to
require registration of UAS used by
modelers and hobbyists?
20. ANSWER:
Yes. By statute all aircraft are required to
register. Congress has defined “aircraft”
to include UAS, regardless of whether
they are operated by modelers and
hobbyists.
22. ANSWER:
Failure to register an aircraft may result in
regulatory and criminal sanctions.
The FAA may assess civil penalties up to
$27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of
up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up
to three years.
26. ANSWER:
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.
28. ANSWER:
You can find safety and operating
guidance on the internet at
www.faa.gov/uas/model_aircraft. The
unmanned aircraft systems website
contains important safety guidance as
well as other facts and information.
32. Most Toy Devices are Not Affected
• Do not need to register if they weigh below 250 gm/0.55 pounds
• Most "toys" the FAA has identified at a purchase price of $100 or
less have been determined to weigh less than 250g
• You can find more information in this Recreational UAS Weights
document — http://bit.ly/toydrones
33. Most Toy Devices Are Not Affected
Name Weight Register
Air Hogs Helix X4 Stunt 0.11 No
Air Hogs Millenium Falcon 0.29 No
Extreme Fliers Micro Drone 2.0 0.08 No
Helimax 1SQ 0.07 No
Helimax 1SQ V-cam 0.07 No
Helimax 1Si (with camera) 0.10 No
Helimax 230Si (with camera) 0.30 No
Hubsan x4 (H107L) 0.50 No
Hubsan x4 Nano 0.03 No
Hubsan x4 camera 0.10 No
Research by Wired Magazine
34. Most Toy Devices Are Not Affected
Name Weight Register
Parrot Airborne Cargo minidrone 0.10 No
Parrot Airborne Night minidrone 0.10 No
Parrot Rolling Spider minidrone 0.10 No
Sky Viper 0.29 No
Syma X5 0.20 No
Syma X5C 0.20 No
UDI Discovery 0.29 No
Research by Wired Magazine
35. All Other UAS Must Register
• Unmanned aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds and more than
0.55 pounds (250 grams) on takeoff, including everything that is on
board or otherwise attached to the aircraft and operated outdoors
in the national airspace system must register.
• These aircraft may register under the new web-based registration
system.
• An "unmanned aircraft system" includes the communication links
and components that control the small unmanned aircraft along
with all of the other elements needed to safely operate the drone.
36. All Other UAS Must Register
• Paper airplanes, toy balloons, Frisbees, and similar items are not
connected to such control system.
• Both tethered and untethered UAS must be registered.
• If you fly in your backyard, you still need to register.
• If you only fly a UAS indoors, you do not have to register.
• Homemade drones need to be registered if they fall within the
weight criteria.
37. Other UAS Are Affected
Name Weight Register
3DR Iris+ 2.8 Yes
3DR Solo (with gimbal) 3.9 Yes
3DR Solo (without gimbal) 3.3 Yes
DJI Inspire 1 6.5 Yes
DJI Inspire Pro 6.3 Yes
DJI Phantom 3 Advanced 2.8 Yes
DJI Phantom 3 Professional 2.8 Yes
DJI Phantom 3 Standard 2.7 Yes
Helimax FORM500 3.1 Yes
Helimax Voltage 500 - 3D 2 Yes
Research by Wired Magazine
38. Other UAS Are Affected
Name Weight Register
Hubsan x4 FPV 0.8 Yes
Hubsan x4 Pro 2.3 Yes
Parrot AR.Drone 2.0 (Elite Edition) 0.9 Yes
Parrot Bebop 0.9 Yes
Parrot Bebop 2 1.1 Yes
UDI U818A HD 0.8 Yes
UDI U818A-1 Discovery (HD model) 0.8 Yes
UDI U842 Falcon 0.8 Yes
Yuneec Typhoon G 3.7 Yes
Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K 3.7 Yes
Yuneec Typhoon Q500+ 3.7 Yes
Research by Wired Magazine
39. All Other UAS Must Register
• If you own a drone before December 21, 2015 you must register
it by February 19, 2016
• If you buy it after December 21, 2015 you must register it before
your first flight
40. What About the Rest?
• UAS that are 55 pounds or more must be registered using the
current paper-based system at: http://bit.ly/paperdrones
• The new system does not yet support registration of small UAS
used in connection with a business. It will in the future.
• For now you need to register using the paper-based process at
http://bit.ly/paperdrones
43. The Registration Process
• The new registration system is an online web-based system only,
but you may use the older paper-based system if you prefer.
• You must be 13 years of age or older before you are permitted to
register an unmanned aircraft. If the owner is less than 13 years of
age, then a person who is at least 13 years of age must register
the unmanned aircraft.
• Only United States citizens can register their small UAS.
The certificate serves as a certificate of ownership for non-citizens,
not a registration certificate.
44. The Registration Process
• You can register your drone on FAA.gov beginning on
December 21, 2015.
• Owners who purchased their UAS prior to December 21, 2015 will
have 60 days to register.
• All UAS operated prior to December 21, 2015, must be registered
no later than February 19, 2016.
• New purchasers must register prior to operating the UAS outdoors.
45. The Registration Process
• You must provide your complete name, physical address, mailing
address, and an email address.
• The email address will be used as your login ID when you set up
your account.
• Individual recreational users do not have to enter the make, model,
and serial number.
• Recreational users may register once and apply the same
registration number to all of your UAS.
46. How Long Will it Take?
• To register an aircraft via the paper-based system is 30 minutes.
• For a model aircraft owner to establish an online account and register an
aircraft is estimated to take 5 minutes. The bulk of this time includes
reading and acknowledging basic safety information presented during
the registration process.
• For a non-modeler registrant to establish an online account and register
two small unmanned aircraft is 7 minutes; 5 minutes to establish an
account plus 1 minute per small unmanned aircraft.
• For a non-modeler registrant to de-register each aircraft is three minutes.
47. Model Aircraft Operations
• Fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles
• Keep the aircraft within visual line of sight at all times
• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations
• Don't fly within 5 miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control
tower before flying
• Don't fly near people or stadiums
• Don't fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55 lbs
• Don't be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft – you could be fined
for endangering people or other aircraft
48. The Registration Process
• All non-recreational users will be required to provide the make,
model, and serial number when the website is available to all other
users.
• You must register each and apply a unique registration number to
all your UAS.
49. Civil Operations (Non-Governmental)
• Section 333 Exemption – a grant of exemption in accordance with
Section 333 AND a civil Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA);
this process may be used to perform commercial operations in low-
risk, controlled environments.
• Special Airworthiness Certificate (SAC) – applicants must be
able to describe how their system is designed, constructed, and
manufactured, including engineering processes, software
development and control, configuration management, and quality
assurance procedures used, along with how and where they intend
to fly.
50. The Cost of Registration
• Federal law requires owners to pay $5 to register their aircraft.
• The FAA is legally required to charge a registration fee.
• The credit card transaction helps authenticate the user.
• The fee pays for the costs of creating the streamlined web-based
registry system, and to maintain and improve this system.
• Hobbyists pay $5 for all aircraft.
• Non-Hobbyists pay $5 per aircraft.
51. Free Registration
• Registration is free for the first 30 days to encourage speedy
registration (until January 20, 2016).
• You must pay $5 with a credit card and a credit will appear shortly
afterwards.
54. The Certificate of Registration
• A certificate of registration will be available to download and will be
sent to your email address at the time of registration.
• When operating your UAS you must be able to present the
certificate in either print or electronic format if asked for proof of
registration.
• Anyone who operates your drone must have the Certificate of
Aircraft Registration in their possession.
• You can give them a paper copy, email it to them, or they can show
it electronically from the registration website.
55. The Certificate of Registration
• All users can submit information to the UAS registry; however, the
law only permits the FAA to register aircraft belonging to United
States citizens and permanent residents.
• For all others, the certificate received from the registry comprises a
recognition of ownership, rather than a registration.
• Foreign nationals who have completed the recognition of
ownership process and wish to receive a rebate for the $5
registration fee may contact the FAA.
56. The Certificate of 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.
57. Labeling Your Drone
• You will receive a unique FAA registration number, and you must
mark the registration number on your UAS by some means that is
legible and allows the number to be readily seen.
• The registration number may be placed in a battery compartment
as long as it can be accessed without the use of tools.
• You may use any method to affix the number, such as permanent
marker, label, engraving, or other means, as long as the number is
readily accessible and maintained in a condition that is readable
and legible upon close visual inspection.
58. Operation Procedure
• Completion of the registration process does not provide
authorization to operate your UAS.
• Please refer to www.faa.gov/uas/faq for requirements pertaining to
operating authorization.
• Typical buildings have floors that are 12-14 feet high.
• A 30-40 story building would be about 400 feet high. If you lose
sight of your unmanned aircraft, it is probably above 400 feet.
59. Model Aircraft Operations
• Fly below 400 feet and remain clear of surrounding obstacles
• Keep the aircraft within visual line of sight at all times
• Remain well clear of and do not interfere with manned aircraft operations
• Don't fly within 5 miles of an airport unless you contact the airport and control
tower before flying
• Don't fly near people or stadiums
• Don't fly an aircraft that weighs more than 55 lbs
• Don't be careless or reckless with your unmanned aircraft – you could be fined
for endangering people or other aircraft