US Government to Require Registration of Recreational Drones

Federal regulators said Monday that they will require recreational drone users to register their aircraft with the government. reports WaPo.

“The signal we’re sending today is that when you’re in the national airspace, it’s a very serious matter,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told reporters.


The FAA and the Transportation Department are setting up a task force composed of government officials and industry representatives to devise the new registration system. Foxx said the group has until Nov. 20 to finalize its recommendations so the government can set up the registry before Christmas — the peak season for drone sales.

It's allegedly because pilots of passenger planes and other aircraft are reporting more than 100 sightings or close calls with rogue drones a month. But notes WaPo:

Requiring drones to be registered will be of limited use for investigators unless the remote-controlled aircraft crash and a registration number can be found. Most drones are too small to appear on radar and do not carry transponders to broadcast their locations.

-RW