FAA: Drone Owners Now Required To Register
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Many South Floridians may find drones under their Christmas trees next week but that new toy may come with a requirement.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will now require those with a drone to register it with the government.
When the FAA registration website goes live next Monday, current drone owners will have two months to register. Newly purchased devices will have to be registered before taking flight.
"I think this does add a level of seriousness to the operation of the drone," said former FAA Assistant Administrator Scott Brenner.
When asked if the administration needed a drone registration program, Brenner said "I think the FAA was struggling with how we educate new users….and by creating this registry, now we have a direct link to every user which will allow us to do a tremendous amount of education.
The FAA hopes that education will prevent more close calls in the air.
A new report identified 158 incidents in the last two years where a drone came within 200 feet of another aircraft. Twenty-eight times the pilot had to take evasive maneuvers. There has never been a confirmed collision between a drone and another aircraft.
The new registration system will require drone owners to give their name, mailing address and email, and pay a $5 dollar fee.
The FAA is waiving the $5 fee for the first 30 days of the program. All operators will be given an identification number to display on their drone.