FAA On Quadcopters

Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan

New Member
Guys, so i was roaming around and found this site Quadcopter Reviews. Saw something really interesting and i am sure many of you already know it. I thought i would summarize it for those who don't know about the FAA policy on Quadcopters.

First of all, FAA doesn't differentiate between a drone or a quadcopter. All are same in their eyes and here is the current scenario:

If you are in the US, you will have to register if you fly anything larger than ~ 250 grams/.55 pounds, and if you fly outside, the pilot/operator registers, and then all their aircraft can share the same number.

The registration fee is $5 for 3 years which should not be a problem to the Quadcopter owners. What is your thoughts on this?
 
Basically BS! The bad guys never will register. How many people drive around on suspended driver's licenses? How many crooks own unregistered handguns? This will just be another unenforceable rule. How many people know that it is illegal to ride your mule on a county road without a lantern hanging from its tail? Who enforces that one? The police in my township have a bear of a time cracking down on those that use illegal fireworks and those are more dangerous than a quadcopter. Another bureaucratic way of taking more money out of your pocket. Remember the famous CB Radio License? There was a fee for a 5 year term on that license. Now you can still get a CB License, but's its free and has little effect on those that use CB Radios illegally. What will be the fine and jail term for flying a quadcopter without a license? The same as a car? What judge is going to make a call on that one? There's no enforcement rules locally. The FAA is opening a can of worms on this one, which is something they usually do anyways
 
@LoneRCRanger

Driver licensing has been effective because it's supported by the necessary enforcement infrastructure (cop patrols) to influence the risk-reward perception of drivers.

Hard to tell at this point how drone registration will play out. There may need to be some direct regulation of OEMs (which, considering Shenzhen-based DJI owns 70+ percent of the market, will be a monumental task). And there certainly are legality questions regarding the FAA's authority to issue licenses like this.

That said, I plan to register my drone shortly. The law is the law. We'll see whether that registration means anything in a couple years from now.
 
I'm personally not going to comply. If a cop asks I'll just give him a real confused look and say it was a gift and play the ignorant card.
 
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I really don't understand what the big deal is. It just took a few minutes to register. I just registered on the 20th.
Register before midnight EST, January 21st, 2016 and your $5 registration fee will be refunded!
Click to expand...

You don't even have to have the number showing on your multirotor.
The registration number may be placed in a battery compartment as long as it can be accessed without the use of tools.
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Which by extension means that the number can be placed under the battery if you don't have an official compartment.

I already printed out my card, it's CC sized, and tucked it in my wallet. You don't even have to do that, just whip out your phone.
Q43. Do I have to have a printout of my certificate with me?

A. No. If you are asked to show your certificate of registration, you can show it electronically. You do not have to print the certificate.
Click to expand...

Having your number in a visible location may actually be good thing in case of a flyaway. Folks often recommend putting your name/phone number etc, on your bird in hopes of having it returned.
 
Jackson you know what my problem is? I'm sick and tired of our government micromanaging my(our) life. All I want to do is have a nice hobby that I can relax doing in my shop at home. I find it to be a form of therapy for me, but I'm sure everyone has their own reasons. It's like the previous poster said: someone whose going to break the law isn't going to stop because their quad isn't registered. Give me a break. Listen, I won't go on with this but our government puts countless American lives in danger every day. That's ok right?? But don't fly your quad after a long day at work!! Oh no don't do that!!!!!
 
Jackson said:
I really don't understand what the big deal is. It just took a few minutes to register. I just registered on the 20th.


You don't even have to have the number showing on your multirotor.


Which by extension means that the number can be placed under the battery if you don't have an official compartment.

I already printed out my card, it's CC sized, and tucked it in my wallet. You don't even have to do that, just whip out your phone.


Having your number in a visible location may actually be good thing in case of a flyaway. Folks often recommend putting your name/phone number etc, on your bird in hopes of having it returned.
Click to expand...
You can type your registration number along with your phone number and a cash reward offer on a strip of adhesive tape and stick it on the body of your drone. That will greatly enhance the likelihood of it being returned. A $10 offer is about right for the average toy-grade quad, $50 - $100 for the Phantom, Solo, Inspire category.

The only problem with that, and the real purpose of the registration requirement, is if your drone happens to crash and cause damage it will be returned to you by the victim's lawyer -- and a cop.
 
MikeK said:
You can type your registration number along with your phone number and a cash reward offer on a strip of adhesive tape and stick it on the body of your drone. That will greatly enhance the likelihood of it being returned. A $10 offer is about right for the average toy-grade quad, $50 - $100 for the Phantom, Solo, Inspire category.

The only problem with that, and the real purpose of the registration requirement, is if your drone happens to crash and cause damage it will be returned to you by the victim's lawyer -- and a cop.
Click to expand...

Not too many cases yet of law enforcement being unable to locate the PIC of an offending UAS (the forest fire snafu over the summer was a notable exception), particularly with the VLOS requirement. But point taken.
 
Alex Morgan said:
Guys, so i was roaming around and found this site Quadcopter Reviews. Saw something really interesting and i am sure many of you already know it. I thought i would summarize it for those who don't know about the FAA policy on Quadcopters.

First of all, FAA doesn't differentiate between a drone or a quadcopter. All are same in their eyes and here is the current scenario:

If you are in the US, you will have to register if you fly anything larger than ~ 250 grams/.55 pounds, and if you fly outside, the pilot/operator registers, and then all their aircraft can share the same number.

The registration fee is $5 for 3 years which should not be a problem to the Quadcopter owners. What is your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
The Chief knows a l;ot watch his channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU_njEXGIDWfFKFc69RTeA
 
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