If you live in the United States and received one of the 400,000 drones expected to have been purchased this holiday season, be aware that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires you to register your drone before taking it out for a spin.
Why? Already, drones have reportedly interfered with police helicopters and fire departments fighting wildfires. Drones also have the capacity to interfere with others’ privacy (if flown over someone’s backyard without permission taking illegal photos) and possibly disrupt large commercial aircrafts.
And if you don’t register your drone, you risk up to 3 years in jail or up to a $250,000 fine! Ouch!
Don’t be caught out there!
Here are the steps to make sure you are flying your drone legally:
Step One: Determine if you have a drone. The term “drone” refers to a variety of flying devices that are controlled with onboard computers or remotely with a handheld remote, computers or smartphones.
Step Two:
UPDATE: A new law passed in 2017, and signed into law recently,requires even smaller drones between .055 to 55 pounds to be registered. That means even your kid’s small toy drone!
Drones up to 55 lbs can be registered online. Drones that will be used for commercial purposes or those that weigh more than 55 pounds need to be registered using an older, paper-based system.
To give you a good sense of what the FAA is thinking, the agency states if your drone weighs more than 2 sticks of butter, you should register. If you got a toy drone that cost under $100, it probably won’t weigh enough to be required to be registered. However, if you plan to attach an extra item like a camera to your drone which would increase the weight, then you definitely should register it.
Step Three: Determine if you need to register it online or register using a paper form. Citizens and legal permanent residents need to register to get certified. Other owners need to apply on the site, but they will get a different certificate.
Step Four: Go to the FAA site created for registration and Register. It will cost $5 for three years to register online at RegisterMyUAS.faa.gov but if your drone was purchased before December 21, you have until February 19 to register. You’ll have to give the FAA your full name, physical and mailing addresses, and an email address.
Step Five: Get your digital version of the certificate and print it out. The FAA will also send you a certificate. If you loan your drone to friends for the weekend, make sure you give them the certificate too.
Step Six: Write your registration number on all your drones.
Step Seven: Be mindful that local law enforcement will handle the bulk of enforcement for now but eventually, the FAA may take over and do more enforcement.
Step Eight: Don’t fly the drone above 400 feet (the height of a 30 to 40 story building), near airports or populated areas like stadiums.
Step Nine: Never let your drone out of your eyesight.
Step Ten: Have Fun Drone Pilots!
Good luck! Stay out of Drone Jail!
h/t CNN
