FREDERICK, MD – The FAA announced, November 23, 2015, that it has accepted the final recommendations of its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force Aviation Rulemaking Committee, and has begun the rulemaking process, moving the agency one step closer to establishing registration procedures ahead of anticipated record holiday sales of drones. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) participated in the task force, along with 24 other organizations representing the manned and unmanned aircraft communities, drone manufacturers, and retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart, that hope to use drones in their businesses.
“The real goal is to create a culture of accountability and safety—and that means giving operators the information they need to fly safely while making it as easy as possible for them to participate in the system,” said Jim Coon, AOPA senior vice president of government affairs, who represented the association on the panel.
“Throughout the process, AOPA argued for rules that would ensure safety, protect the National Airspace System (NAS), and support participation and innovation in the drone community.
The task force, which met for three days in early November, was charged with developing recommendations for what types of UAS would need to be registered, registration processes, and establishing proof of registration and markings (www.aopa.org).