FAA Creates New Task Force to Study Non-Commercial Drone Registration
The Federal Aviation Administration announced today that it was creating a task force to develop recommendations for a registration process for all consumer drones—even those flown by hobbyists and therefore not subject to proposed rules governing commercial use of drones. This action is recognition that the distinction between commercial and non-commercial use may not make a difference in achieving safety and security goals. The task force is expected to provide a report by Thanksgiving.
It is not at all clear how the registration process will work. Will there be exemptions for small or lightweight drones, or drones that are incapable of flying above a certain height? Will the registration requirements apply retroactively? What about drones that are not purchased fully functional, but are assembled by hobbyists from separate parts? Finally, absent legislative or regulatory action, will the FAA actually be able to implement any recommendations proposed by the task force?
More fundamentally, requiring hobbyists to register a drone may not address operational restrictions that continue to emphasize the difference between commercial and hobbyist use. Non-commercial use is still going to be largely free from restrictions such as geographical restrictions, speed or height restrictions, and other regulations that address potentially unsafe operation.