FAA introduces unworkable drone registration rules in time for Christmas

[tangor]

The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has announced a new rule that will require the owners of almost every drone in the United States to register it with the federal government – and pay $5 for the pleasure of doing so.

Concerned with the booming number of flying toys, especially the 25 reports a month being filed with the FAA of people in aircraft spotting drones near their flight paths, the FAA has decided to implement the new rules [PDF] in an effort to get things under control.

[theregister.co.uk...]

[tangor]

More "drone" news from The Register today:

FAA approves Amazon US drone flight just months after firm gave up and went to Canada
[theregister.co.uk...]

[toidi]

Meanwhile, if i want to take aerial pictures of one of my properties for sale i have to get my pilots license first.

[graeme_p]

According to the article the regulation is pointless, unenforceable, and probably exceeds their authority. Business as usual as far as governments dealing with new technology goes. It is not as stupid as, for example, the EU cookie law.

[tangor]

But like the cookie law, equally useless. :)

In the USA, property owners control the airspace above their homes to 83 feet. Between 83 feet and 400 the FAA has no authority. FAA controls from 500 feet to infinity (or at least to best height aircraft can achieve (about 110,000 feet).

Personally I am not a fan of drones (though in my youth I did RC aircraft for a few years until the expense of multi-engined models killed my interest), but this kind of overreach should serve to offer both chuckles and ire.

[engine]

Woaaaah, this is a badly thought through policy. I agree there needs to be guidance, at the very least, but this is going to be impossible to police.
For example, how would anyone know it's above 83 feet!

[birdbrain]

For example, how would anyone know it's above 83 feet!

Check the altimeter perhaps? ;)

birdbrain