Proposed FAA Unmanned Aircraft Registry

Today, House Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administrator Michael Huerta outlining their top priorities in establishing a national registry for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). A federal task force organized by the FAA was announced in October with a goal of having recommendations prepared for mid-December. The task force held its first meeting yesterday.

“The government and industry task force the Department of Transportation launched last month to consider how best to institute a recreational UAS registration requirement is an important step forward for safety. We believe that aircraft registration is an important part of a comprehensive safety solution. The following four issues are our top priorities to be addressed in the registration process, and we ask that the task force consider them as it develops its recommendations,” reads the letter from Chairman LoBiondo and Ranking Member Larsen.

The full text of the letter to FAA Administrator Huerta is as follows:

November 4, 2015

The Honorable Michael P. Huerta
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration

Dear Administrator Huerta:

We appreciate your continued efforts and work with the House Aviation Subcommittee to safely integrate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace. The government and industry task force the Department of Transportation launched last month to consider how best to institute a recreational UAS registration requirement is an important step forward for safety. We believe that aircraft registration is an important part of a comprehensive safety solution. The following four issues are our top priorities to be addressed in the registration process, and we ask that the task force consider them as it develops its recommendations.

1. Streamlined Process: The registration process should be entirely accessible to ordinary consumers who are becoming users of the airspace for the first time. Keeping the process simple will promote participation.

2. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Access to Data: A key purpose of registration is to create a long-term deterrent to unauthorized UAS operations by establishing a means for detecting and prosecuting those who violate the law. In order for this approach to be effective, we believe the FAA must have access to the data regardless of whether a public or private entity operates the registry just as the agency has access to registration data of manned aircraft today.

3. Education and Training: The registration process should include a knowledge or training component to ensure that consumers are made aware of the federal aviation laws and the consequences of violating them. The FAA’s Know Before You Fly campaign is a good start, but may not reach the entire new massive consumer drone market. The task force should examine what further education and public outreach efforts should be made.

4. Incentives for Consumers to Register: Requiring registration as a prerequisite to receive software updates and other improvements from manufacturers may incentivize consumers to register their UAS.

Thank you again for your focus on safely integrating unmanned aircraft. We look forward to continuing to work with you as we move forward with FAA Reauthorization legislation.

Sincerely,