The FAA has assembled a task force with the sole purpose of product registration for UAS in the US. Below are the questions they pose, and are looking for comments on their website. See the link at the bottom to take you there and register your comments. This is your opportunity to let your voice be heard as we march toward the new rules to be published next year in 2016.
FAA
- UAS REGISTRATION TASK FORCE QUESTIONS:
1.
What methods are available for identifying individual products? Does every UAS
sold have an individual serial number? Is there another method for identifying
individual products sold without serial numbers or those built from kits?
2.
At what point should registration occur (e.g. point-of-sale or prior-to-operation)?
How should transfers of ownership be addressed in registration?
3.
If registration occurs at point-of-sale, who should be responsible for submission
of the data? What burdens would be placed on vendors of UAS if DOT required
registration to occur at point-of-sale? What are the advantages of a
point-of-sale approach relative to a prior-to-operation approach?
4.
Consistent with past practice of discretion, should certain UAS be excluded
from registration based on performance capabilities or other characteristics
that could be associated with safety risk, such as weight, speed, altitude
operating limitations, duration of flight? If so, please submit information or
data to help support the suggestions, and whether any other criteria should be
considered.
5.
How should a registration process be designed to minimize burdens and best
protect innovation and encourage growth in the UAS industry?
6.
Should the registration be electronic or web-based? Are there existing tools
that could support an electronic registration process?
7.
What type of information should be collected during the registration process to
positively identify the aircraft owner and aircraft?
8.
How should the registration data be stored? Who should have access to the
registration data? How should the data be used?
9.
Should a registration fee be collected and if so, how will the registration fee
be collected if registration occurs at point-of-sale? Are there payment
services that can be leveraged to assist (e.g.PayPal)?
10.
Are there additional means beyond aircraft registration to encourage
accountability and responsible use of UAS?
Comments
received by November 6, 2015 would be most helpful in assisting the UAS
registration task force in developing its recommendations. The comment period
will remain open after this period and the Department will consider the
comments received, in addition to the UAS registration task force's recommendations,
in developing a stream-lined registration process for small UAS, including
model aircraft.
