If you have a drone, the federal government would like to know about it.
Today’s the day that the Federal Aviation Administration is asking demanding drone owners register their unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Even hobbyists.
Drones weighing less than 55 lbs. are required to register, or users may face a penalty of up to $250,000.
According to the FAA: “If you own a drone, you must register it with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) registry. A federal law effective December 21, 2015 requires unmanned aircraft registration, and you are subject to civil and criminal penalties if you do not register.”
To complete that process, go here: https://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/
Here are four regulations you may not know about flying drones:
- They must be kept under 400 feet.
- They may not be flown in public areas, such as schools or parks.
- They must not be flown within 5 miles of an airport.
- Users must have visible contact with their drone at all times.
University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) researchers are warning that UAS users are not be flying their drones within five miles of the area’s two airports.
“In northern Nevada we are in a unique scenario as our Reno-Tahoe Airport is nestled in the heart of a valley surrounded by mountains,” said Warren Rapp, a director at UNR’s Nevada Advanced Autonomous Systems Innovation Center and a former military drone pilot. “Obviously our Reno-Tahoe International Airport falls within these restrictions. Our University campus is only 3.1 miles from the airport, which even restricts our students and researchers from flying them anywhere on campus. Residents around the Reno-Stead Airport should be aware of this regulation too.”
If you are new to drones, a new local company, AboveNV, has launched to help hobbyists and businesses understand drone regulations. Read more here: https://thisisreno.com/2015/12/drone-firm-to-educate-hobbyists-and-serve-businesses/
