The Administrator chartered the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task Force (Task Force) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) on October 20, 2015. The
Administrator selected Task Force members based on their familiarity with UAS, aircraft registration policies and procedures, retail inventory control and tracking, and electronic data capture. The membership was comprised of a diverse group of representatives from trade groups representing manned and unmanned aviation, UAS manufacturers and retailers, and law
enforcement.
The Task Force was tasked with the following three objectives:
31
1. Develop and recommend minimum requirements for UAS that would need to be registered.
2. Develop and recommend registration processes.
3. Develop and recommend methods for proving registration and marking.
On November 21, 2015, the Task Force provided a final report with recommendations pertaining to these three objectives.18
The following table, taken from the Task Force report, describes the Task Force’s recommendations.
Table 4: Small UAS Registration Task Force Aviation Rulemaking Committee Recommendations Summary
Issue Task Force Recommendation
What category of UAS is covered by the registration requirement?
UAS that weigh under 55 pounds and above 250 grams maximum takeoff weight, and are operated outdoors in the NAS.
Do owners need to register each individual UAS they own?
No. The registration system is owner-based, so each registrant will have a single registration number that covers any and all UAS that the registrant owns.
Is registration required at point-of-sale?
No. Registration is mandatory prior to operation of a UAS in the NAS.
What information is required for the registration process?
Name and street address of the registrant are required.
Mailing address, email address, telephone number, and serial number of the aircraft are optional.
Is there a citizenship requirement? No.
Is there a minimum age requirement?
Yes. Persons must be 13 years of age to register.
Is there a registration fee? No.
18 The Task Force final report can be found in the docket for this rulemaking and at https://www.faa.gov/uas/publications/media/RTFARCFinalReport_11-21-15.pdf.
32
Is the registration system electronic or web-based?
The system for entry of information into the database is web-based and also allows for multiple entry points, powered by an API [application programming interface] that will enable custom apps [applications] to provide registry information to the database and receive registration numbers and certificates back from the database. Registrants can also modify their information through the web or apps.
How does a UAS owner prove registration?
A certificate of registration will be sent to the registrant at the time of registration. The certificate will be sent electronically, unless a paper copy is requested, or unless the traditional aircraft registration process is utilized. The registration certificate will contain the registrant’s name, FAA-issued registration number, and the FAA registration website that can be used by authorized users to confirm registration
information. For registrants who elect to provide the serial number(s) of their aircraft to the FAA, the certificate will also contain those serial number(s). Any time a registered UAS is in operation, the operator of that UAS should be prepared to produce the certificate of registration for inspection.
Does the registration number have to be affixed to the aircraft?
Yes, unless the registrant chooses to provide the FAA with the aircraft’s serial number. Whether the owner chooses to rely on the serial number or affix the FAA-issued registration number to the aircraft, the marking must be readily accessible and maintained in a condition that is readable and legible upon close visual inspection. Markings enclosed in a compartment, such as a battery compartment, will be considered “readily accessible” if they can be accessed without the use of tools.
In its report, the Task Force stated, “[T]he general consensus view of the Task Force is that the recommendations on the three objectives are to be presented together as a unified recommendation, with each of the individual recommendations dependent upon elements in the others. Compromises in positions were made whenever possible to obtain a general consensus, and changes to any of the components could further dilute support among the Task Force members and their constituencies for the final recommendations.”
The agency has assessed the recommendations within statutory limitations provided for aircraft registration and with this final rule, will move forward with the elements of the Task Force report that support the best public policy for registering small unmanned aircraft.
33 VII. Discussion of the Interim Final Rule
This IFR adds part 48 to title 14 to allow for a web-based registration process and
marking appropriate for small unmanned aircraft. For these aircraft, part 48 may be used in place of the paper-based, registration process in part 47 and the marking requirements in part 45 that would otherwise be required.
Unlike manned aircraft, small unmanned aircraft cost significantly less than manned aircraft and are available through a variety of different markets for purchase by individuals who may not be familiar with the federal safety requirements for operating in the NAS. As a
consequence, small unmanned aircraft may become more common than manned aircraft, resulting in a significant volume of new aircraft registrations. This rule provides for a streamlined and simple registration process that is commensurate to the nature of small unmanned aircraft, can accommodate an expected high volume of registrations, and will facilitate compliance by using a web-based platform and limiting the information to that which can identify the aircraft and its owner. Upon registration under new part 48, the FAA will assign a unique registration number and provide a registration certificate that can be stored
electronically or printed by the aircraft owner.
The FAA recognizes that some small unmanned aircraft owners may choose to continue to register small unmanned aircraft under part 47. For example, some small unmanned aircraft owners may choose to register their small unmanned aircraft under part 47 due to financing requirements or if they wish to operate internationally, displaying registration marks in
accordance with part 45. While this final rule does not require small unmanned aircraft owners to use the part 48 registration process in place of part 47, the agency strongly encourages small unmanned aircraft owners to take advantage of the more efficient part 48 method of aircraft
34
registration. The FAA also notes that a new part 48 registration does not limit an owner’s ability to later move to a traditional part 47 registration should its operational or financial interests change. Conversely, a traditional part 47 registration of small unmanned aircraft can be moved to a new part 48 registration at the discretion of the owner if they wish to pursue that venue.
A. Applicability