Before flying in the United States, do you know that registration with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is required prior to takeoff? For pilots and aviation professionals who have ever held command of a flight or aircraft operation, this principle is likely to be well-known. As of subsequent updates from the FAA, pilots are now required to display their registration number prior to each flight.
Effective February 25, 2019, all crafts will display registration numbers externally.
The concept is straightforward, with no ambiguity surrounding its simplicity or profundity. With the proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or drones, in various industries and applications, it’s not surprising that manufacturers are assigning unique identifiers to these aircraft.
Distinctive figuring-out numbers are intended to uniquely identify the owner of these machines, but only for authorized groups, such as law enforcement and air traffic control.
The registration information for your drone should be easily accessible on its display.
While a stranger may not be able to glean an individual’s identity or vehicle license plate information from a passing glance, nor would they have the capability to access drone registration numbers without authorization?
The secret is accountability. The primary advantage of this technology lies in facilitating swift identification and attribution for law enforcement purposes. Drones have gained notoriety for their role in harassing people and disrupting airport operations during shutdowns. It’s likely that the travelers stranded at Gatwick airport would have appreciated knowing that a drone pilot faced consequences for the disruptions, rather than simply being caught in the chaos. (If indeed a drone had been responsible for the distress, but that is another issue altogether.)
What do you do?
While there is no formal guideline for displaying registration numbers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does outline three acceptable methods. You can also engrave the registration number onto the piece, using a label maker as an option, or alternatively, take up a marker and start writing directly.
If you haven’t fully registered, you’ll need to begin from the starting point.
Professional pilots operating drones for compensation, including photography and videography services, must obtain their Part 107 remote pilot certificate and adhere to specific regulations to ensure safe and compliant flight operations.
