How To Register Your Drone: FAA's New Program Begins Monday

Monday is the first day of the FAA’s new drone registration initiative, to cut down on drone violations and identify offenders.

Under new FAA drone guidelines, technically for what they call “unmanned aircraft systems,” “all aircraft weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms), including payloads such as on-board cameras, must be registered.”

Before you start panicking: The process is pretty simple and doesn’t involve sitting in a smelly DMV office or waiting for hours on the phone on hold.

Here’s how it works:

• Go to the FAA’s new drone registration website, which launched Monday.
• Enter your email address, credit or debit card and physical address and mailing address.
• The cost will normally be $5 but is free for the first 30 days (until January 20).
• You will receive a certificate with an identification number on it. That number can go on any and all aircraft that meet the FAA’s above criteria.
• See How To Label Your UAS for instructions on how to label your drone.

The FAA also offered a reminder on the following rules for flying a drone:

• Fly below 400 feet altitude.
• Keep your unmanned aircraft in sight at all times.
• Never fly near manned aircraft, especially near airports.
• Never fly over groups of people, stadiums or sporting events.
• Never fly near emergency response efforts.

For more information, visit the FAA’s drone registration page.