Due to the large number of idiots who own drones... more regulations

[rudder]

http://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/

It will be officially in business in 7 days. Too many goofballs flying drones and trying to get some uber cool shots of jets flying by.

People have been flying RC planes (freaking huge ones as well) responsibly since they were first made but I guess since the advent of computer assisted stability and the ability to attach a camera the popularity has boomed.

Now the FAA has to charge $5 to register a drone. This is for the $18 billion new computer system that will be needed to track users ( I kid about the last part).

 

[Gardener]

No registration for drones under 250 grams = 0.55lbs.

So the Hubsan x4's I purchased for xmas gifts are well below the threshold.

 

[buckshot24]

No registration for drones under 250 grams = 0.55lbs.

So the Hubsan x4's I purchased for xmas gifts are well below the threshold.

Mine is 56 pounds so doesn't need registering.:sneaky:

 

[buckshot24]

Mine is 56 pounds so doesn't need registering.:sneaky:

Crap.

Q. Where do I register if my unmanned aircraft weighs 55 pounds or more?
A. UAS that are 55 pounds or more must be registered using the current paper based system at: http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/

 

[cbrunny]

This seems silly. Anyone who would intentionally do harm with a drone would have a much easier time just going and buying a gun instead. Way less red tape.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

A few days before Christmas, coincidence? :sneaky:
Oh, and the aircraft isn't whats being registered, YOU are. Apart from just your name and address, an email, AND CREDIT CARD are required. This info will go into a data base maintained by a private contractor, but don't worry it will be safe,

 

[runzwithsizorz]

No registration for drones under 250 grams = 0.55lbs.

So the Hubsan x4's I purchased for xmas gifts are well below the threshold.

Less than what 2 sticks of butter weigh and you are golden.
Bare in mind that this is launch weight, so if your Hubsan can carry a 1/4 stick of butter, you will have to register.
This is your government baby, ass, or cash nobody rides for free.

 

[Subyman]

Rc planes and helicopters have been around for a long time. I used to play with them when I was young. Now the learning curve is nonexistent so you get the jack asses working them.

 

[DrPizza]

A few days before Christmas, coincidence? :sneaky:
Oh, and the aircraft isn't whats being registered, YOU are. Apart from just your name and address, an email, AND CREDIT CARD are required. This info will go into a data base maintained by a private contractor, but don't worry it will be safe,

They've been working on the new regulations for quite some time now and announced long ago that they would be out before Christmas this year. It's kind of stupid though - if a jet has a close call with some idiot's quadcopter, because the idiot wanted a cool video of a jet landing, how are they going to catch the idiot, unless his quadcopter crashes? And, if some terrorist group wants to take out a jet, what's going to stop them from sending 20 of these things into the path of the engines of a jet just after it takes off - say, at an altitude of 500 feet or so? Thus, my conclusion is that this is simply theater to make people feel at ease that they're doing something about the perceived problem, though the perceived problem isn't really a problem, since no one is intentionally flying these things into jet engines.

 

[buckshot24]

This seems silly. Anyone who would intentionally do harm with a drone would have a much easier time just going and buying a gun instead. Way less red tape.

If your plan is to do something criminal with your drone, there is no way you register the thing.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

They've been working on the new regulations for quite some time now and announced long ago that they would be out before Christmas this year. It's kind of stupid though - if a jet has a close call with some idiot's quadcopter, because the idiot wanted a cool video of a jet landing, how are they going to catch the idiot, unless his quadcopter crashes? And, if some terrorist group wants to take out a jet, what's going to stop them from sending 20 of these things into the path of the engines of a jet just after it takes off - say, at an altitude of 500 feet or so? Thus, my conclusion is that this is simply theater to make people feel at ease that they're doing something about the perceived problem, though the perceived problem isn't really a problem, since no one is intentionally flying these things into jet engines.

"theater"? or just a smart business move? Think of the children! Actually our governor has. He just authorized a 2% pay raise for teachers to go into effect right before the 2018 school year.

 

[Subyman]

They've been working on the new regulations for quite some time now and announced long ago that they would be out before Christmas this year. It's kind of stupid though - if a jet has a close call with some idiot's quadcopter, because the idiot wanted a cool video of a jet landing, how are they going to catch the idiot, unless his quadcopter crashes? And, if some terrorist group wants to take out a jet, what's going to stop them from sending 20 of these things into the path of the engines of a jet just after it takes off - say, at an altitude of 500 feet or so? Thus, my conclusion is that this is simply theater to make people feel at ease that they're doing something about the perceived problem, though the perceived problem isn't really a problem, since no one is intentionally flying these things into jet engines.

Something good that comes out of regulations is a general adoption of the regulation. Of course criminals and terrorists aren't going to mind the rules, but little Timmy's informed dad may mind them. Thus the thousands of kids that get these things may follow the rules and avoid potential issues. I'd think a smart direction would be requiring the drone manufacturers to add an altitude limiter to the firmware of the drone unless it is for commercial purposes and licensed. That would prevent a large number of the consumers of these drones from breaking the regulations.

 

[Thebobo]

Rc planes and helicopters have been around for a long time. I used to play with them when I was young. Now the learning curve is nonexistent so you get the jack asses working them.

This is so true and because back in the day you had to be serious to get into the hobby because it was expensive and you had to build your plane. Everything was a kit, this in-itself required a little more discipline. Now you can buy a drone at 7 11.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Rc planes and helicopters have been around for a long time. I used to play with them when I was young. Now the learning curve is nonexistent so you get the jack asses working them.

I always wanted one, never got one, but aren't those rc heli's a bitch to fly?

 

[MomentsofSanity]

I always wanted one, never got one, but aren't those rc heli's a bitch to fly?

They are a challenge to learn out of the box yes if you mean the single rotor collective pitch models. The new quads etc... my 7 year old can fly my Phantom with no direction at all.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Mark my words; registration will soon be required at purchase. Oh, and can you just imagine no knock warrants cuz somebody said you own one?
FREEZE! drop your transmitter. Suspect wearing Fatshark goggles did not respond to officers commands within 3 seconds, good shoot.

 

[Genx87]

Another law to harass the avg citizen. All in the name of security theater. Murrica

 

[PliotronX]

 

[buckshot24]

Something good that comes out of regulations is a general adoption of the regulation. Of course criminals and terrorists aren't going to mind the rules, but little Timmy's informed dad may mind them. Thus the thousands of kids that get these things may follow the rules and avoid potential issues. I'd think a smart direction would be requiring the drone manufacturers to add an altitude limiter to the firmware of the drone unless it is for commercial purposes and licensed. That would prevent a large number of the consumers of these drones from breaking the regulations.

Do you really think "Timmy" is going to think about the registration, at all?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Pay close attention to the words used between 3:40, and 4:20.
To quote an old game; Zee ladder, it is destroyed. Zay have sealed us in here. Get ready, zay are coming!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6qEPIv0IYM

Oh, and BTW, since when do I *NEED* a credit card to verify my identity?????

 

[shabby]

Now the FAA has to charge $5 to register a drone.

Whats the fine if you don't register?

 

[runzwithsizorz]

Whats the fine if you don't register?

"Failure to register an aircraft may result in regulatory and criminal sanctions. The FAA may assess civil penalties up to $27,500. Criminal penalties include fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years."

Whoa, at that price, and the bounty being offered, I just might have to turn you in myself. Even if the search does not find a remote controlled aircraft, the fact that your wife does not have one pair of lacy thong panties is criminal, OR at least it should be *documented*.

 

[rudder]

The crazy thing is you can go buy an ultralight under 1200 pounds and you don't need to register it. Of course ultralight pilots are smart enough to not go near a jet.

So with registration you get the equivalent of an N number. Which is the number you see on all planes over 1200 pounds in the U.S. This is to make it easier to track drones that are downed or captured in restricted areas (I.e., within 5 miles of an airport).

I already see a market for scrubbing physical serial numbers and firmware hacks.

Airport workers will be walking around with these:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/battle-innovations-anti-drone-gun/

 

[runzwithsizorz]

 

[Darwin333]

Something good that comes out of regulations is a general adoption of the regulation. Of course criminals and terrorists aren't going to mind the rules, but little Timmy's informed dad may mind them. Thus the thousands of kids that get these things may follow the rules and avoid potential issues. I'd think a smart direction would be requiring the drone manufacturers to add an altitude limiter to the firmware of the drone unless it is for commercial purposes and licensed. That would prevent a large number of the consumers of these drones from breaking the regulations.

Some of the biggest manufacturers have added programming that will not allow the drone to take off in preprogrammed restricted airspace and if you accidentally try to fly into restricted airspace it will stop outside of the boundaries. Right now the programmed restricted airspace is just airports but it's a damn good start.

http://www.dji.com/fly-safe/category-mc?www=v1

It would be absurdly easy to block the GPS and fly it manually if someone intended harm but it is great to see manufacturers being proactive.