The following is a truncated adaptation of the announcement as made by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta have announced the creation of a task force to develop recommendations for a registration process for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
The task force will be composed of 25 to 30 diverse representatives from the UAS and manned aviation industries, the federal government, and other stakeholders. The group will advise the U.S. DOT on which aircraft should be exempt from registration due to a low safety risk, including toys and certain other small UAS. The task force also will explore options for a streamlined system that would make registration less burdensome for commercial UAS operators. The task force may make additional safety recommendations as it deems appropriate.
Secretary Foxx has directed the group to deliver its report by Nov. 20. “Registering unmanned aircraft will help build a culture of accountability and responsibility, especially with new users who have no experience operating in the U.S. aviation system,” Foxx said. “It will help protect public safety in the air and on the ground.”
Pilot sightings of UAS have doubled between 2014 and 2015. The reports range from incidents at major sporting events and flights near manned aircraft, to interference with wildfire operations.
“These reports signal a troubling trend,” Huerta said. “Registration will help make sure that operators know the rules and remain accountable to the public for flying their unmanned aircraft responsibly. When they don’t fly safely, they’ll know there will be consequences.”
