U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

Aviation Rulemaking Committee Charter 

Effective Date: 10/20/2015 

SUBJECT: UAS Registration Task Force Aviation Rulemaking Committee 

1. 	 PURPOSE. This charter establishes the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Registration Task 

Force (RTF) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC), according to the Administrator's authority 

under Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C. § 106(p)(5)). The sponsor ofthe RTF ARC, 

subsequently referred to as the RTF, is the Director ofthe UAS Integration Office (AUS-I). This 

charter outlines the RTF's organization, responsibilities, and tasks. 

2. 	 BACKGROUND. Federal law (49 U.S.C. § 44101(a)) requires that a person may only operate 

an aircraft when it is registered with the FAA. An "aircraft" is defined as "any contrivance 

invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air" (49 U.S.C. § 40102(a)(6)). In 2012, 

Congress confirmed that UAS, including those used for recreation or hobby purposes, are aircraft 

consistent with the statutory definition set forth in 49 U.S.C. § 40102(a)(6). See Pub. L. 112-95, 

§§ 331(8), 336. TI1e FAA currently requires civil UAS operators who have been granted 

operational authority by exemption to register their aircraft. The FAA would also require 

registration for civil UAS that would be operating under the proposed rule on Operation and 

Certification ofsmall UAS. See 80 FR 9544 (Feb. 23, 2015). Although the FAA does not 

currently enforce the requirement for UAS used for hobby or recreational purposes to be 

registered, the rapid proliferation ofthese aircraft in the national airspace system (NAS), requires 

the FAA to reevaluate this policy in the interests ofpublic safety and the safety ofthe NAS. The 

recommendations ofthe RTF are to be focused on registration requirements and process for small 

UAS, including those used for commercial purposes, and all model aircraft. 

3. 	 OBJECTIVES AND TASKS OF THE RTF. The RTF will provide a forum to discuss and 

provide recommendations to the FAA and is tasked specifically to develop recommendations for 

the registration ofsmall UAS. Specifically, the RTF will: 

a. 	 Develop and recommend minimum requirements for UAS that would need to be 

registered. 

1. 	 Factors to consider include, but are not limited to: technical capabilities and 

operational capabilities such as size, weight, speed, payload, equipage, and other 

factors such as the age ofoperator. 

b. 	 Develop and recommend registration processes. 

1. 	 Factors to consider include, but are not limited to: electronic means for 

registration, data retention and storage, fee collection, and information required to 

be submitted for registration. 

c. 	 Develop and recommend methods for proving registration and marking. 

1. 	 Factors to consider include, but are not limited to: how certificates will be issued 

and how a UAS will be able to be identified with the registered owner. 

Recommendation Report: 

The RTF will develop and submit to the FAA a recommendation report within 30 days ofthe 

chruier being signed. 

Initiated By: AUS-1 
4. RTF PROCEDURES. 


a. Act solely in an advisory capacity by advising and providing written recommendations to 

the Director ofthe UAS Integration Office 

b. May propose related follow-on tasks outside the stated scope ofthe RTF to the Director of 

the UAS Integration Office 

c. Recommendation Report. Submit a report detailing recommendations within four 

weeks ofthe effective date ofthe RTF. 

1. The Industry Co-Chair sends the recommendation report to the Administrator 

through the Director ofthe UAS Integration Office, who will also distribute the 

recommendation report within the Agency 

11. The Director ofthe UAS Integration Office determines when the recommendation 

report and records pursuant to paragraph (8) will be made available for public 

release 

S. 	 RTF ORGANIZATION, MEMBERSIIlP, AND ADMINISTRATION. The FAA will 

establish a committee ofmembers ofthe aviation community. The FAA will select members 

based on their familiarity with UAS, aircraft registration policies and procedures, retail inventory 

control and tracking, and electronic data capture. Membership will be balanced in viewpoints, 

interests, and knowledge ofthe committee's objectives and scope. 

The provisions ofthe August 13, 2014 Office ofManagement and Budget guidance, "Revised 

Guidance on Appointment ofLobbyists to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards, and 

Commissions" (79 FR 47482), continues the ban on registered lobbyists participating on Agency 

Boards and Commissions if participating in their "individual capacity." The revised guidance 

allows registered lobbyists to participate on Agency Boards and Commissions in a "representative 

capacity" for the "express purpose ofproviding a committee with the views ofa nongovernmental 

entity, a recognizable group ofpersons or nongovernmental entities (an industry, sector, labor 

unions, or environmental groups, etc.) or state or local government." For further information refer 

to the OMB guidance at 79 FR 47482. 

Membership is limited to promote discussion. Attendance, active participation, and commitment 

by members are essential for achieving the objectives and tasks. 

The RTF will consist ofmembers from the attached list ofindustry member organizations, 

manufacturers, and retailers who are involved in the promotion ofUAS and/or UAS production, 

sale, or distribution. FAA and other agency subject matter experts may be requested to participate 

and provide technical support to RTF members. 

a. 	 The Director ofthe UAS Integration Office will function as the FAA Co-Chair and will: 

1) Function as the Designated Federal Official 

2) Select and appoint industry members and the FAA participants 

3) Select an Industry Co-Chair from the membership ofthe RTF 

4) Provide the FAA pai1icipation and support from all affected lines-of-business 

5) Provide notification to the members ofthe time and place for each meeting 

b. 	 Once appointed, the Industry Co-Chair will: 

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1) Coordinate required RTF meetings in order to meet the objectives and timelines 

2) Establish and distribute meeting agendas in a timely manner 

3) Determine the method ofkeeping meeting notes, ifdeemed necessary 

4) Perform other responsibilities, as required, to ensure the objectives are met 

5) Provide status reports, as requested, in writing to the Director ofthe UAS Integration 

Office 

6) Submit the recommendation report to the Director ofthe UAS Integration Office in 

accordance with 4(c) 

6. 	 COST AND COMPENSATION. The estimated cost to the Federal Government for the RTF is 

approximately $2,500. All travel costs for government employees are the responsibility ofthe 

government employee's organization. Non-government representatives, including the Industry 

Co-Chair, serve without government compensation and bear all costs related to their participation 

on the RTF. 

7. 	 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Meetings are not open to the public. Persons or organizations 

outside the RTF who wish to attend a meeting must get approval in advance ofthe meeting from 

the Industry Co-Chair and the FAA Co-Chair. 

8. 	 AVAILABILITY OF RECORDS. Consistent with the Freedom of Information Act, Title 5, 

U.S.C., section 552, records, reports, agendas, working papers, and other documents that are 

made available to or prepared for or by the RTF will be available for public inspection and 

copying at the FAA UAS Integration Office, 490 L'Enfant Plaza, Suite 7225, Washington DC, 

20024. Fees will be charged for information furnished to the public according to the fee 

schedule published in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 7. 

This charter may be found on the FAA Committee Database website at: 


http://www.faa.gov/regulations _policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/. 


9. 	 DISTRIBUTION. This charter is distributed to the Director ofthe UAS Integration Office, the 

Office ofthe Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, the Office ofthe Chief Counsel, the 

Office ofAviation Policy and Plans, and the Office ofRulemaking. 

10. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION. 	The RTF is effective upon issuance ofthis charter 

and will remain in existence for 30 days, unless the charter is sooner suspended, terminated, or 

extended by the Administrator. 

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