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- 9X DEPARTMENT OF TRANSP ORTATION Office of the Secretary Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Chapter I [Docket No. FAA
- 2015
- 4378 ] Clarification of the Applicability of Aircraft Registration Requirements for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Request for Information Regarding Electronic Registration for UAS AGENCY: Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration

. ACTION : Clarification and r equest f or i nformation

. SUMMARY: This document clarifies the applicability of the statutory requirements regarding aircraft registration to UAS, including those operating as model aircraft. In addition, the DOT announces the formation of a UAS r egistration t ask f orc e to explore and develop recommendations to streamline the registration process for UAS to ease the burden associated with the existing aircraft registration process . T his document requests information and recommendations regarding what information and re gistration platform would be appropriate for UAS registration and ways to minimize the burden to the regulated community

. In addition, we request comment on wh ich UAS, based on their weight or performance capabilities, warrant a continued exercise of discretion with respect to requiring registration because of the negligible risk they pose to the national airspace system (NAS)

.
DATES : This clarification goes into effect [INSERT DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. To assist the task force in developing its recommendations, the Department requests that c omments in response to the request for information be submitted todocket FAA

- 2015

- 4378 at www.regulations.gov , by [ INSERT DATE 15 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ].

The docket will remain open after this time and the Department will consider all comments received in developing a registration process. ADDRESSES : You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: 202

- 493

- 2251.

• Mail: Dockets Management System; U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Operations, M

- 30, Ground Floor, Room W12

- 140, 1200 New Jerse y Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590

- 0001.

• Hand Delivery: To U.S. Department of Transportation, Dockets Operations, M

- 30, Ground Floor, Room W12

- 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC, 20590

- 0001, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday throu gh Friday, except Federal holidays. Instructions: Include the agency name and docket number FAA

- 2015

- 4378 for this document at the beginning of your comment. Note that all comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov including any personal information provided. If sent by mail, comments must be submitted in duplicate. Persons wishing to receive confirmation of receipt of their comments must include a self

- addressed stamped postcard. Privacy Act : Anyone is able to sea rch the electronic form of any written communications and comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the document (or signing the document, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, laborunion, etc.). You may review DOT’s complete Privacy Act Statement at http://www.dot.gov/privacy.

Docket: You may view the public docket through the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations office at the above address (See ADDRESSES).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT : Questions regarding th is document may be directed to Earl Lawrence, Director, FAA UAS Integration Office, 800 Independence Ave. SW, Washington DC, 20591; phone: (202) 267

- 6556 ; email: UASRegistration@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background In the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Pub. L. 112

- 95) (the Act) , Congress mandated th at the DOT , in consultation with other government partners and industry stakeholders, develop a c omprehensive p lan to sa fely accelerate the integration of civil UAS in th e NAS . Since 2012, the Department has made progress in enabling UAS operations, through issuing exemptions under section 333 of the Act to permit commer cial operations ; creating a UAS test site program to encourage further research and testing of UAS operati ons in real

- world environments; issuing a notice of proposed rulemakin g, Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems ( RIN 2120

- AJ60 ) (small UAS NPR M), that set s forth a framework for integrating small UAS operations in the NAS; and develop ing a Pathfinder program to encourage research and innovation that will enable advanced UAS operations.A foundational statutory and regulatory requirement that th e Department has employed for each of these integration programs is aircraft registration and marking. In order to operate in the NAS, the Department must ensure that operators are not only aware of the system in which they are operating, but that we also have a means to identify and track the UAS to its operator. One means to accomplish this is through aircraft registration and marking. To date, UAS operators that the Department has authorized have been required to register their UAS through the FAA’s exi sting paper

- based registrati on process under 14 CFR part 47

. As an exercise of discretion, historically we have not required model aircraft to be registered under this system.

UAS hold enormous promise for our economy and for the aviation industry. But for the industry to develop to its full potential, we have to ensure that it develops safely. Over the past several months, we have recei ved increasing reports of unauthorized and unsafe u se of small UAS. Pilot reports of UAS sightings in 2015 are double the rate of 2014. Pilots have reported seeing drones at altitudes up to 10,000 feet, or as close as half

- a - mile from the approach end of a
runway. In recent weeks, the presence of multiple UAS in the vicinity of wild fires in the western part of the c ountry prompted firefighters to ground their aircraft on several occasions. These UAS operations are unsafe and illegal. However, o nly a small percentage of these incidents have resulted in enforcement actions against individuals for unsafe or unauthoriz ed UAS operation because identifying an individual or entity responsible for the dangerous operation of UAS is very difficult. This situation is troubling to the unmanned aircraft industry, to responsible model aircraft users, and to users of the NAS , all of whom always put safety first.

The risk of unsafe operations will only increase as more UAS enter the NAS. Some retailersha ve projected huge holiday sales

. W e are co mmitted to ensuring that the U.S. continues to lead the world in the development and implementation of aviation technology , and in doing so, that

we create a space for the creativity, innovation and exploration that will drive this industry forward in the years and decades ahead . At the same time, we must create a culture of accountability and responsibility among all UAS operators. To maintain safety in the NAS , the Department has reconsidered its past practice of exercising discretion with respect to requiring UAS to be registered, con sistent with statutory requirements of 49 U.S.C. 44101

- 44103, and has determined that registration of all UAS is necessary to enforce personal accountability while operating an
aircraft in our skies

. Federal law requires that a person may only operate an aircraft when it is registered with the FAA. 49 U.S.C. 44101(a). 1 “Aircraft” is defined as “any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air.” 2 49 U.S.C. 40102(a)(6). In 20 12, 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, sec. 331(8), 336 (defining an unmanned aircraft as “an ai rcraft that is that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft,” and model aircraft as “an unmanned aircraft that is capable of sustained flight in the atmosphere, flown within visual line of sight of th e person operating the aircraft, and flown for hobby or recreational purposes”); s ee also Administrator v. Pirker , NTSB Order No. EA

- 5730, at 12 (Nov. 17, 2014) (affirming that the statutory definition of aircraft is clear and unambiguous and “includes any air aircraft, manned or unmanned, l arge

1 The FAA is charged with registering and issuing a certificate of registration to the owner of an aircraft that meets the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 44102. See 49 U.S.C. 44102

- 03. These statutory requirements are augmented by regulations in part 47 of t itl e 14, Code of Federal Regulations.

2 Similarly, FAA regulations define “aircraft” as “a device that is used or intended to be u sed for flight in the air.” 14 CFR 1.1.or small. ” ). Because UAS, including model aircraft, are aircraft, they are subject to FAA regulation , including the statutory requirements regarding registration set forth in 49 U.S.C. 44101(a), and further prescribed in regulation at 14 CFR part 47. Historically , the FAA, through the exercise of its discretion, has not enforced the statutory requirements for air craft registration in 49 U.S.C. 44101 for model aircraft

. As evidenced by the recent reports of un safe UAS operations, t he lack of awareness of operators regarding what must be done to operate UAS safely in the NAS, and the lack of identification of UAS and their operators pose significant challenge s in ensuring accountability for responsible use. Without increased awareness and knowledge of the statutory and regulatory requirements for safe operation, the risk of unsafe UAS operations will only rise. A ircraft identification and marking will assist the Department in identifying owners of UAS that are operated in an unsafe manner, so we may continue to educate these users, and when appropriate, take enforcement action.
Requiring registration of all UAS, including those operated for hobby or recreatio n, embraces and applies the A cademy of Model Aeronautics’ (AMA) ’s policy of identification to UAS operators who may not be modelers registered with the AMA. Additionally, it would ensure consistency with other UAS operations currently required to be regi stered, such as public aircraft, those operated under exemptions, and certificated aircraft, as well as those operations contemplated in the small UAS NPRM.
Based on the Department’s experience in registering small UAS authorized by exemption s granted under the authority of section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, and the comments received on the proposed registration requirements in the small UAS NPRM, it is apparent that the current paper

- based system for airc raft registra tion is too burdensome for small UAS, to include model aircraft. To facilitate compliance with the statutory obligation forregistration, t he DOT is currently evaluating options for a streamlined, electronic

- based registration system for small UAS. The D epartment has convened a UAS registration task force , under the FAA’s authority in 49 U.S.C. 106 (p)(5) to designate aviation rulemaking committees

. This task force will provide recommendations on the type of registration platform needed to accommodate smal l UAS, as well as the information that will need to be provided to register these aircraft . The UAS r egistration task force also will explore and provide recommendations on whether it is appropriate for the FAA to continue to exercise discretion with respect to requiring registration of certain UAS based on their weight and performance capabiliti es. The task force will meet and provide its recommendations to the Department by November 20 , 2015. To facilitate the task force’s work, w e are requesting information and data from the public in the following areas:

1. What methods are available for identifying individual products? Does every UAS sold have an individual serial number? I s there another method for identifying individual products sold without serial numbers or those built from kits ?
2. At w h at p o i n t should r e g istr a ti o n o ccur (e. g . p o i n t

- o f

- sa l e or prior

- to

- operation )? How should transfers of ownership be addressed in registration? 3. If registration occurs at point

- of

- sale, who should be responsible for submission of the data? What burdens would be placed on vendors of UAS if DOT required registration to occur at point

- of

- sale? What are the advantages of a point

- of

- sale approach relative to a prior

- to

- operation approach?
4. Consistent w ith past practice of discretion, should certain UAS be excluded from registration based on performance capabilities or other characteristics that could be associated with safety risk , such as weight, speed, altitude operating limitations,duration of fligh t? If so, please submit information or data to help support the suggestions, and whether any other criteria should be considered. 5. How should a registration process be designed to minimize burdens and best protect innovation and encourage growth in the UAS industry?
6. Should the registration be electronic or web

- based? Are there existing tools that could support an electronic registration process?
7. What type of information should be collected during the registration process to positively identify the aircraft o wner and aircraft? 8. How should the registration data be stored? Who should have access to the registration data? How should the data be used?
9. Should a registration fee be collected and if so, how will the registration fee be collected if registration occurs at point

- of

- sale? Are there payment services that can be leveraged to assist (e.g. PayPal)? 10. Are there additional means beyond aircraft registration to encourage accountability and responsible use of UAS? Comments received by [ INSERT DATE 15 DAYS AFT ER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER ] would be most helpful in assisting the UAS registration task force in developing its recommendations. The comment period will remain open after this period and the Department will consider the comments receiv ed, in addition to the UAS r egistration t ask f orce’s recommendations, in developing a stream

- lined registration process for small UAS, including model aircraft.
Issued in Washington, DC on October 19, 2015

.Anthony R. Foxx,
Secretary of Transportation.

Michael P. Huerta,

Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.