On October 19, 2015, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta announced a plan to require unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV or “drone”) users to register their UAVs with the FAA. While commercial users were already subject to registration requirements, the new scheme would extend to recreational users, a group expected to swell by millions in the coming holiday season. Coming close on the heels of the FAA’s unprecedented $1.9 million proposed penalty against SkyPan International, Inc. (“SkyPan”), the announcement suggests that the FAA is under pressure to respond to popular concerns around soaring drone use and increasing reports of unsafe drone operation.

THE FAA’S REGISTRATION PLAN -

Secretary Foxx noted that the registration scheme will further at least two key goals of the FAA. First, it provides the agency with an opportunity to engage and educate new users regarding safe drone operations before these new users start flying. Second, and perhaps more importantly, “Registration of all aircraft, including, unmanned aircraft, is an important part of ensuring accountability,” said Foxx. Where drone operators do break the rules, a registration requirement ensures investigators can identify an operator—or at least an owner—from a drone involved in an incident.