On Friday, a Washington D.C. court ruled that the FAA’s 2015 small unmanned aircraft (UAS) registration rule violates the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. Under the rule, owners of drones weighing between .55 and 55 pounds were required to register their aircraft, because, as then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in the original statement, “unmanned aircraft enthusiast are aviators, and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility.”
FAA Drone Registration Rule Shot Down by Appeals Court
Key Takeaways:
- A Washington D.C. court ruled that the FAA's 2015 mandatory drone registration rule for recreational users is illegal, violating the 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act.
- The court sided with a recreational drone hobbyist, agreeing that "model aircraft" (which recreational drones qualify as) are protected from FAA regulations under the 2012 act.
- This decision voids a rule that had registered over 800,000 recreational drones, which the FAA intended for education and promoting safe operation.
- The FAA's next steps are uncertain, with options to appeal the ruling or work with Congress, which is already considering increased involvement in drone regulations.
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