The Federal Aviation Administration says 181,000 drones were registered in its new system in the two weeks since it launched. FAA administrator Michael Huerta said the number is a strong one considering the program started Dec. 21. Under its rules, all craft of a certain size must be registered to fly outdoors by Feb. 19 or face civil or criminal penalties.In pushing for drone registration, the FAA said it “supports the safety mission of the FAA” and “unites UAS users and traditional aviation safety values.” This comes as it has pushed hard on a new mobile application, B4UFLY, aimed at educating drone pilots before they take off.
“We expect B4UFLY will help raise public awareness about what it means to operate unmanned aircraft safely,” Huerta said at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. “It is another important part of our education and awareness efforts to foster a culture of safety and accountability for the UAS community.”
The project is a comparative drop in the bucket compared to how many drones are in consumer hands — an estimated 1 million were sold last year, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. But the program targets craft between about half a pound and 55 pounds in weight — covering the great majority of kinds that would be used hobbyists and small drone businesses.
Photo: Michael Huerta -Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle
Source: Dayton Business Journal