AOPA, NBAA Join UAS Registry Task Force

NBAA and AOPA are joining a new task force charged with devising a proposed registration system for private and recreational unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx detailed plans this month for a UAS national registry and announced the creation of the UAS Registration Task Force Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). 

The task force, which will have 25 to 30 members, is charged with recommending a proposed framework for the registry by November 20 to provide the FAA time to establish it in advance of the holiday season. It will consider a registration platform, means to collect registration data, what information to collect, access to the information and whether any UAS should be exempt.

“Registration will be an important foundation for safe UAS operations in the National Airspace System [NAS],” said Sarah Wolf, senior manager of security and facilitation for NBAA. Any introduction plan for UASs must focus on safety and ensure unmanned aircraft do not share the sameairspace with manned aircraft, the association said.

“We want to build a community where drone operators understand how to fly safely in the airspace system and are accountable for doing so,” said AOPA president Mark Baker. “But we don’t want to see needlessly burdensome or costly regulatory requirements stifle the growth and innovation that’s driving this new segment of the aviation community.”