Originally Posted by
porcia83
Rob if you don't mind sharing your thoughts, you have an interesting perspective I'm sure given where you live. I'm not totally familiar with your countries rules/regs...are they similar to this, more stringent etc etc? Did they have a reg process like this and was it relatively easy or cumbersome?
Coincidentally I just arrived in the USA this evening and will be here for several months. I brought a couple of drones and will pay my $5 on the 21st Dec to keep flying them here legally. (I can't actually register due to not being a US Citizen but will get a Certificate of Ownership)
Personally I think a recreational RC pilot should have been exempt from registration requirements and there is precedent for this. For example in Australia recreational RC flyers are exempt from many requirements and this has been in place since 2002.
5. DEFINITION OF A MODEL AIRCRAFT
5.1
A model aircraft is any unmanned aircraft, other than a balloon or kite, which is flown for sport or recreational purposes, weighing not more than 150 kg including fuel and equipment installed in or attached to the aircraft at the commencement of its flight.
5.2
A model aircraft flown for any other purpose is covered by the term ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicle’ (UAV) and is subject to the rules applicable to UAVs.
5.3
A model aircraft is excluded from the vast majority of the regulations applied to other aircraft. For example, there are no requirements for aircraft registration, pilot licensing or aircraft airworthiness certification,