Supposedly these are some ideas being thrown around at FAA HQ in Oklahoma City, OK. with regard to recreational Drones:

1. Anyone who wants to fly anything over the 1/2 lb rule will need to be Licensed by the FAA. This license will require a written exam and practical (flight?) test. A minimum age requirement of 16 is also being bantered about.

2. In order to obtain your recreational RC license, you will need to obtain training by a Designated FAA instructor/examiner who is also a Commercially Licensed (part 107) remote control operator. Talk is 20-40 hours of training required.

3. Anyone that currently knows how to fly RC will need to go through certification just like someone that is first learning to fly.

4. Anyone who currently holds a full size pilots license will be required to have their BFR (biennial flight review) and Medical current in order to fly RC Models....

5. All recreational RC Model flying sites will have to be registered with the FAA as an Approved flying site.

I for one don’t want to see it to go to this extreme. But I can see it happening. I can also see it having a severe impact on participation in the hobby. I suspect a lot of older knowledge will just walk away from it. While a lot of younger new participants will find it too regulated to deal with.

Here’s hoping the above is just office talk.