New rules requires more visible markings on drones

The FAA has posted a rule in the Federal Register requiring small drone owners to display the FAA-issued registration number on an outside surface of the aircraft.

Starting Feb. 23, 2019, owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. The markings must be in place for any flight after that date.

When the FAA first required registration of small drones in 2015, it mandated the registration marking be readily accessible and maintained in readable condition.

The rule granted some flexibility by permitting the marking to be placed in an enclosed compartment, such as a battery case, if it could be accessed without the use of tools, FAA officials note.

Subsequently, law enforcement officials and the FAA’s interagency security partners have expressed concerns about the risk a concealed explosive device might pose to first responders upon opening a compartment to find a drone’s registration number.

“The FAA believes this action will enhance safety and security by allowing a person to view the unique identifier directly without handling the drone,” FAA officials remarked.

This interim final rule does not change the original acceptable methods of external marking, nor does it specify a particular external surface on which the registration number must be placed. The requirement is that it can be seen upon visual inspection of the aircraft’s exterior.

The FAA has issued this requirement as an Interim Final Rule — a rule that takes effect while also inviting public comment.

The FAA issues interim final rules when delaying implementation of the rule would be impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. In this case, the agency has determined the importance of mitigating the risk to first responders outweighs the minimal inconvenience this change may impose on small drone owners, and justifies implementation without a prior public comment period, FAA officials said.

The FAA will consider comments from the public on this Interim Final Rule, and will then review any submissions to determine if the provisions of the ultimate Final Rule should be changed. The 30-day comment period will end on March 15, 2019. To submit comments, go to Regulations.gov and search for “RIN 2120-AL32.”