Beginning next Monday, operators of small drones “need to go online and register their names and addresses with the Federal Aviation Administration,” says NPR, reporting on new federal regulations for the increasingly popular devices. “The government would issue a registration number that would need to be displayed on that person’s entire fleet of drones.”
Registration will cost $5 but the FAA will waive the fee for 30 days beginning Dec. 21. Agriculture is expected to be one of the first industries to benefit from drones. Advocates say they can be used to check crops for disease or weed problems, and to check on livestock in distant pastures or irrigation systems in faraway fields.
“For now, the FAA’s guidance for fliers of store-bought and homemade drones remains the same: Keep your drones under 55 pounds; fly them within your line of sight and below 400 feet; stay at least 5 miles away from an airport; avoid flying near stadiums or crowded places; and take some drone classes or join a club for extra safety,” said NPR.