External FAA registration markings...

[BluesDragon]

I totally get that everyone dislikes change and being regulated. It sucks that there are some criminal elements within this hobby that pay no mind to airspace with respect the those around them. Believe you me, I hate hearing every day how big brother wants to take away my right to carry or own guns. Been a card carrying member since 1996. Always armed when out in public, never had the need to shoot nobody. Yet big brother still feels the need to regulate my rights. Point being, I'm legal and respectful about it, yet the criminal elements still get there hands on weapons and make it harder on the rest of us.
I can't see how this any different. If you are already flying within the legal parameters with respect to those around you, what's the problem with spending another 5 bucks to have a FAA ID and have it tagged on your aircraft? If you are not doing anything illegal, then why worry about it? By not complying, are you then not filed under the same criminal elements that have brought all this upon us in the first place? I guess I'm just confused here..

I have been flying my drone for a few years and took up fixed wing just over a year now. My quad stays home mostly now days, but for my quad, and now for my planes, I found a site (see link) where you can have your drone(s) on file and your FAA ID connected to your aircraft. They make stickers with your FAA ID and another that directs anyone that finds it to their site where they can be put in contact with you for return. Also...

§48.205 Display and location of unique identifier.

(a) The unique identifier must be maintained in a condition that is legible.

(b) The unique identifier must be affixed to the small unmanned aircraft by any means necessary to ensure that it will remain affixed for the duration of each operation.

(c) The unique identifier must be readily accessible and visible upon inspection of the small unmanned aircraft. A unique identifier enclosed in a compartment is readily accessible if it can be accessed without the use of any tool.



...my tags are inside the battery compartment. Out of sight (for scale) yet readily accessible. My planes will be tagged as such too. Therefore... nobody can just walk up and copy your ID and put it on their illegally flying aircraft. Although.. I do keep my FAA card back to back with my AMA card clipped upon my person when flying. Nothing to stop said criminals from getting my numbers from there either. I guess I just tend to look at it all basically the same as putting a master lock on my side yard gate. It's only there to keep the honest man honest. It's not gonna stop the criminal elements from climbing right over that locked gate. ;)

[uscanuck1xa]

(c) The unique identifier must be readily accessible and visible upon inspection of the small unmanned aircraft. A unique identifier enclosed in a compartment is readily accessible if it can be accessed without the use of any tool.[/I]



...my tags are inside the battery compartment. Out of sight (for scale) yet readily accessible. My planes will be tagged as such too. Therefore... nobody can just walk up and copy your ID and put it on their illegally flying aircraft. Although.. I do keep my FAA card back to back with my AMA card clipped upon my person when flying. Nothing to stop said criminals from getting my numbers from there either. I guess I just tend to look at it all basically the same as putting a master lock on my side yard gate. It's only there to keep the honest man honest. It's not gonna stop the criminal elements from climbing right over that locked gate. ;)

The new law effective 2/25/19 no longer allows the # to be inside the battery compartment, even if no tools are required to open it. The FAA# must now be on an external surface.

[BluesDragon]

I took this from the link below within the FAA publication: FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change

"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."

Lord knows I've been wr wro.. not exactly on point many times, but looks to still be legit. :Confused:

[Hardway]

A unique identifier enclosed in a compartment is readily accessible if it can be accessed without the use of any tool.

Last line in the acceptable methods of external markings..... :Cool:

[RCjetdude]

Enforcement may become more of an issue in time and pressure the AMA to ensure compliance among it's membership or face extinction. The AMA keeps trying to advocate that is membership follows it's safety guidelines so should be exempt from what the FAA is dishing out. The FAA may simply say "prove it!" Don't think for a minute that in time the FAA can't or won't hold the AMA accountable for it's members complying with the law and then what do you think will happen? FPV technology, not quads, has created the need for more regulations in the eyes of the FAA as capabilities exist for consumers to be able to fly unmanned aircraft beyond the line of sight in any direction. That is where the concern stems from. AMA members arguably are a little more behaved than the general population but they don't represent the whole flying community, only a portion of it. Manufacturers and suppliers sell to AMA and non-AMA alike. It is a real mess and I am sure more regulation is coming. There has been talk of transponders in model aircraft and may end up happening to some degree or another. The AMA has been non-committal about enforcing the FAA regulations among is membership and at events, choosing to leave it up to individual clubs and event organizers instead (by non-committal I mean doing nothing more than saying we must comply). Unfortunately, I predict it will be to their demise unless they change their position. Working together could actually help strengthen the AMA and ease the worries of the FAA. The AMA could help enforce compliance to the FAA through clubs and events and the FAA could help ensure membership in a community based organization. Just some thoughts. Don't flame me too hard... :)

[rifleman_btx]

One nice thing with Texas is you climb any fence you're met with the business end of a rifle. You break the law its a possibility of death. Castle laws are nice. Thats what they need to do with these inoperative drone nonpilots. They endanger life. Eye for an eye.

[RCjetdude]

I took this from the link below within the FAA publication: FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change

"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."

Lord knows I've been wr wro.. not exactly on point many times, but looks to still be legit. :Confused:

Until the 25th that is true....but it will then change to read differently and the marking will need to be visible on the outside.

[wolpertinger]

We as AMA members and those that are not, respect the law and are the ones that suffer. Do we really think that a criminal is going to respect these requirements. The FAA sited in their letter:

"As you know, the registration requirement is not new. Congress reinstated this requirement in December 2017 with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act. Although this rule was flexible and allowed the registration marking to be placed in an enclosed compartment, law enforcement officials and FAA partners have expressed concerns about the safety risks a concealed explosive device could pose to first responders when opening a compartment to find a registration number."

Lets be serious about this. A unique number applied to the outside will not make so it can be identified correctly or reduce the chance that it is being used for criminal activity. Someone wanting to perform a criminal activity can simply ignore the marking or apply for FAA number with false information. Perhaps it is better to give each person or group that is wanting to perform criminal activities their own FAA number and ask that they mark their drones accordingly so we know know if it is being used for criminal activity.... Is this not the same logic?

[Elbee]

Forgive my ignorance and naivety, :Sacred:but are we talking only the registration and numbering of Drones here? I peeked at the FAA website using "Fixed Wing Radio Controlled Aircraft" and don't see much. I thought drone registration was a given some years ago. :Scared:

[wolpertinger]

Forgive my ignorance and naivety, :Sacred:but are we talking only the registration and numbering of Drones here? I peeked at the FAA website using "Fixed Wing Radio Controlled Aircraft" and don't see much. I thought drone registration was a given some years ago. :Scared:

Q: Do only drones and multirotor operators need to register?
A: Anyone who flies a model that can freely navigate in the air and uses a remote control device (e.g. RC transmitter) is required to register. This includes drones, traditional fixed wing model aircraft, model helicopters, and other remote controlled model aircraft. If you exclusively fly models under a half pound (250 grams or .55 pounds), indoors, control line, or free flight models – you do not need to register.

Q: Do I need to list both my AMA number and my federal registration number on my aircraft?
A: Yes, you need to list both your AMA number and Federal registration number on your aircraft

[Elbee]

Thank you for the clarification, sir. Now I'm only just super-uber P-Od. Best, LB

[BluesDragon]

Until the 25th that is true....but it will then change to read differently and the marking will need to be visible on the outside.

"The Federal Aviation Administration (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. Owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. The rule is effective on February 25. The markings must be in place for any flight after that date."

I do see that in the first paragraph. They do go on to contradict that statement a few paragraphs down by saying;


"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."


..where (C) reads to the contrary. Now I'm really confused... :Confused:... I'm leaving them under the canopy until they make up my mind proper. :Silly:

[Beeg]

"The Federal Aviation Administration (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. Owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. The rule is effective on February 25. The markings must be in place for any flight after that date."

I do see that in the first paragraph. They do go on to contradict that statement a few paragraphs down by saying;


"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."


..where (C) reads to the contrary. Now I'm really confused... :Confused:... I'm leaving them under the canopy until they make up my mind proper. :Silly:

They added the second statement because the question came up as to the "nature" of the external markings. The original rule basically says the number needs to be kept in a legible condition. The new rule supersedes the part of the old rule of "where" the number must be displayed. It's taken me reading FAR's for almost 40 years to figure out how to interpret their rule formats.

[Woodcock]

Once I get a moment I'm going to contact Callie and have her run me a couple pages of propeller stickers, ya know like the little oval ones, with the numbers on them and just put them on the back side of the innermost portion of my props. in regards to the EDF's I'll find a discrete place to put them.

Woody

[RCjetdude]

"The Federal Aviation Administration (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. Owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. The rule is effective on February 25. The markings must be in place for any flight after that date."

I do see that in the first paragraph. They do go on to contradict that statement a few paragraphs down by saying;


"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."


..where (C) reads to the contrary. Now I'm really confused... :Confused:... I'm leaving them under the canopy until they make up my mind proper. :Silly:

It has always been acceptable to externally mark so the methods are not changing but as of the 25th it will be required by law to be externally marked. The where is changing, not so much the how.

[Hardway]

c) The unique identifier must be readily accessible and visible upon inspection of the small unmanned aircraft. A unique identifier enclosed in a compartment is readily accessible if it can be accessed without the use of any tool. So they are changing this on the 25th?

[Hardway]

I am about to unspool here. I always try to be helpful and uplifting here.... But I am sick and tired of the empty suits in DC and those "in charge", that couldn't find their ass with both hands, want to tell me what to do when I have been flying R/C longer than most of their sorry asses have been alive!!!!!!!!!!

[Hardway]

Punish the guys who buy these drones and who have no idea how hard it is to build a balsa plane and save your money from a "job" to only crash. Oh we didn't have sims and apps... I know, you can't relate.... Sorry to my real Brothers here.... :Sweating::Angry::Whew:

[Hardway]

Ban me if you want... I am done being silent.

[RCjetdude]

c) The unique identifier must be readily accessible and visible upon inspection of the small unmanned aircraft. A unique identifier enclosed in a compartment is readily accessible if it can be accessed without the use of any tool. So they are changing this on the 25th?

Yes. That changes on the 25th. Not gonna ban you bro. We are all in this together. I don't like it either, believe me.