As reported recently here on Petapixel, the FAA has rolled out a new testing program for recreational UAV (a.k.a., drone) users, created to “provide education and testing for recreational flyers on important safety and regulatory information.” As with many government-mandated programs, it provides neither education nor safety.
Back in May, a US federal court ruled that personal drones don't need to be registered as part of the FAA's mandatory drone registration program. That just changed: President Trump just signed a defense policy bill that restores the requirement that all recreational drone owners register their aircraft with the government.
UK drone pilots have enjoyed some of the most relaxed regulations around the popular pastime, but now the government has proposed new regulations that will require all owners of drones over 250 grams (~8.8oz) to register their quadcopters, attend safety courses, and pass a safety test.
Heads up: if you're the new owner of a camera drone in the United States and you're not planning to fly the drone commercially, you no longer have to register the drone with the FAA. That's the decision handed down today by a federal court in Washington, D.C.
The United States announced last month that it's creating a federal drone registry and will soon require that all drone owners register their devices in order to fly legally. While the move should help reign in the "wild wild west" that is the drone industry today, some are wary that over-regulation could hurt the rights of drone owners -- including the rights of the media to gather news.
In a piece we published back in September, drone owner Pablo Castro argues that his country, Colombia, has implemented "absurd, abusive, illogical laws" that make it virtually impossible for people to use their drones legally.