Feds to Require Drone Registration. The Obama administration — in a bid to start tracking personal drones and address safety concerns in advance of a holiday season when the industry projects thousands more will be sold — announced Monday it will require the registration of drone aircraft, even for “consumers and hobbyists.”
The decision is meant in part to address the growing number of reported close calls and incidents that pose safety risks. Pilot sightings of drones have doubled since last year, including sightings near planes and major sporting events.
Federal Aviation Administration chief Michel Huerta said registration will increase pressure on operators to fly responsibly, adding “there will be consequences” when they don’t.