US rules drone registration regulations illegal

A federal court in the US has ruled that the Federal Aviation Administration or FAA does not have the authority to force people to register their drones. This should be welcome news for the industry, especially those sourcing drones to sell in the US.

The US is still the largest consumer market in the world, and the registration requirement introduced last year was a frustrating development for some companies. DJI recently issued a paper saying the regulation was too stringent because drones heavier than the 250g threshold are usually safe.

Though registration would not have likely deterred anyone who really wanted a drone from making a purchase, it could still have a big impact on sales since importers might be worried about the new rules. Many consumers seem oblivious to the requirement based on the drones sold over the holiday season that went unregistered. At the very least, the court decision means all these drone consumers are not automatically criminals.

The verdict is the result of a law that explicitly bars the FAA from promulgating rules and regulations regarding model aircraft, including drones. The FAA tried to argue for safety, but the court maintained that the current law does not allow for the rules regardless of whether they improve safety or not.

This does not mean that registration rules are gone forever in the US. Congress could amend the law to permit the FAA to make regulations on model aircraft, or possibly tailor this more specifically to modern drones. The current political atmosphere in Washington seems pretty hostile to adding legal requirements, though. Drone makers, sellers and users might be safe for now.