The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) last month proposed a new rule that would require all drones operating in U.S. airspace to be identifiable remotely.
It is the latest effort by the FAA to attach rules to a fast-growing segment of the transportation sector, calling it a means of enhancing safety in the skies. Nearly 1.5 million drones and 160,000 remote pilots are currently registered with the FAA.
“Remote ID technologies will enhance safety and security by allowing the FAA, law enforcement, and federal security agencies to identify drones flying in their jurisdiction,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.
As part of the proposal, published in the Federal Register, the FAA is opening up a public comment period that will continue until March 2, 2020. The new rule would apply to all drones required to register with the FAA, along with people operating foreign civil drones in the U.S. Recreational drones weighing less than 0.55 pounds will not be so bound.
“As a pilot, my eye is always on safety first,” FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said. “Safety is a joint responsibility between government, pilots, the drone community, the general public, and many others who make our nation so creative and innovative.”