I haven't flown in a few months and haven't been really following the registration conversation.
That said, I was wondering about where the FAA regs would fall out. I kept telling myself, the vast majority of UAV pilots, play by the rules. What is the big deal?
I think the whole issue with the FAA is being able to identify an operator IF their aircraft endangers or causes any accidents with manned flight vessels.
How can a commercial airliner traveling around 250 mph on approach, see and identify a 28 inch uav (probably hovering) at 100 feet off its wing? Did these events REALLY happen? Or is this a witch hunt?
I had cause to go into Frye Electronics in Phoenix a few weeks ago. What I saw were only a *few* "higher-end" UAVs like the DJI models and a couple others I can't recall the names of. All in the high-hundred dollar or thousand dollar range.
But... in the "TOY" aisle on the other side of the store, I also saw close to 25-30 really lower-end models in the $40 to $150 price point.
I got to thinking that these lower end models, with their attractive price and easy-to-fly capabilities are going to be the ones that are the REAL problem the FAA is trying to address. Millions of these will be under the tree this year for Christmas... Mostly flown by potentially irresponsible, unskilled, unprepared, un-knowledgeable operators.
I thought that perhaps a more sane approach by the FAA would have been to exempt anyone, or any UAV from registration if the aircraft had a GPS/flight management system. These systems are all in the higher end models, and those owners are the more serious, more responsible pilots.
As an example, if you try and buy the over the counter decongestant Sudafed (here in the US), you have to provide legal identification and your amounts are limited. (This is because it used to manufacture meth). If they can do this with an OTC medication, they can do it with these inexpensive UAVs.
Why penalize the good guys?
Just my $.02.