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Fly right: Know the rules before flying that new drone

  • Published
  • By Capt. Katherine Higdon
  • 72nd Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight Commander
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  As the holiday season has come and gone many children and children-at-heart may have received drones or small remote controlled unmanned aircraft.  Before you break those aircraft out of the box, there are a few things you must know to stay out of trouble.

On Dec. 14, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration created a new statutory requirement that applies to all privately owned unmanned aircraft that weigh more than .55 pounds.

The FAAs goal is to allow the "opportunity to educate ... new aircraft users before they fly, so that they know the airspace rules and understand that they are ultimately accountable" and responsible for incidents that may occur as a result of their new toys. Presently, users are required to register aircraft meeting the aforementioned requirements in a national data base.

The registration is web-based and patrons will be required to provide a nominal fee of $5 per application. This registration will be valid for a period not to exceed three years. The FAA is currently waiving the fee until Jan. 20.

The registration process is very simple and you will be required to provide your name, home address and a valid email address to complete it. 

When the application is complete, you will receive an aircraft registration/proof of insurance certificate and an identification number which is required to be marked on the aircraft. If you own multiple unmanned aircraft, this registration will be valid for all of them.

To register, log on to www.faa.gov/usa/registration.  

Failure to register your unmanned aerial system can result in fines up to $250,000 and/or up to three years in prison. 

The many rules and regulations may seem somewhat overwhelming and discouraging. However, the Air Field Operations Flight recommends flying these unmanned aircraft at one of the many model aircraft parks that exist across the country. The remote controlled flying locations in Oklahoma can be found at Okie-rc.org. These clubs use established flying areas and are familiar with the rules surrounding unmanned aircraft.

Three things to remember:

· Recreational unmanned aircraft users must register their unmanned aircraft with the FAA no later than Feb. 19 or before the first flight if the aircraft was purchased after Dec. 21, 2015. 

· Unmanned aircraft must remain below 400 feet and outside of 5 miles from any airport/airfield.

· These unmanned aircraft are not allowed to be flown on Tinker AFB, unless required for official government business and approved by Airfield Management.  If you see an unmanned aircraft flying, report it to security forces at 734-3737. 

For more information, log on to KnowBeforeYouFly.org. This website is jointly sponsored by the FAA, the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International and other organizations.