The FAA's proposed model aircraft registration system has
taken a major step forward. The Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC)
has delivered its report to the FAA with a wide range of
recommendations. When the proposal was originally announced,
virtually nothing was known about what types of aircraft would be
registered, who would have to register, and when registration would
take place. Under the proposal in the ARC report, the registration
requirement is surprisingly broad.
When the project was announced, it was unclear whether the
registration threshold for aircraft would be set based on weight,
performance, or a combination of the two. The ARC report has
decided to go with a weight-based approach, and has set the bar
much lower than most people expected. The report recommends that
all model aircraft weighing less than 250 grams (8.8 ounces) be
subject to registration. At a little over a half-pound, this
obviously will sweep up all but the smallest toys.
