The FAA has assigned a task force to draft up rules and regulations on drone registration and usage, and one of the proposed rules is to have pilots register drones that weigh more than 250 grams (about 8.8 ounces).
The draft was announced just before the Christmas season because the task force believes more drones will likely be sold and flying during the holidays, Popular Mechanics reports. This is also to establish the ground rules that will guide pilots that will help them operate the devices without causing any problems.
Registration for the drones is suggested to be done electronically. Owners can register their drones via an app that manufacturers could add as part of their functionality, according to Engadget.
As for the weight limit, anything flying that weighs 250 grams or greater can cause serious injuries when it malfunctions and hits a person on the ground, according to Venture Beat.
Penalties will be incurred by those who violate and fly drones that are unregistered, but there are no specifics as to how much the penalties would be.
These recommendations are still up for review by the FAA, therefore, these are not yet absolute laws. However, seeing that the task force involves government officials, representatives from aviation companies, retailers and drone manufacturers, the chances of the proposal ending up as a law in the near future is quite high, Popular Mechanics adds.
