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A U.S. appeals court recently reversed a ruling requiring owners of recreational drones to register their aircrafts weighing more than 0.5 lbs. with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
As such, users of toy drones are no longer required to register their aircrafts with the FAA, and manufacturers of toy drones will no longer need to advise purchasers that FAA registration is required (and provide instructions on how to do so).
“The Toy Association is pleased with the outcome of this decision, as we have long been advocating for the exemption of toy drones from registration requirements,” says Rebecca Mond, senior director of federal government affairs at The Toy Association. “Children should be able to enjoy the wonders of flight without having to be concerned about registering their toys in a government database. As always, The Toy Association encourages safe flying practices and remains a supporter of the Know Before You Fly initiative to educate consumers about flying drones responsibly.”
As required by the FAA Modernization Act passed last year, drone manufacturers of all sizes are still required to include a safety statement in drone packaging that describes certain rules, regulations, and safety tips for consumers operating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). More information for manufacturers, including a sample safety statement, is available on the FAA website.
Recently, The Toy Association participated in a Micro UAS Aviation Rulemaking Committee convened by the FAA to consider recommendations for a performance-based standard that would allow for micro UAS to be operated over people or under a covered structure. The rule has not yet been issued, although the recommendations are available online.
Questions on this topic may be directed to The Toy Association’s Rebecca Mond.