Drone operators, be ready to show ID. Bloomberg reports that in response to concerns from law enforcement and security agencies wary of concealed explosives, the U.S. government is mandating external markings on all civilian drones to expedite identification.
In a notice recently published in the Federal Register, the FAA announced that it is now requiring the “registration number to be marked on the exterior of the aircraft,” a decision prompted by “the risk a concealed explosive device poses to first responders who must open a compartment to find the small unmanned aircraft’s registration number.”
The regulation recently went into effort as the government has been finding ways to enable industry growth without compromising security.
“In this case, the agency has determined the importance of mitigating the risk to first responders outweighs the minimal inconvenience this change may impose on small drone owners, and justifies implementation without a prior public comment period.”
This regulation is an Interim Final Rule, meaning that it is in effect while public comment is still welcome. “In this case, the agency has determined the importance of mitigating the risk to first responders outweighs the minimal inconvenience this change may impose on small drone owners, and justifies implementation without a prior public comment period,” explained the FAA in a post.
Loosened restrictions over the past couple months have been a promising sign for drone operators in the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao announced a proposed framework in January to open airspace over crowds and populated areas to drones.