The federal government plans to announce a plan to have all drones purchased in the United States registered with the Transportation Department, according to a report by NBC News.
Expected for Monday, the announcement comes at a time when the popularity of drones has skyrocketed, while regulation has remained in limbo.
A report released in July by the Consumer Electronics Association estimates that the number of drones sold in the U.S. market will approach 700,000 units in 2015. More recently, Aviation Week reported that an FAA official said he expects more that 1 million small unmanned aerial vehicles to be sold this holiday season.
The Federal Aviation Administration has set some ground rules for the operation of recreational drones. They are forbidden from flying within five miles of airports or above 400 feet, but keeping track of all the devices has proven difficult as the remote-controlled aircraft become increasingly popular with the public.
A number of drones having “near misses” with airliner jets are on the rise. By mid-August, over 650 sightings were reported by pilots, said the FAA. Drones have even been a nuisance to firefighters out west, delaying aerial firefighting operations.
On Sept. 30, the agency missed a congressionally-mandated deadline to integrate civil drones in National Airspace Systems, via the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.
