FAA reminds operators to place their platforms on the N register

In an email sent to COA holders the FAA are reminding folks of having a registration on their aircraft. We are aware of a few at sUAS News, Aerovironment have this series for instance.

More can be found on our Drone Spotters list. So its nothing new as some folks are reporting. Patrick took the picture of N 659 NM at NMSU back in 2011. That list needs a serious update. There are only 50 Global Hawks so it would not be impossible to catch them all.

This is what the FAA said yesterday:-

“UAS, other than those owned by the armed forces, intended to operate under a new COA [certificate of authorization] must be registered and marked prior to COA application.” Applicants must now enter the aircraft registration number, or N-number, in COA online

An excerpt from – http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/aaim/organizations/uas/coa/faq/media/Order_8130.34.pdf

4. Aircraft Registration.
a. Registration. The procedures for unmanned aircraft (UA) registration and issuance of registration numbers are contained in 14 CFR part 47, Aircraft Registration. The registration of UA is not a function of airworthiness certification; however, U.S. registration is a prerequisite  for issuance of an experimental airworthiness certificate. The FAA must ensure that any UAS  presented for airworthiness certification is properly registered (49 U.S.C. § 44704(c) and 14 CFR § 21.173).