I got this email from the FAA this afternoon.  It appears as though law enforcement is afraid people hollow out a drone, add a bunch of weight, and still be able to fy it with hidden explosives inside.
It's not like slapping a sticker on the outside is a problem, but it just seems like the rule makers have never actually considered the tradeoffs between flyability and such mendacity.

FAA Makes Major Drone ID Marking Change

[url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&100&&&http://www.faa.gov/]The Federal Aviation Administration[/url] (FAA) posted a rule in the [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&101&&&https://www.federalregister.gov/ ... l-unmanned-aircraft]Federal Register[/url] requiring small drone owners to display the FAA-issued registration number on an outside surface of the aircraft. Owners and operators may no longer place or write registration numbers in an interior compartment. The rule is effective on February 25. The markings must be in place for any flight after that date.

When the FAA first required registration of small drones in 2015, the agency mandated that the registration marking be readily accessible and maintained in readable condition. The [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&102&&&https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/tex ... 14cfr48_main_02.tpl]rule[/url] granted some flexibility by permitting the marking to be placed in an enclosed compartment, such as a battery case, if it could be accessed without the use of tools.

Subsequently, law enforcement officials and the FAA’s interagency security partners have expressed concerns about the risk a concealed explosive device might pose to first responders upon opening a compartment to find a drone’s registration number. The FAA believes this action will enhance safety and security by allowing a person to view the unique identifier directly without handling the drone.

This interim final rule does not change the original [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&103&&&https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/tex ... 8_1205&rgn=div8]acceptable methods of external marking[/url], nor does it specify a particular external surface on which the registration number must be placed. The requirement is that it can be seen upon visual inspection of the aircraft’s exterior.

The FAA has issued this requirement as an Interim Final Rule—a rule that takes effect while also inviting public comment. The FAA issues interim final rules when delaying implementation of the rule would be impractical, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. 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.

The FAA will consider comments from the public on this Interim Final Rule, and will then review any submissions to determine if the provisions of the ultimate Final Rule should be changed. The 30-day comment period will end on March 15, 2019. To submit comments, go to [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&104&&&http://www.regulations.gov]http://www.regulations.gov[/url] and search for “RIN 2120-AL32.”

As Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao promised last month, the FAA also posted proposed new rules to let drones [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&105&&&https://www.faa.gov/exit/?pageNa ... F2019%2D00732%2Epdf]fly routinely at night and over people[/url], and to further [url=http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbXNpZD0mYXVpZD0mbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTkwMjE1LjE4MTkyNDEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzM2OTQzNSZlbWFpbGlkPWRveW5lcmRjQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZ1c2VyaWQ9ZG95bmVyZGNAZ21haWwuY29tJnRhcmdldGlkPSZmbD0mbXZpZD0mZXh0cmE9JiYm&&&106&&&https://www.faa.gov/exit/?pageNa ... F2019%2D00758%2Epdf]integrate them safely[/url] into the nation’s airspace. The comment period for these proposals is now open and ends on April 15.

Hello and good day Skeeter Honey. Thank you for sharing these informative information regarding the most recent FAA rules. These will be a help to all our DJI Customers and Members. Thank you for your support.

Got my notification from the FAA yesterday.
Will have my FAA# displayed on the MP as required.
Thanks for the info.

gotta love the false guise of "safety" and complete lack of common sense and understanding of physics and statistics.

follow their logic shall we and ignore common sense.  by their logic, registration numbers adhered to the side of your drone externally visible will render bombs safe in the event that someone wanted to somehow fit a bomb to their drone internally even though the density of a drone rivals most smartphones.   also remote detonated IEDs dont exist and cannot exist, same with proximity based detonation and tripwire based....only bombs that can exist use trap doors on batteries....

also, completely ignore statistics of the military here who found most IEDs are remotely detonated regardless what they doing to inspect it can be set off with someone watching from a distance waiting for it to be picked up or approached.

i'm not going to be placing a registration number on my drone, because what differance will it make, even if i did it would not render my bomb safe ;)

HereForTheBeer Posted at 2-16 09:02
gotta love the false guise of "safety" and complete lack of common sense and understanding of physics and statistics.

follow their logic shall we and ignore common sense.  by their logic, registration numbers adhered to the side of your drone externally visible will render bombs safe in the event that someone wanted to somehow fit a bomb to their drone internally even though the density of a drone rivals most smartphones.   also remote detonated IEDs dont exist and cannot exist, same with proximity based detonation and tripwire based....only bombs that can exist use trap doors on batteries....

gotta love the false guise of "safety" and complete lack of common sense and understanding of physics and statistics.
follow their logic shall we and ignore common sense.  by their logic, registration numbers adhered to the side of your drone externally visible will render bombs safe

Like you, I don't believe it has anything to do with ''safety''.  Any Terrorist / bad-guy can forge up a FAA number to put on side of drone.  For that matter, a Terrorist / bad-guy to get an actual FAA number using burner SmartPhone, through TOR network, and paying with a CC that leads no where.  Easier yet, would be for Terrorist / bad-guy to see and duplicate a Law abiding pilot's FAA #.  Especially with new FAA requirement!


Supposed ''safety'' is about getting public to accept any Rule or Regulation like good little citzens (aka compliant sheep).  Training populace to accept future draconian drone Regulations.  Another factor for FAA, they can say to public and politicians - Look, we did something!

You guys are sooooo Desperado.  It’s a sticker.

In my opinion, there's just so much wrong with the logic the FAA is using for this rule.

Right now it's an "interim final rule" and the FAA is accepting comments until March 15, 2019. You can post your comment here: External Marking Requirement for Small Unmanned Aircraft

You can see comments that have already been posted: Comments

Oracle Miata Posted at 2-16 09:36
You guys are sooooo Desperado.  It’s a sticker.

This was my thought exactly. Sheesh.

Oracle Miata Posted at 2-16 09:36
You guys are sooooo Desperado.  It’s a sticker.

having to put reg # on the exposed side of the drone opens up so many vectors for exploiting.  and irony of it, if they wanna verify the link between rogue drone reg # and the drone involved....they have to open the battery compartment to get the serial number, since that will be part of the investigation... so defeats their own argument of saftey ya see...

im worried about the logic and principle.....both of which are entirely lacking here, i dont care about the sticker or registration.   they soften up people by pretending all for safety, but nothign adds up even in their own debates, they counter themselves.