FAA

Maryland-based insurance attorney John A Taylor has filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the drone registration regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

FAA drone registration rules made it mandatory to register drones owned by recreational hobbyists before taking a flight outdoors for the purpose of security of the national airspace.

FAA started the registration process on 21 December 2015 with a 19 February deadline.

In a case filed in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Taylor alleged the new regulations directly violate the FAA Modernisation and Reform Act of 2012.

He said Section 336 of the act nullified the new regulations and the Federal Court should stop the FAA regulation on drone registration.

"Taylor alleged under the section FAA could not pass any new rules or regulations on model aircraft flown for hobby or recreational reasons."

Taylor alleged under the section FAA could not pass any new rules or regulations on model aircraft flown for hobby or recreational reasons.

He also asked the court to put an emergency stay on the FAA’s registration regulation, but the court denied his request stating that Taylor "has not satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review", reports Forbes.

The case will be heard on a date set by the court, while the next deadline for filing was given on 27 January.

FAA has not issued any comment on the issue.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the body that represents more than 180,000 model aircraft enthusiasts, also voiced its opinion against the FAA drone registration rules and asked its members not to register their drones until the deadline given by the federal authority.

AMA said in a statement: "Holding off on registration will allow time for AMA to fully consider all possible legal and political options for alleviating this unnecessary regulatory burden on our members."

Image: Drone enthusiast, John A. Taylor, has filed a law suit against FAA’s drone registration rules. Photo: courtesy of Victor Habbick/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.