I think registration is not a bad idea - because of the sales of so many multi-copters this holiday season to people who have absolutely no flying skills - what can one expect? There will be incidents - like the infant blinded by a copter, who by the way was an experienced pilot but obviously not experienced enough to know not to fly around babies. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ball-half.html). If this can happen to an experienced pilot - imagine what will happen to an inexperienced one who could just run away from an incident without accountability.
Registration is a good idea - because of the idiots who have no idea how to fly. I'm getting in line (online) for registration.

Here's a funny thought. A lot of rc pilots will be crying and complaining about registration but I'll bet when I look at their builds and blogs in the future their aircraft will have nice big bold registration numbers on their planes (not on a slip of paper inside the fuse).

That is an unfortunate incident, but registration of all of these things isn't going to assure flying competency. Accidents will still happen. Maybe we should just ban all toys and hobbies because someone might get hurt.

Originally Posted by dmrcflyr2

That is an unfortunate incident, but registration of all of these things isn't going to assure flying competency. Accidents will still happen. Maybe we should just ban all toys and hobbies because someone might get hurt.

RC aircraft aren't toys - they are lethal weapons. We take that responsibility on every time we fly to be accountable. I'm know registration won't prevent accidents - but it may help to control a once esoteric hobby for the few that is now going to grow exponentially and potentially out of control.

I remember the days when I could just jump on an airplane at the last minute without any concerns about security. But times change and in this case technology has enabled the masses to fly without accountability.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

It is unfortunate that the child.. and by the way an adult in the same article... were blinded by someone making a bad decision. This was in the UK. The child was hit by what looks to be a 250 size quad, the adult in a different situation was hit by what looks like a 450 size CP heli.

Rotary wing aircraft can be, as demonstrated, dangerous. That is why inexperienced owners need training and education, not registration. Registering these machines is pointless. Educating people that buy them is essential to preventing accidents like this.

Everyone I associate with that flies any type of rotary aircraft above the toy class does so away from small children and even pets. Our flying club, AMA sanctioned by the way, has not had any accidents in years. Safety is taught and practiced, not registered into existence.

This potential registration scheme is being challenged in court with litigation...actually since August 2015. The FAA needs to get its head on straight and make sensible rulings on the commercial use and practice of UAS and leave recreational and hobby use alone...just as Congress said to do in Section 336 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, otherwise known as the “Special Rule for Model Aircraft.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission needs to infrom and educate the public about rotary wing models and the potential for harm when operated in the wrong environment or in an unsafe manner.

-=Doug