Since the Federal Aviation Administration opened up its drone registry on Dec. 21, more than 180,000 drones have been registered, FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said at the Consumer Electronics Show Wednesday, reports USA Today.
Other than Hoverboards, recreational drones were one of the hit presents this past Christmas, with more than 400,000 sold.
Last year, the FAA expanded its requirements for drone registration to include any aircraft weighing more than .55 pounds (essentially two sticks of butter). Drones weighing under that do not have to register.
The registry expansion was met with protests, because it involved regulating a growing drone hobbyists market.
The Academy of Model Aeronautics, which represents hobbyists, has argued that the FAA should focus on educating, not registering, drone pilots. The agency has been sued over the issue.
Officials have said registration is necessary to track owners who fly drones dangerously or crash.
Drone owners have until Feb. 19 to register their devices. New owners must register before their first flight. Penalties for not registering can include fines and three years in prison.
The FAA also announced a new Apple app called B4UFLY. The program teaches about no-fly zones and other rules, USA Today said. The Android version is still being tested but can be downloaded from Google.
Santa brought my household a drone this past Christmas. I checked the FAA s site for weight guidelines.
And just to be sure, I also called World Tech Toys, manufacturer of our Nano Prowler Drone, a Christmas gift from my son s grandparents.
At .05 lbs, the Nano Prowler does not have to be registered.
Phew. Now, we have to just put it together.
Above: An AscTec Firefly multi-copter drone with Intel RealSense cameras. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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