By: New York Times
30 April 2019
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is consulting on introducing a licence fee to cover the costs of operating the new drone registration scheme.
From November, drone owners would have to register their details on a database and drone flyers would complete a free online safety test.
But a drone membership organisation claimed the charge was “far too high”.
The plans would affect anyone who owns a drone that weighs more than 250 grams (8oz).
Only those aged 18 would be able to register as the official drone owner.
There would be no fee for “remote pilots” – those who fly the drones but are not registered owners.
The CAA has launched a consultation on the proposals, with a final decision expected by the regulator in July.
The number of drone users in the UK is unknown, but the CAA estimates 170,000 people will register.