FAA REGISTRATION: COMMON ISSUES
By Lucas Rodden, Government Affairs Manager | lucasr@modelaircraft.org
THE FLYING SEASON for many might be drawing to a close as the weather cools, but that hardly means modelers are slowing down. Clubs and their contest directors are already busy planning ahead for the 2026 season, memberships are going through renewal, and individual members across the US continue to establish new community ties to share the fun and education that our hobby has to offer.
Perhaps less exciting (which might not be a bad subtitle for most of my columns ... ), we’re also coinciding with many modelers’ FAA registration renewals. Because I’ve received many calls recently requesting assistance, it might be a helpful time to recap what FAA registration is for, how long it lasts, and some helpful tips that I’ve found for navigating the system.
Background Information and Guidance
FAA registration requirements for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (or UAS, the term FAA uses interchangeably with “drone” to refer to RC fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and multirotors) came as a result of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. It requires that any model of more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) be registered to the pilot’s account and that they display their unique reference number on the exterior of their aircraft. The account is created through the FAA’s DroneZone website, costs $5 every three years, and does not limit the number of models you can register to the account.
Those who are new to the process can visit the AMA in Action blog on our website, where we have step-by-step guidance for further reading; however, the majority of new users encounter issues in the renewal stage, especially if you haven’t needed to log into the account for some time. The password reset option on the DroneZone login page will work for many, but those who have entirely lost access to the email address or have accidentally created multiple accounts will need hands-on assistance from the FAA customer service staff.
To connect with them about this, you can call (844) 359-6982 to speak directly with a representative, although (depending on the day and time) you might be on hold for a while. My preference is to send them an email through their support center, where you can request that they respond by email or by phone while providing details for them to locate your account before assisting you. The link to the support center can be found in “Sources” at the end of this column.
Provide as many of the items below as you can during the initial contact to speed up the process:
- Name of the account holder
- Account holder’s email address (even if you lack access)
- Associated phone number
- FAA registration number (the code on the exterior of the model)
- Summary of the issue
- Alternate email addresses
This route has solved the vast majority of issues that I’ve encountered and typically results in a response one to three business days after contact. Maintaining this registration isn’t the highlight of anyone’s day, but when paired with our members’ dedication to UAS safety and responsibility, it helps to build goodwill. That goodwill strengthens our advocacy efforts, which have already eased many other burdens—such as extending altitudes and allowing self-issued Remote ID waivers for certain sanctioned events.
While we do not have access to the FAA’s administrative side of the DroneZone, I’d be happy to speak directly with anyone facing an issue that has not been resolved through the method above. You can reach me at amagov@modelaircraft.org or lucasr@modelaircraft.org.
To remain current with the most recent government-related news, regularly visit the AMA Government Affairs blog.
SOURCES:
AMA in Action Government Affairs Blog
https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amagov
FAA DroneZone
https://faadron ezone-access.faa.gov/#
FAA UAS Support Center
(844) 359-6982
https://uas-support.faa.gov/s
