Marking your Drone

[LowCountryFlyer]

I just purchased a DJI Mavic 2 Pro and am considering what to do as to placing the FAA required Registration Certificate Number on the aircraft. It seems like a lot of people use printed stickers to do this with. I have also considered having the airframe laser engraved with the number. While this does look a bit sharper than using stickers, it is permanent and potentially could burn or damage the airframe. Does anybody have any suggestions here? I want to be real sure of the path to take before I do it and/or make a permanent mark on my Mavic.

 

[Seth P]

Just use a cheap label maker and stick it on the back of the rear legs.
I wouldn't do anything permanent in case you want to sell it. And labels will come off without residue in case you forget to re register and the num changes

 

[Mossiback]

Just use a cheap label maker and stick it on the back of the rear legs.

... and put your phone number on the other leg.

 

[msinger]

Does anybody have any suggestions here?

If you want something that's durable and professional looking, I make these vinyl decals:

 

[nemonlizzy]

Sorry to sound ignorant, is this a local or federal requirement?

Do all aircraft need this numbering or just for certain uses?

I live in South Florida and am not near an Airport.

 

[msinger]

is this a local or federal requirement?

It's a US law. All DJI drones must be marked before flying outdoors. See more details here.

 

[Mossiback]

It's a US law. All DJI drones must be marked before flying outdoors...

It is also a good idea to mark with your phone number.

 

[nemonlizzy]

Hmmmm I'll get right on this.

 

[BigAl07]

Sorry to sound ignorant, is this a local or federal requirement?

Do all aircraft need this numbering or just for certain uses?

I live in South Florida and am not near an Airport.

No need for sorry and you're not ignorant. These rules aren't "2nd nature" and we all had to learn them one by one.

Start by researching here:
FAADroneZone

As far as marking here is a good graphic to reference:

 

[Mossiback]

An inexpensive label maker works well.

 

[MavicMikeK]

Like mentioned above also add your phone number and address because if someone finds it they won't be able to return it using your FAA registration number unless it is an "N" number because there's no public database available on the "F" series of numbers. Without your address or phone number you'd be depending on the honest finder to turn it in to the police or an FAA office that has the authority to get the registration details from the FAA database. They are very busy and you might not hear from them for months if ever... This might be a reluctance of the finder in some instances vs the ease of calling. I also added "reward if found/returned" as an incentive.

 

[Former Member]

An inexpensive label maker works well.
View attachment 69704

@Mossiback have you applied these to a skinned drone? Thats what I use to tag drones, but I never use them on a skinned one.

 

[mikemoose55]

Don't kill yourself you are going to have a million other issues with your drone that will make you current situation seem like nothing.
Get a sharpie and upgrade the marking later. Get in the air don't let a string of numbers hold you down.
mikemoose55

 

[Trollistika]

Out of curiousity, how long is the process to register?

 

[msinger]

how long is the process to register?

It only takes a few minutes to register on the FAA's website here.

 

[STUFF2C]

Depends on how fast your internet speed is and your typing skills. Simple

 

[Trollistika]

Depends on how fast your internet speed is and your typing skills. Simple

Ahh.... Good to know.

 

[Mossiback]

@Mossiback have you applied these to a skinned drone? Thats what I use to tag drones, but I never use them on a skinned one.

I have not applied to a skinned drone, but I would think it would work the same.

 

[BigAl07]

Like mentioned above also add your phone number and address because if someone finds it they won't be able to return it using your FAA registration number unless it is an "N" number because there's no public database available on the "F" series of numbers. Without your address or phone number you'd be depending on the honest finder to turn it in to the police or an FAA office that has the authority to get the registration details from the FAA database. They are very busy and you might not hear from them for months if ever... This might be a reluctance of the finder in some instances vs the ease of calling. I also added "reward if found/returned" as an incentive.

I've helped get lost drones to their rightful owner here locally and it took a total of 3 days from the day LEA was involved until the rightful owner was contacted. This included the 10 minute wait time for the FAA to look up and give us the owner's contact information.

Of course you're at the discretion of local LEA but unless they are REALLY busy it only takes a few minutes of their time.