Starting Dec. 21, drone operators will have to register their small, unmanned aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Drones weighing more than a half a pound and less than 55 pounds will have to comply with the new rule.
"These days thousands upon thousands of brand new users are starting to fly, and I’m talking about hobbyist drone operators," said FAA spokesman Ian Gregor. "And while we’re confident that the vast majority of these people care about safety and want to operate safely, the reality is that most of these people have had little to no aviation experience."
Gregor said this new requirement is a key step in educating novice pilots.
According to the FAA, since February 2015, reports of potentially unsafe drone operations have more than doubled.
