FAA drone task force moves ahead

The Federal Aviation Administration is moving quickly on its plans to register recreational unmanned aircraft. Officials announced that Earl Lawrence, director of the FAA's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office, will lead the government side of a drone registration task force. He'll be joined by co-chairman Dave Vos, the lead on Google X's Project Wing drone delivery program.

The new group plans to meet this week to develop recommendations on a streamlined registration process and minimum requirements for registering unmanned aircraft. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx has directed the task force to deliver a report on policy recommendations by Nov. 20. The FAA wants to have a registry online by Christmas.

The task force's private-sector members include representatives from camera company GoPro, Walmart and Amazon, which is looking into using drones in package delivery. The FAA also tapped model aircraft hobbyists, airline associations and drone makers to serve on the panel.

The Office of Management and Budget, NASA and the departments of Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior and State will provide support to the task force, according to the FAA announcement.