Remote ID

Unofficial remote ID compliance label

Remote ID is a regulation of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that requires registered drones—unmanned aircraft systems or UAS—to broadcast certain identifying and location information during flight, akin to a digital license plate for drones.[1] Remote ID regulations are codified in Part 89 the Code of Federal Regulations.

Two types of Remote ID are available: standard remote identification, and remote identification modules.[2] FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs) are defined geographic areas where unregistered drones can be flown without Remote ID equipment.[3]

Remote ID information is meant to be broadcast to the public and readable by smart phones and similar devices.[1] ASTM Open Drone ID is a commonly implemented standard that defines broadcasts over Wi-Fi for longer ranges and Bluetooth for shorter ranges.

Small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS)

The FAA classifies drones under 55 pounds (25 kg) as small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).[4] These systems can operate either as limited recreational operations under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 or under Part 107 with more stringent requirements.[5] Recreational operators must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).[6] Test administrators run the gamut, from the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and Boy Scouts of America to the University of Arizona Global Campus. Recreational drones at or under 0.55 lb (250 g) don't need to be registered.[7]

An Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) model airfield FRIA along the Jordan River in Utah

Remote ID compliance with one of the three methods is required. Standard remote identification hardware, which is factory-installed before sale, is one such method. Operators without standard hardware can still comply by using removable remote ID modules, which can be added to any UAS as needed. The third option is a FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) where drones can be flown without any remote ID equipment.

FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA)

FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs) are defined geographic areas where unregistered drones can be flown without Remote ID equipment.[8][3]

Broadcast specifications

Remote ID information is meant to be broadcast to the public and readable by smart phones and similar devices.[1] The ASTM F3411 standard for very-low-level UAS specifies Open Drone ID broadcasts with common consumer electronics on the 2.4 GHz and related ISM radio bands:[9]

Open Drone ID defines an application layer, including messages for identifiers, location, altitude, direction, speed, and other information.[9][10] Libraries such as the Open Drone ID Core C Library provide application programming interfaces (APIs) for applications.[11][13]

History

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 called on the FAA to regulate small drones to integrate them into the National Airspace System.[14][1][15] The FAA then promulgated the Part 107 regulations for the operation of small UAS (sUAS) in 2016.[16][1] The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 directed the FAA to develop the capacity to remotely locate drones in flight and contact their operators as needed to ensure regulatory compliance.[17][1] And in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, Congress made clear that recreational sUAS are generally subject to the same rules regarding registration and marking, remote identification, and "maintaining the safety and security of the national airspace system" as applied to other unmanned aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems.[1]

The final Remote ID rule and Part 89 regulations were published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2021.[18] The effective date of the rule was March 16, 2021, with exception of amendatory instruction 19, while subpart C was effective September 16, 2022. Operators of sUAS were required to be in compliance by 16 September 2023 and the FAA ended its discretionary enforcement period 16 March 2024.[19]

In the RaceDayQuads v. FAA case, also known as Brennan v. Dickson, the online store sought to overturn the rule on constitutional and procedural grounds, arguing it violated the Fourth Amendment and exceeded FAA authority.[20][21] The suit was intended to "save the drone industry", including drone racing by using "FPV drones".[22][23] The suit ultimately failed at the DC Appeals Court, which in an opinion written by federal judge Cornelia Pillard sided with the FAA's arguments.[1]

The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directed the FAA to review the Remote ID rule to determine whether unmanned aircraft manufacturers and operators can meet the intent of the rule through alternative means of compliance, including through network-based remote identification.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Brennan v. Dickson, 45 F.4th 48 (D.C. Cir. 2022).
  2. ^ "Operating Requirements for Remote Identification" section of the Remote ID rule, 86 FR 4390 (15 January 2021) at pp. 4404–4406.
  3. ^ a b "FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs)". Federal Aviation Administration. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  4. ^ 14 CFR 107.3—Definitions
  5. ^ 49 U.S.C. § 44809—Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft
  6. ^ "The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)". Federal Aviation Administration. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
  7. ^ 14 CFR 48.15—Requirement to register
  8. ^ "Subpart C—FAA-Recognized Identification Areas". Code of Federal Regulations.
  9. ^ a b Kais Belwafi; Ruba Alkadi; Sultan A. Alameri; Hussam Al-Hamadi; Abdulhadi Shoufan (2022). "Unmanned Aerial Vehicles' Remote Identification: A Tutorial and Survey". IEEE Access. 10: 87577–87601. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3199909. ISSN 2169-3536. Wikidata Q125618419.
  10. ^ a b Tsuboi, Angelina (2024-10-23). "Drone Swarmer: Uncovering Vulnerabilities in Open Drone ID". Medium. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  11. ^ a b "Open Drone ID Core C Library". GitHub. opendroneid. Retrieved 2025-01-04. Wi-Fi Beacon […] If any other channel than Channel 6 on 2.4 GHz or Channel 149 on 5 GHz is used, a faster transmission rate of 5 Hz is required.
  12. ^ EP patent 3369083B1 
  13. ^ MAVLink Development Team. "Open Drone ID". MAVLink Developer Guide. Retrieved 2025-01-04.
  14. ^ FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Pub. L. 112–95 (text) (PDF), §§ 332, 333.
  15. ^ General Counsel, Office of the Secretary of Transportation. (2023). State and Local Regulation of Unmanned Aircraft [Fact Sheet]. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved October 27, 2023
  16. ^ 14 CFR part 107. Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 81 FR 42064 (28 June 2016).
  17. ^ FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016, Pub. L. 114–190 (text) (PDF), § 2202(a).
  18. ^ Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft, 86 FR 4390 (15 January 2021).
  19. ^ "FAA Ends Discretionary Enforcement Policy on Drone Remote Identification". Federal Aviation Administration. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 2025-01-05.
  20. ^ Vacek, Joseph James (2023). "Brennan v. Dickson, 45 F.4th 48 (D.C. Cir. 2022)" (PDF). North Dakota Law Review. 98 (2): 233–244. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  21. ^ Rupprecht, Jonathan (2021-03-18). "RaceDayQuads LLC v. FAA (Lawsuit Challenging Drone Remote Identification Regulations)". Drone Law and Drone Attorney Assistance. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  22. ^ "FAA Legal Battle - Challenging Remote ID". RaceDayQuads. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  23. ^ "RaceDayQuads.com vs FAA court case in defense of all drone pilots and model aviators". sUAS News - The Business of Drones. 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  24. ^ FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Pub. L. 118–63 (text) (PDF), § 907.