Remote Identification of Drones

Remote identification (Remote ID) is here. Are you ready? 

Drones are fundamentally changing aviation, and the FAA is committed to working towards fully integrating drones into the National Airspace System (NAS). All drone pilots who are required to register or have registered their drone must operate in accordance with the rule on Remote ID. Safety and security are top priorities for the FAA and Remote ID for drones is crucial to our integration efforts.

What is it? Remote ID is the ability of a drone in flight to provide identification and location information that can be received by other parties through a broadcast signal.

Why do we need it? Remote ID lays the foundation of the safety and security groundwork needed for more complex drone operations. Remote ID also helps the FAA, law enforcement, and other federal agencies locate the control station when a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or where it is not allowed to fly. 

How to be Remote ID Ready

There are three ways drone pilots can meet the identification requirements of the Remote ID rule:

• Operate a Standard Remote ID drone (PDF) that broadcasts identification and location information of the drone and control station. A Standard Remote ID drone is one that is produced with built-in Remote ID broadcast capabilities in accordance with the Remote ID rule's requirements.
• Operate a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module (PDF). A broadcast module is a device that broadcasts identification and location information about the drone and its take-off location in accordance with the Remote ID rule's requirements. The broadcast module can be added to a drone to retrofit it with Remote ID capabilities. Pilots operating a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module must be able to see their drone at all times during flight.
• Operate (without Remote ID equipment) (PDF) at FAA-recognized identification areas (FRIAs) sponsored by community-based organizations (CBOs) or educational institutions. FRIAs are the only locations where UAS (drones and radio-controlled airplanes) may operate without broadcasting Remote ID message elements.

Get Remote ID Ready

Which Drones Must Comply With Remote ID?

Drones which are required to be registered or have been registered, including those flown for recreation, business, or public safety, must comply with the rule on Remote ID.

Registering Drones

Recreational drone pilots may register once and apply their registration number to all the devices listed within their inventory. During registration, you must list the serial number(s) of each Standard Remote ID drone and/or the Remote ID broadcast module. If you use a Remote ID broadcast module, the Remote ID serial number attached to the module must be listed for each drone not equipped with Standard Remote ID you add to your inventory. This will permit you to move the module from one drone not equipped with Standard Remote ID to another so long as each of the drones make/model are listed within the same inventory.

This is not the case for Part 107 pilots who must register each individual device (Standard Remote ID drone or Remote ID broadcast module) separately within their inventory and each device will get a unique registration number
 

Important! Before You Get Started:

• Ensure your device has an FAA-approved Remote ID Declaration of Compliance
  • Have your Remote ID serial number handy. If you are not sure how to locate it, please check with the manufacturer for assistance.  
• If you previously listed a drone and answered “No” to the Remote ID question, you will now create a new listing for that same drone. 

Recreational Flyers Registration

Recreational flyers will need to add each Standard Remote ID drone and/or the Remote ID broadcast module to their inventory, then if applicable, remove the drone not equipped with Standard Remote ID that it replaces. 

• Log in to FAADroneZone
  • Click on the button labeled “Launch Drone Owners and Pilots Dashboard”
  • Be sure you are on the Recreational Flyer Dashboard 
• Click on “Manage Device Inventory”
  • Click on “Add Device”
  • Answer the Remote ID question “Yes”
  • Choose the device type from the drop down menu (Remote ID broadcast module or Standard Remote ID drone):
    • If using one broadcast module on multiple drones not equipped with Standard Remote ID, select broadcast module for each and input the particular drone(s) make/model while using the same Remote ID serial number from the module in the following step.
  • Enter the Remote ID serial number (NOTE:  this number may be on either the device or the controller)
  • Click on “Add Device”
• Return to “Your Inventory”
• If you’d like to cancel the previously registered drone not equipped with Standard Remote ID
  • While in your inventory, click on the three vertical dots associated with the drone under the “Actions” column and select “Cancel” from the drop down menu
  • Note: a canceled device will remain in your inventory as “cancelled”
     

Part 107 – Editing an Existing Registration

• Log in to FAADroneZone
  • Click on the button labeled “Launch Drone Owners and Pilots Dashboard”
  • Make sure you are on the Part 107 Dashboard
• Click on "Manage Device Inventory"
  • Click on the three vertical dots associated with the drone in the “Actions” column and select “Edit” from the drop down menu
  • Edit the answer to the Remote ID question to “Yes”
  • Enter the Remote ID serial number from either the updated Standard Remote ID drone or the Remote ID broadcast module: (NOTE:  this number may be listed on either the device or the controller)
  • Click on “Save”

Part 107 - Registering a New Device

• Log in to FAADroneZone
  • Click on the button labeled “Launch Drone Owners and Pilots Dashboard”
  • Make sure you are on the Part 107 Dashboard
• Click on "Manage Device Inventory"
  • Click on “Add Device”
  • Answer the Remote ID question “Yes”
  • Choose the device type from the drop down menu (Remote ID broadcast module or Standard Remote ID drone):
    • If using a broadcast module, list the drones make/model while adding the broadcast modules Remote ID serial number in the following step. 
  • Enter the Remote ID serial number (NOTE:  this number may be listed on either the device or the controller)
  • Click on “Add Device”
  • Continue on with the registration process.

3 Ways Drone Pilots Can Meet Remote ID Rule

Drone Remote Identification

• Remote ID capability is built into the drone
• From takeoff to shutdown, drone broadcasts:
  • Drone ID (Remote ID-compliant serial number)
  • Drone location and altitude
  • Drone velocity
  • Control station location and elevation
  • Time mark
  • Emergency status

Drone Remote Identification

• Remote ID capability through module attached to drone
• Limited to visual line of sight operations
• From takeoff to shutdown, drone broadcasts:
  • Drone ID (Remote ID-compliant serial number)
  • Drone location and altitude
  • Drone velocity
  • Takeoff location and elevation
  • Time mark

FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA)

• Drones without Remote ID can operate without broadcasting
• Drones without Remote ID must operate within visual line of sight and within the FRIA
• Anyone can fly there, but FRIAs can only be requested by community-based organizations and educational institutions

Got Questions? Contact the UAS Support Center