Remote ID for Industry and Standards Bodies
The FAA is dedicated to safely integrating drones into the airspace and enabling technology advancements that continue to lay the foundation for more complex operations. Remote identification (Remote ID) is an essential component to accelerating innovation in the drone community and maintaining the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS).
What is Remote ID?
Remote ID is the ability of a drone in flight to provide identification and location information that can be received by other people through a broadcast signal.
Standard Remote ID drones and Remote ID broadcast modules must be designed and produced to meet the requirements of Part 89. Drone technology is continually evolving, making it necessary to harmonize new regulatory action with technological advancements.
Means of Compliance
The FAA has implemented performance-based requirements that describe the desired outcomes, goals, and results for Remote ID without establishing a specific means or process for regulated entities to follow. A person designing or producing a Standard Remote ID drone or broadcast module for operation in U.S. airspace must show that they have met the requirements of the Remote ID rule by following an FAA-accepted Means of Compliance (MOC). A Means of Compliance describes the methods by which the person complies with the performance-based requirements for Remote ID.
It's important to note that producers do not need to develop and submit their own Means of Compliance for FAA acceptance. They can use any Means of Compliance accepted by the FAA, including one developed by a third party.
How to Submit a Means of Compliance
A Means of Compliance describes how a manufacturer may comply with the performance requirements for a Standard Remote ID drone or a Remote ID broadcast module. Anyone may submit a Means of Compliance for FAA evaluation and possible acceptance. In particular, the FAA encourages consensus standards bodies to develop Means of Compliance and submit them for acceptance because these bodies generally incorporate openness, balance, due process, appeals process, and peer review.
However, FAA-accepted Consensus Standards are just one way, but not the only way, to show compliance with the performance requirements of this rule. The FAA emphasizes that although a Means of Compliance developed by a consensus standards body may be available, any individual or organization can submit its own Means of Compliance for consideration and potential acceptance.
The Remote ID rule describes the requirements for a Means of Compliance and the FAA has published an Advisory Circular on the Means of Compliance process for Remote ID of drones that provides further guidance on the process. Advisory Circular 89-1 addresses the process and information that must be submitted and it is available in the public docket for the final rule. To To submit Means of Compliance (MOC) for RID or OOP, please contact the FAA at: 9-AVS-AIR-UASMOC@faa.gov.
Declaration of Compliance
A Declaration of Compliance (DOC) is a record submitted to the FAA by the producer of a Standard Remote ID drone or Remote ID broadcast module to attest that all production requirements of the rule have been met. The rule establishes minimum performance requirements describing the desired outcomes, goals, and results for Remote ID without establishing a specific means or process.
The rule requires drones and broadcast modules manufactured for operation in U.S. airspace, regardless of where the module or drone is manufactured, to meet the performance requirements for a Standard Remote ID drone or Remote ID broadcast module. Manufacturers will produce drones and broadcast modules that meet these performance requirements by following an FAA-accepted Means of Compliance.
Manufacturers of Remote ID broadcast modules and most producers of Standard Remote ID drones are then required to file a "Declaration of Compliance" with the FAA stating that their product meets the Remote ID performance requirements and has been produced using an FAA-accepted Means of Compliance. Manufacturers of Standard Remote ID drones who are seeking a design or production approval under Part 21 will show compliance with the Remote ID requirements through that process rather than filing a Declaration of Compliance.
The FAA has developed an Advisory Circular on the Declaration of Compliance process for Remote ID. Advisory Circular 89-2 provides guidance on the Declaration of Compliance process described in Part 89 and outlines the required information for submitting a Declaration of Compliance. Please visit our DOC website to submit a Declaration of Compliance.
Also, producers of a kit that contains all of the parts and instructions necessary for a drone must meet the production requirements of the Remote ID rule and submit a Declaration of Compliance. The person that puts together a "kit" drone does not need to submit a Declaration of Compliance if they are building it for their own recreation or education but must still meet the operational requirements of the Remote ID rule when flying it.
Got Questions? Contact the UAS Support Center