FAA’s Remote ID Rule Takes Effect in September

Businesses, law enforcement agencies, and recreational flyers will all be required to have remote ID capabilities by September 16.

Jack Daleo

Friday, July 14, 2023 at 02:27 PM ET

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Starting September 16, all FAA-registered drones must have remote ID capabilities. [Courtesy: JeShoots/Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA's remote ID rule, fully effective September 16, requires all registered drones to publicly broadcast identifying and real-time location data.
Most drones weighing 0.55 pounds or more must comply, with exceptions for very light recreational drones flown under specific conditions or within FAA-recognized identification areas (FRIAs).
Drones can comply either by having built-in "standard" remote ID or by retrofitting with an FAA-approved "broadcast module" for visual-line-of-sight operations.
Pilots must register their drone's remote ID serial number in FAADroneZone; recreational flyers can register multiple drones under one number, while Part 107 pilots must register each drone individually.

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The FAA published its final rule on remote identification of drones—a revision to Part 89 in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations—in April 2021. The rule is set to take full effect in just a few months. And if they haven’t already, it’s time for drone pilots to prepare.

The FAA’s remote ID rule mandates that by September 16 all drones registered with the agency must also be capable of publicly broadcasting certain information, such as a unique ID number and real-time location data. That means businesses, law enforcement agencies, and even recreational flyers will have two months to make sure they’re compliant.