Summary of FAA’s Final Rule on Remote ID

The Final Rule for Remote ID of Unmanned Aircraft was released on December 28, 2020 and published on January 15, 2021. There are three ways to comply with the new rule:

Note: Aircraft that weigh at or under .55 lbs (250 grams) are not required to comply with Remote ID.

  1. Standard Remote ID

○      Broadcast equipment must be built into your Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) by the manufacturer.
○      Your UAS is required to have a radio frequency spectrum to broadcast your location, altitude, identification, emergency status, etc. to both your UAS and control station.
○      Your UAS must be designed to not take off if it is not broadcasting a signal.
○      All UAS manufactured to fly in the National Airspace System (NAS) need to meet standards and have certification of the Standard Remote ID requirements.

  1. Broadcast Modules

○      If your Radio Controlled UAS is older (nonstandard), a broadcast module option is available.
○      Your module will send the same signal as Standard Remote ID, except for emergency status and control station information. The information that will be broadcasted is your UAS takeoff location and your altitude. Your module will also need to signal if your UAS is not working properly.
○      The FAA anticipates these modules to cost approximately $20 to $50.
○      These modules are only permitted for visual-line-of-sight operations.

  1. FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA)

○      FRIAs are valid for 48 months and can be renewed and changed.
○      FRIAs require that the flying site be under the umbrella of a community-based organization or educational institution.
○      Only visual-line-of-sight operations are permitted at FRIAs.

The Final Rule for Remote ID will have an implementation period before operators will be required to fully comply. A person operating in the NAS will need to comply with Remote ID requirements beginning March 16, 2024.

The registration requirements for UAS have remained the same. [1] You will need to register with the FAA and receive a unique registration number that must be displayed on all of your UAS. If you are complying with Remote ID via option 1 (Standard Remote ID), the serial number associated with the UAS you are flying must be registered under your unique FAA registration number. If you are complying with Remote ID via option 2 (Broadcast Modules), the broadcast module’s serial number must be registered under your unique FAA registration number.

[2] To register with the FAA, you will need to visit faadronezone.faa.gov. Your registration will still need to be renewed every 3 years and costs $5. If you are being asked to pay more than $5, you are on a scam site. For a step-by-step guide on how to register, click here.

Special events, such as air shows or other temporary events, will have a path to receive authorization from the administrator to deviate from the Remote ID operation rules. Additionally, recreational and educational operators can “home build” UAS without meeting manufacturer certification standards. This allows homebuilt UAS to be operated at a FRIA or under option 2 (Broadcast Modules).

Finally, below are the key changes to note from the proposed rule to the final rule:

Proposed RuleFinal Rule
Internet connectivity required.Broadcast only, no internet needed.
Paid monthly subscription to UAS service supplier.Requirement removed along with removal of internet requirement.
FRIAs could only be requested in
first year.
FRIAs can be requested or changed indefinitely.
Per-aircraft registration.Individual registration, operator registers only once.
Special events not addressed.Pathway for special events to deviate from Remote ID rules.
Included a 400-foot range limit.400-foot limit removed.
High cost associated with
compliance.
Cost decreased by 60%/
Amateur-built aircraft included a
50% build/fabrication requirement.
Build percentage requirement removed and “home-build” was added with no requirement to meet manufacturer certification standards for recreational or educational use.


If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the Government Affairs department at (765) 287-1256 or amagov@modelaircraft.org.