What is Remote ID?
Remote ID is a system that allows drones to transmit identification and location information. This information can be received by other airspace participants, including authorities, pilots and the general public.
Why is Remote ID needed?
The primary purpose of Remote ID is to enhance drone operations' safety, security, and accountability, particularly in areas where drones may be operating near other aircraft or in sensitive locations. It can also help prevent the unauthorized or even illegal use of drones, such as smuggling, spying, or attacks.
Who is responsible for mandating Remote ID?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are responsible for regulating the use of drones in the US and EU. Both have established a regulatory framework for Remote ID that requires most drones operating in the regions to be equipped with a Remote ID system by a specific date. Other countries may have similar regulatory frameworks in place or are in the process of developing them.
What types of Remote ID exist?
Direct / Broadcast Remote ID. It uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to broadcast Remote ID data to close surroundings. Naming varies by location: In the EU, Direct Remote ID is used; in the US, it is named Broadcast Remote ID.
Network Remote ID It uses cellular networks for transmitting data.
Who has to use Direct / Broadcast Remote ID?
Under new regulations in the US and EU, most drones weighing more than 249 grams (0.55 pounds) must be equipped with a Direct / Broadcast Remote ID system by a certain date. This responsibility applies both to recreational drones and commercially flown drones.
There are exceptions to this obligation for specific types of drone models operated according to specific guidelines or for government and other authorized entities. These exceptions differ across regions.
Besides the US and EU, other countries have adopted similar regulatory frameworks or are currently developing them. Drone operators must know and comply with applicable Remote ID regulations in their regions.
It is also important for drone operators to be aware that Remote ID requirements may vary between EU member states. They must always comply with the specific requirements of the country where they operate.
Who has to use Network Remote ID?
Network Remote ID is mandatory for the upcoming EU airspaces called U-space. The main purpose of Network Remote ID is to establish a reliable and secure connection between drones and operators in the U-space (see below). Network Remote ID is fundamental to advanced operations such as BVLOS flights, drone deliveries, and integrating manned and unmanned traffic in the same airspace.
There is currently no Network Remote ID mandate in the US region.
Who can see data broadcasted from my drone?
Drones’ Direct / Broadcast Remote ID transmits data only to its immediate surroundings. This signal can be captured by anyone with the appropriate equipment, for example, a specialized receiver or mobile application using smartphone hardware. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are the only approved Direct / Broadcast Remote ID technologies.
While with Network Remote ID, your data are shared with relevant authorities, U-space participators, collaborators and service providers. Learn more here.
Can I fly without Remote ID?
No, unless your operation and drone size fit into one of the exemptions from Remote ID requirements. Failure to comply with the new regulation can result in fines or penalties.
How to avoid someone tracking my drone?
Remote ID is a new approach to aerial monitoring, much like a license plate for cars. Remote ID will enhance air safety, increase public trust in drones, and enable drone operators to conduct flights previously limited by safety and security concerns. Therefore anyone within a reachable distance and with appropriate equipment can receive Direct / Broadcast Remote ID data.
What is the range of Direct / Broadcast Remote ID?
There is no universal answer, as many factors influence the range of Remote ID. It depends on the electromagnetic interference from nearby devices, transmission power of the Remote ID system, area of flying (urban/rural), altitude, heading and many others.
The average range can be equivalent to Visual line of sight (VLOS). When you can see the drone, you should receive the data. The standards for Remote ID do not set the specific range for data transmission; it only requires minimal transmission power. That means the signal can be seen in a range of kilometers during ideal conditions, while in non-ideal conditions, only in a radius of hundreds of meters. Find more information in the range specification.
Which drones have Remote ID?
Here are examples of drones with Remote ID capabilities built-in. This list is not exhaustive, check with drone manufacturers websites to check which drones have the capability.
Skydio
X2E SDR21V2
2+ SDR35V1
2+ SDR35V2
X2E SDR21V1
Autel Robotics
Dragonfish Standard
Dragonfish PRO
Dragonfish Lite
EVO lite
EVO II
EVO lite+
DJI
DJI Mini 3
DJI Mini 4 Pro
DJI AVATA
DJI Mavic 3
DJI Agras T40
DJI Agras T30
DJI Mavic 3 Classic
DJI M300 RTK
DJI M3T
DJI M3E
DJI Mini 3 Pro
DJI Air 2S
DJI M30
DJI M30T
DJI Mavic 4 Pro
DJI Matrice 4T
DJI Matrice 4E
DJI M400 RTK
Are new drones going to have the Remote ID inside?
Yes. As Remote ID becomes a new norm in the coming years, most drones will have Remote ID built in.
How can I comply with Remote ID?
You can either fly a Remote ID capable drone with this functionality already built-in (called Standard Remote ID drone in US and C-class certified drone in the EU) or fly a drone with the add-on device attached to it. Retrofitting is especially useful for pilots with older or custom-built drones.
What is a Remote ID add-on device?
Add-on devices are transmitters attached to a drone body. These devices can be powered by their own battery or by a drone. Some can provide Direct / Broadcast Remote ID or also Network Remote ID, depending on their type.
What are Remote ID built-in modules?
Built-in modules are components installed directly into the drone by the manufacturer. These modules are typically powered by the drone’s main battery and communicate with a flight controller or other external devices.
How to make my old drone Remote ID compliant?
If the drone manufacturer does not provide your drone with the firmware update, you will have to retrofit your drone with an add-on Remote ID device. These devices vary in size, battery life, weight, Remote ID technology and other specifications.
Applicability in the EU region
Remote ID for drone operators and pilots in the European Union is defined by the EASA (The European Aviation Safety Agency).
The EASA has settled on two main Remote ID types:
Direct Remote ID
Also known as Broadcast Remote ID, using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to broadcast Remote ID data to the nearby area.
Network Remote ID
Using cellular networks for data transmission.
Who has to use Direct Remote ID?
The EASA adopted Direct Remote ID as the primary method of implementation. There are following ways how to satisfy the EASA rules:
From January 1, 2024:
When flying in Specific category, you have to operate a Remote ID capable drone (either C-class drones with built-in Remote ID functionality, or drones retrofitted with a Remote ID add-od module).
Operations in the Open category you need to conduct with a C0 to C4 drone with a class identification label, or drone that was built privately or purchased before December 31, 2023.
When flying drones without Remote ID, you can fly a drone:
Weighting under 250 grams, purchased before 31 December 2023 or privately built, but only in Subcategory A1 and A3 of Open category.
Drone weighting under 25 kilos purchased before 31 December 2023 or privately built, but only in Subcategory A3 of Open category.
Note: Be aware that ‘privately built’ means that you built the drone for your own personal use; it does not refer to UASs assembled from sets of parts placed on the market as a single, ready-to-assemble kit.
After December 31, 2023, almost all newly introduced drones with C-class label must be equipped with Direct Remote ID capabilities.
The only exceptions are:
Class 0 drones with weight less than 250 grams, including payload.
Class 3 drones that are tethered and weigh less than 25 kg including payload, are completely electrically powered, have a tether with length of less than 50 meters, are equipped with a geo-awareness function, and alert the pilot when the battery is low with sufficient time to land.
Class 4 drones weighing less than 25 kg that have no automatic control modes other than flight stabilization. This ruling is effectively designed for model aircraft.
Who has to use Network Remote ID?
Network Remote ID is mandatory for the upcoming EU U-space airspaces. Network Remote ID in the EU is a future-proof solution because the planned U-space projects combine manned and unmanned airspace operations, which is the main difference from the US plans.
Network Remote ID is considered a technically more complicated approach than the Direct / Broadcast Remote ID as it needs to establish a reliable and secure channel to share Remote ID data between drones, pilots and other parties involved in the upcoming U-space zones via online-based system tracking real-time flight data. It is a cornerstone for the development of advanced operations such as BVLOS flights, drone deliveries, and combining manned and unmanned air traffic within the shared airspace.
What is U-space?
U-space is to drones what traditional air traffic control is to airplanes. However, U-space is not a closed system; it is a set of agreements, protocols, means of communication and standards that together ensure the orderly fashion of unmanned air traffic growth in the future. Especially needed when it comes to busy parts of airspace and above urban areas.
The basic assumptions are that U-space, like the EU drone regulations, is risk-based (instead of rule-based), that all parties have fair and equal access to the airspace, that the interests of manned aviation are taken into account and that in the long term, there will be more possibilities for complex drone operations.
The main goals of U-space are:
avoiding collisions between unmanned and manned aircraft
minimizing the risk to persons and objects on the ground
facilitating the orderly conduct of unmanned flights
providing information necessary for safe flight operations
informing the appropriate authorities when a drone poses a danger to other aircraft or people on the ground due to a disaster
What is U-space service provider (USSP)?
In the U-space, all drones above 250g will have to connect to U-space Service Providers (USSP) responsible for air traffic safety and operation within flight plans. To become a USSP, the interested entity must demonstrate its capability of providing at least the four mandatory U-space services – network identification, geo-awareness, traffic information and UAS flight authorization. In general, companies or organizations willing to become USSP will need to meet certain safety and technical standards, have a certain level of experience and be authorized by the relevant regulatory authorities. To learn more about particular requirements, check out the EU 2021/664.
How can I comply with the EU rules?
Drone operators may comply with Remote ID requirements, either by flying the drone with a built-in broadcast functionality (called C-class drone) or an add-on module, a device that satisfies EASA requirements. Data must be broadcast in real time for the entire flight duration using an open and documented protocol and be able to be received by any mobile device within range.
Which drone pilots must comply with the Remote ID rule?
All pilots flying drones above 249 grams in the Specific category must be equipped with Remote ID systems. The Remote ID rule requires a Network Remote ID for drones participating in operations in U-space.
Where can I get the Remote ID device?
Apart from drone models with Remote ID capability built in by the manufacturer, many companies offer add-on Remote ID devices.
What data are transmitted during Direct Remote ID?
Data must be broadcasted in real time for the entire flight duration using an open and documented protocol in a way that can be received by any mobile device or dedicated receiver.
The required data for broadcast includes:
UAS operator registration number
Unique serial number of the UA (or exclusively the add-on module) compliant with standard ANSI/CTA-2063-A
Time stamp, the geographical position of the UA and its height above the ground or its takeoff point
Route course measured clockwise from the true north and UAS’s ground speed
Geographical position of the remote pilot, or if not available, the geographical position of
the take-off point
UAS emergency status for Class C1, C2, C3 (not required for add-on modules)
Do I need to register my drone?
Drones that are not certified don’t need to be registered. However, as a drone operator or owner, you must register at the National Aviation Authority for the EU country of your residence.
There are a few exceptions when you, as a drone operator, don’t have to undergo registration:
Your drone weighs less than 250 grams (including payload) and has no camera or other sensor to capture personal data.
Your drone weighs less than 250 grams (including payload) and is classified as a toy (compliance with Directive 2009/48/EC – generally speaking, the drone is intended for play by children under 14).
If you are a registered drone operator, you will receive a registration number valid throughout the entire EU that must be physically displayed on all owned drones, e.g., using a sticker. You also must enter this number into the Remote ID system of all owned drones.
What are the drone classes and operation categories defined by EASA?
Under the EASA regulations, drones are classified according to several factors, including weight and the risk factor of their intended operation. The scheme uses classes of drones and categories for their operations. Overall, the drone classes and drone operation categories defined by EASA provide a structured and coherent framework for the safe and efficient operation of drones in the European airspace, and they help to ensure that the potential benefits of drone technology are realized while minimizing any potential risks.
Drone classes are based on the weight and characteristics (for example speed, noise level etc.) of the UAS, and they determine the operational limitations and requirements for each type of drone. There are Seven classes, C0–C6.
Operation categories are three: Open, Specific, and Certified. These are based on the risk of accidents during a particular drone operation.
A full breakdown of the differences between the various categories and classes is beyond the scope of this answer. Find out more about the specifics of EASA drone classification.
