O Remote ID will come into effect in the US on December 16, 2022, previously scheduled for September. But why was Remote ID created and how does it affect drone pilots in the US and possibly Brazil and elsewhere? Does my drone support Remote ID? In this article, we talk about how this system should become a world standard in a short time.

american organ Federal Aviation Administration (Federal Aviation Administration), which is responsible for managing the airspace in the country, will enforce new drone legislation that directly affects the launch of new models and makes some changes to models launched before the system goes into effect. To fly legally in the United States, each new drone launched must support UAS Remote ID (remote identification).

In practice, it works as a kind of “online digital whiteboard” that remotely exchanges drone registration information, flight data (from takeoff to shutdown), and the owner of the drone who has the aircraft registration. The data will be available online and in real time, so it will be possible to know at any time if the drone is flying in a certain desired area.

Why was Remote ID created?

For some time, airspace management agencies around the world have been looking for a solution to more efficiently manage drones, a segment that has grown rapidly with a variety of aircraft of different shapes, sizes, brands and uses. The United States is on the “front” of Remote ID, and that’s where it all started, largely due to pressure from law enforcement agencies and the population itself to popularize drones. OUR Federal Aviation Administration (Federal Aviation Administration), which is responsible for managing the airspace in the country, was responsible for the definitions of Remote ID and the entire process of the new system.

As with any type of product that involves use in risky situations, it is natural for legislation to be updated and modified to fit the current and future scenario. So appeared Remote ID, a control system that provides identification and location information for the drone and its owner. Regulatory and security authorities can get real-time complete data about the drone, the flight, as well as the pilot (who registered the drone).

Remote ID official website

Remote Identification took several years for the FAA to define its rules, including public participation. After analyzing those responsible for the considerations sent from all over the world, he arrived at the model to be used. We recommend checking the official website for full details of the new legislation.

We’re not going to go into all of the new Remote Identity legislation, which is very broad and specific to the US. As expected, due to the big changes that the system requires, Remote ID has attracted a lot of criticism, especially from users, and the need to provide real-time data about drones and pilots. But it is important to note that many users fly drones in dangerous areas such as airports, in addition to using drones for illegal purposes, such as transporting items to prisons, so a more efficient system is important for greater security.

Another point of concern when we talk about drones is the use of consumer models in war zones. We published some news about drones modified to drop bombs during the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Number of drones registered in the US and Brazil

To understand why drone legislation needs to be updated not only in the US, but also in Brazil and any other country, it is important to know the number of registered drones and pilots around the world. The FAA website lists registration data in the United States and ANAC publishes the same information in Brazil as listed below:

Number of drones in the US (data from the FAA website as of September 2022):

Number of drones and pilots registered in Brazil (Updated 05/02/2022)

When does the Remote ID take effect?

Remote ID will go into effect on December 16, 2022 in the US. The start date was September 16, but it has been pushed back. As with a number of other certifications and definitions, once implemented in the US, it is likely that several other countries will use the same system in their new legislation.

Anyone who does not properly register their drone can be fined up to $27,500 under US law.

In what situations will Remote ID be used?

It’s easier to highlight what’s left outside of the Remote ID app, again, only valid in the US for now. In the following situations, the drone does not need to present the requirements of the new system:

– Drones weighing less than 250 grams (such as DJI Mini SE, Mini 2, Mini 3 Pro, Autel EVO Nano Series, FIMI X8 Mini, Hubsan Zino Mini) used in recreational flights do not have to worry about changing legislation.

– In the US, anyone flying a drone in a recognized ID area (such as model aircraft clubs) can also fly normally if the drone does not meet Remote ID requirements.

Drone and apps must have technology support

Every new drone over 250 grams released after December 16, 2022 must natively support Remote ID. Check out the rules for drone models at this link.

What should I do if the drone has been launched earlier and does not have a Remote ID?

The manufacturer will have to add support through some kind of module or even software. Drones that do not natively support ADS-B technology require a module, while models such as the Mavic 2 or Mavic Air 2 that do not support ADS-B require a software solution. As of September 2022, DJI already had 7 models certified for Remote ID.

DJI Already Has 7 Remote ID Compatible Drones – See Models

Among models with a built-in ADS-B module: DJI Air 2S, DJI Mavic 3, DJI FPV Drone and DJI Avata.

– Avatar [vídeos de lançamento]

– Mini 3 Pro [análise em vídeo]

– Air 2C [análise em vídeo]

– Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine [análise em vídeo]

Some models that do not support hardware: Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom, Mavic Air 2, Autel EVO II, Autel EVO II Pro, Autel EVO Lite, FIMI X8SE 2020, Skydio 2/2+ and many more.

DJI is way ahead when it comes to Remote ID support as they already have several models with ADS-B. Other companies, even Autel Robotics in their recent launches, don’t bring this kind of technology. This can be a problem mainly because the US market is one of the largest in the world in terms of consumption, it is not interesting to have products outside of it.

The app shows you where you can and can’t fly as a hobby in the US

FAA partners with Aloft to launch app B4UFLY Compatible with Android, iOS as well as online version via browser. This “system” shows the user where it is possible to fly as a hobby without any problems with the new legislation. It is worth noting that DJI Fly will have updates aimed at compatibility with Remote ID.

What information will the Remote ID convey?

When using an aircraft with Remote ID technology or through a compatible communication module, data will be sent from the moment the aircraft takes off to the moment the aircraft turns off. The following are the data that will be shared under the FAA:

– Unique drone identification;
– Latitude, longitude, altitude and speed of the drone;
– indication of latitude, longitude and altitude of the control place (pilot) or take-off place (transmitting module);
– Flight time;
– Emergency status (drone only)

What happens to drones without Remote ID support?

Drones without Remote ID support will become illegal to fly in some areas in countries that enact the system in their legislation, with different expiration scenarios.

It is important to be clear that there are different “rules” for each country, meaning whether or not multiple countries accept Remote ID, each has its own legislation, these are different things. Remote ID is a system for drone location and online information, the flight legislation consists of the flight rules adopted by the laws of each country, with Remote ID being one of these rules or not. In the US it will be mandatory and the trend is that very soon it will become the world standard as the US is one of the main consumers in the world and naturally the main manufacturers have to introduce support for this new “technology” which ends up being used from other countries.

Brazil doesn’t make Remote ID mandatory, but…

As we mentioned above, the United States sets a set of standards for the world in different scenarios, and drones are no different. Although Remote ID was originally implemented in the US, naturally this system could become the standard around the world. A number of agencies and security agencies will monitor drones in the air, and this is good and bad, and it worries a lot of people.

While many feel that this type of system gives more control power than it should to some sectors of the government, we know that in addition to irresponsibility on the part of some pilots, many are using drones for illegal purposes. Thus, a more efficient method was needed to avoid big problems with the popularization of drones, thinking about the future.

Again, those who fly drones weighing less than 250 grams in permitted areas, such as the Mavic Mini, Mini SE, Mini 2, Mini 3 Pro, Fimi X8 Mini, Autel EVO and some other models of this size, do not need to worry at least with the advent of Remote ID, at least in the US.

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