In December of 2019 I received an Email notification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about a proposed regulation to implement Remote Identification for drones or as the FAA calls them Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). On 28 December 2020 one year later I received another Email from the FAA about the new rule with regards to Remote Identification for UAS.
Whether you agree with the ruling or not, it is etched in stone. So now is the time to educate yourself about this ruling. This will help reduce the impact on your drone operation, whether it is for commercial or recreational purposes; because it will impact you either way.
The new ruling codified by both the FAA and Department of Transportation (DOT) is 470 pages bit.ly/3aNuYHG Anyone that did not receive the Email use the aforementioned link. However I will summarize what I believe is the crux of the matter.
First what is Remote Identification? Here is an excerpt from the ruling:
"Remote identification is the capability of an unmanned aircraft in flight to provide identification, location, and performance information that people on the ground and other airspace users can receive."
This also includes the controller. So both the remote pilot in command and the drone can be pinpointed to a location. The FAA, law enforcement, and other authorized officials will use this information to better integrate drones into the National Airspace System. This also allows anyone else that has the knowledge and capability to locate you. I say this because there are nefarious actors with bad intentions who prey on unsuspecting people. This isn't intended to scare you but to make you aware.
Second, Hobbyist see the excerpt below:
"There's a law that describes how, when, and where you can fly drones for recreational purposes. You are considered a recreational user if you fly your drone for fun. It is important to know when and where you can fly and how to register your drone." For an in depth look click on the following link: https://www.faa.gov/uas/
If you have a drone that weighs less than 0.55 lbs or 250 grams, remote ID is only required if you operate under part 107, which is for commercial pilots. However, without the remote ID the FAA will require you to operate your drone in areas designated for hobbyist, called FAA Recognized Identification Areas (FRIA). Section XII provides greater detail. Operating in a designated area with other drone operators doesn't seem like an ideal situation. Think about that for a minute.
So what happens if you have an In-flight Loss of Remote Identification Broadcast? You are required by the new ruling to land the drone as soon as it is safe.
"A standard remote identification unmanned aircraft must perform a self-test and provide a notification to the person manipulating the flight controls of the UAS if the remote identification equipment is not functioning properly. In addition, a standard remote identification unmanned aircraft must be designed to not take off if it fails the self-test."
Although it was discussed, the ruling does not require the Remote Identification to have internet connectivity. There were several reasons the FAA gave, one of which related to cyber security, and another because remote locations may not have connectivity.
"While this rule no longer requires standard remote identification UAS to have an Internet connection for the purpose of remote identification, the FAA acknowledges that many UAS could have Internet connection capabilities to support other design features or capabilities not related to remote identification."
Registration Requirements: Check the above mentioned FAA website to be sure you meet the requirements for registering your drone with the FAA.
"Small unmanned aircraft registered under part 48 may not operate unless they display a unique identifier in a way that is readily accessible and visible upon inspection of the aircraft. The unique identifier must be either: (1) the registration number issued to an individual or the registration number issued to the aircraft by the Registry upon completion of the registration process; or (2) the small unmanned aircraft serial number, if authorized by the Administrator and provided with the application for Certificate of Aircraft Registration."
There is a lot too digest but I hit some key points. There is a compliance date and I believe it best for the individual to read for themselves. This blog is intended to familiarize drone operators with the new ruling.
I hope you find this information useful and if you have any questions or comments please let me know. You can also find me on Twitter @DannyBaker0.
Comments
Post a Comment