User Guide for FAA Remote ID Compliance

1. Purpose

 

As drones became more common, governments around the world have developed rules to encourage safe and productive drone flights while protecting airplanes and helicopters in the air as well as people and property on the ground. Now, a big part of the new era of drone regulation is about to take effect in the United States – Remote Identification.

 

Remote ID creates a common and consistent way for authorities to monitor drones in the air and identify who is flying them. Similar to a car license plate, this new method of aerial accountability will make the skies safer, increase public acceptance of drones, and open up new opportunities for drone pilots to routinely fly in ways that were previously restricted for safety reasons - such as flying at night or directly over people.

 

The FAA’s first Remote ID compliance deadline, for newly manufactured drones that require registration with the FAA, is September 16, 2022, though the FAA announced an extension to enforce it until December 16, 2022. Customers who already own DJI drones do not need to do anything right away, because existing drones are not required to comply with FAA Remote ID regulations until September 16, 2023. DJI will provide firmware updates before that date to bring most modern DJI drones into compliance. Customers can install those updates at their discretion any time before September 16, 2023. We hope this simple guide to the FAA’s Remote ID rules will help answer any questions you have.

 

 

 2 Frequently Asked Questions

 

2.1 What is FAA Remote ID?

The FAA Remote ID rule requires most drones operating in US airspace to have Remote ID capability. Think of Remote ID as an electronic license plate system for drones, allowing authorities to identify who is flying them. A physical license plate wouldn’t be much use on a small drone, so Remote ID sends license plate information via radio signals to receivers on the ground. Remote ID will provide information about drones in flight, such as the identity, location, and altitude of the drone and its control station.

 

2.2  Which drone pilots must comply with the rule and when?

The FAA requires that all drones must be registered, except those that weigh 0.55 pounds or less (less than 250 grams) and are flown exclusively under the Exception for Recreational Flyers. That is to say, all operators of agricultural drone must operate their drone in accordance with the final rule on Remote ID beginning September 16, 2023.

 

2.3  Do I have to upgrade to the RID-compliant firmware that has been released that supports FAA Remote ID functionality?

This is not required until September 16, 2023, even though the firmware is currently available. On and after that date, all drone pilots required to register must operate their drone in accordance with the FAA Remote ID rule. This means that you may need to upgrade the RID-compliant firmware unless your drone is not required to be registered per FAA rules.

 

2.4 If I upgrade RID-compliant firmware, can I disable Remote ID or can I downgrade the firmware to one that does not support Remote ID?

No. According to the Remote ID rule, the Remote ID system cannot be disabled by any person, and once the drone is upgraded to RID-compliant firmware, it cannot be downgraded.

 

2.5  What are the ways for drone pilots to comply with the Remote ID rule?

There are three ways drone pilots can meet the identification requirements of the Remote ID rule:

• Operate a Standard Remote ID drone that broadcasts identification and location information of the drone and control station. A standard remote ID drone is one that is produced with built-in Remote ID broadcast capabilities. All new drones produced by DJI now include these capabilities. Some drones made before the Remote ID rule took effect can include these capabilities by upgrading the RID-compliant firmware as well.
• Operate a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module giving the drone's identification, location, and take-off information. A broadcast module is a device that can be attached to a drone, or a feature (such as a software upgrade) integrated with the drone. Persons operating a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module must be able to see their drone at all times during flight. All DJI drones that were made before the Remote ID rule took effect but without RID-compliant firmware, are capable of operating with Remote ID functionality by means of an add-on Remote ID broadcast module.
• Operate (without Remote ID equipment) at FAA-recognized identification areas (FRIAs) sponsored by community-based organizations or schools. FRIAs are the only locations unmanned aircraft (drones and radio-controlled airplanes) may operate without broadcasting Remote ID message elements.

 

2.6  Which DJI drone models support FAA Remote ID?

You can check the list of drone models approved by the FAA by visiting this webpage.

 

2.7  What actions do I need to take if I want to comply with the Remote ID rule by upgrading RID-compliance firmware?

In theory, no action is required until September 16, 2023. If you are already planning to comply with the Remote ID rule, you may need to take the following three actions.

 

Action 1: Upgrade RID-compliant Firmware

The RID-compliant firmware released by DJI meets the compliance requirements of Standard Remote ID. To meet the requirements of the FAA Remote ID rule, both the drone firmware and the DJI Agras app need to be upgraded.

 

Action 2: Add or update drone Remote ID information

Under the Remote ID rule, the Certificate of Aircraft Registration of the drone used in the operation must include the Remote ID serial number of the drone. Each applicant for a Certificate of Aircraft Registration must submit the following required information to the Registry:

• Drone manufacturer and model name
• Remote ID serial number

 

There are two ways to register a drone in the United States:

• Register a drone online at FAA DroneZone (drone must weigh less than 55 pounds)
• Register a drone by mail

The registration of DJI agricultural drone may require the operator to register by mail. For detailed requirements, please visit the FAA website.

 

Drone manufacturer and model name

 

The drone manufacturer and model can be found on the approved DOC published by the FAA, as shown “DJI Agras T30” below:

 

Remote ID serial number

 

• If the drone has a 20-digit alphanumeric Flight Controller Serial Number (always prefixed with 1581F)

In this case, the Remote ID serial number is the same as the Flight Controller Serial Number, for example: Agras T40, etc. You can get the Remote ID serial number of the drone in the following 2 ways:

• Serial number inside the DJI Agras app, as shown below.
• Serial number inside “Available networks” of the WLAN ^{Note [1]}

 

 

• If the drone has a 14-digit alphanumeric Flight Controller Serial Number

In this case, the Remote ID serial number is not the same as Flight Controller Serial Number, for example: Agras T30, etc. You can get the Remote ID serial number of these drone in the following 2 ways:

• Remote ID Serial number inside the DJI Agras app, as shown below.

 

• Remote ID Serial number inside “Available networks” of the WLAN ^{Note [1]}

Note [1] See Way 2 in 2.8 below - "How to check if the Remote ID functionality is working properly?"

 

Action 3: Affix a RID compliance label to your drone

Under the FAA Remote ID rule, drones with Standard Remote ID capabilities are required to have a RID compliance label affixed to indicate that the drone complies with the Remote ID rule. Newly produced drone will be affixed with RID compliance label before leaving the factory. For drone have been upgraded with RID-compliant firmware but do not have a RID compliance label affixed, contact DJI Support or local dealers for how to label your drone.

 

2.8 How to check if the Remote ID functionality is working properly?

There are two ways to check if Remote ID is working properly.

Way 1: Remote ID status display on the DJI Agras app

Way 2: Remote ID serial number displayed in “Available networks” of the WLAN

 

Way 1: Remote ID status display on the DJI Agras app

The drone automatically initiates a pre-flight self-test (PFST) of the Remote ID system before takeoff, and cannot take off if it does not pass the PFST. The results of the PFST of the Remote ID system, i.e. the working status, can be viewed in the DJI Agras app below.

 

If the Remote ID is working properly, the RID “Normal” status will be displayed on the Aircraft Information page of the DJI Agras app, and there is no display of any RID abnormal status in the Camera View, as shown in the Figure below.

 

Aircraft Information Page

 

Camera View

 

 

If the Remote ID is working abnormally, the RID “Error” status will be displayed on the Aircraft Information page of the DJI Agras app, and “Remote ID module error” will be displayed on the Camera View as well, as shown in the Figure below.

 

Aircraft Information Page

 

 

Camera View

 

 

 

Way 2: Remote ID serial number displayed in “Available networks” of the WLAN

Use the DJI remote controller to control the drone to start the motors, then use the WLAN of your cell phone or tablet to scan the Remote ID serial number broadcast by the drone at a location close to the drone ^{Note [2]}. As shown in the figure below, if you can see a string always prefixed with “RID-” followed by a 20-digit alphanumeric Remote ID serial number in the "Available networks", it means that the Remote ID is broadcast properly.

Note [2] Since the time required for WLAN scanning of different cell phones or tablets is not consistent, it may be necessary to restart the WLAN several times to scan the Remote ID serial number broadcast by the drone.

 

2.9  I bought a new drone, how to check whether the drone with built-in Remote ID functionality?Starting in September 2022, DJI has produced drones that meet the requirements of Remote ID rule. These Remote ID compliant drones will have RID compliant identifier “ASTM F3411-22a-RID-B” as below shown affixed before leaving the factory. The identifier is usually located near the nameplate of the drone.

 

 

2.10  I bought a drone with built-in Remote ID functionality, what actions do I need to take?

You do not need to take any action until September 16, 2023. Of course you can also take actions to comply with the Remote ID rule ahead of that date. Unlike drone users who have firmware upgrades to comply with the Remote ID rule, you do not need to specifically upgrade the RID compliant firmware and affix the RID compliance identifier to the drone airframe, as the drone is inherently RID-compliant and has the RID compliance identifier affixed. All you need to do is to correctly submit the Remote ID related information when registering the drone, see Action 2 in the 2.7.

 

2.11  My legacy drone cannot comply with the Remote ID rule by upgrading firmware, what should I do?

You do not need to take any action until September 16, 2023. On and after that date, if you continue to operate the drone, you will have to comply with the rule in either of the two ways described below.

• Operate a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module giving the drone's identification, location, and take-off information. A broadcast module is a device that can be attached to a drone, or a feature (such as a software upgrade) integrated with the drone. Persons operating a drone with a Remote ID broadcast module must be able to see their drone at all times during flight.
• Operate (without Remote ID equipment) at FAA-recognized identification areas (FRIAs) sponsored by community-based organizations or schools. FRIAs are the only locations unmanned aircraft (drones and radio-controlled airplanes) may operate without broadcasting Remote ID message elements.

 

2.12  I decided to comply with rule by adding a Remote ID module to the drone, what should I be aware of?

The Remote ID module you purchase must be FAA-approved. Follow the Remote ID module instruction manual to properly install it on the drone and make sure the module will not affect the safe operation of the drone. You may need to add Remote ID module information such as manufacturer, model, and serial number to the FAA drone registry.

 

2.13  What are the conditions for a drone to start broadcasting Remote ID signals?

The drone will start broadcasting the FAA Remote ID signal when all of the following conditions are met.

• The drone has built-in Remote ID functionality.
• The drone is within airspace of the United States.
• The drone's motors began to spin.

 

2.14  Does the drone with built-in Remote ID still broadcast FAA Remote ID signals when flying outside the US? 

No

 

2.15  If I bring a drone with built-in Remote ID to the US from a non-US country, will the drone broadcast FAA Remote ID signals when flying in the US?

Yes

 

2.16  Will Remote ID reduce battery life?

No

 

2.17 What will happen if the built-in Remote ID of the drone malfunctions or fails during flight?

The drone monitors the Remote ID system functionality from pre-flight to shutdown. If the Remote ID system malfunctions or has a failure, an alarm will be displayed in the DJI Agras app. As required by the rule, the person manipulating the flight controls of the drone must land it as soon as practicable if the drone is no longer broadcasting Remote ID signals.

 

2.18  Do I have to connect to a wireless or Wi-Fi network for the Remote ID functionality to work properly?

No

 

2.19  Where can I see more detailed FAA Remote ID rule information?

Please visit FAA’s official website.

 

2.20 I have other questions about Remote ID, what should I do?

Please contact DJI Support or local dealers.