AMA – Remote ID

The FAA released the long-awaited proposed rule on UAS remote identification on December 26. While the proposal includes some elements that we advocated for, there are several concerning elements as well. We will need everyone’s help to ensure that the final rule on remote ID works as best as possible for our community.

For years, AMA has advocated for an approach to remote ID that would allow recreational operators to meet the safety and security objectives of the rule by operating at fixed flying sites or by using a software-based app solution. We pushed strongly for this approach from our position on the Remote ID Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which influenced the proposed rule, and will continue to advocate for this solution to remote ID.

The good news is that some elements of our suggested approach are included in the FAA’s proposed rule. Most importantly, the proposal includes a way to comply with remote ID by flying at an established location without adding equipment to your model.

However, there are several problems with the proposed rule that we will be pushing back on. At a high-level there are three major areas of concern. First, the rule should provide community-based organizations (CBOs) like AMA more flexibility to establish and maintain flying locations that count for remote ID compliance. Second, the rule should account for flying locations that may not have internet connectivity, as many safe places to fly are in rural areas with little or no service. Third, the rule should not require modelers to register every aircraft individually. For members with many aircraft, this is overly costly and unsustainable for aircraft that are built by hand.

Please keep in mind the proposed remote ID rule is just that – a proposal. The rule is not final yet, and a 60-day comment period began on December 31. In the coming days, we will be asking for everyone’s help writing to the FAA about our concerns and suggestions to address them. We have also requested an extension on the comment period to give everyone more time to weigh-in.

Please closely watch your email and AMA social media for more direction on how to officially send comments to the FAA on the remote ID proposal.

Lastly, it is important to know that the remote ID rule will not be finalized for potentially two years. We also expect a period of several more years after the rule is finalized before compliance is required.

For a summary of FAA’s proposal for Remote Identification of UAS visit our blog below. As always, please contact AMA Government Affairs at (765) 287-1256 or amagov@modelaircraft.org with any questions.