How do I Meet FAA Regulations
Keep on flying. We don't have the final rules yet. Latest news is that the Remote ID implementation has been delayed!!! So far that technology and equipment doesn't exist in an available, affordable and usable form as promised by the FAA. I hear there is a major development and production delay and backlog because manufacturers need to produce as many as 500,000 remote ID units. We will keep watching and update this page as time progresses. I don't think it will change the way I fly that much even when it is implemented. See videos below.
Every 4 years the FAA comes up for review. Congress and Senate will be voting on bills in the fall of 2023 that will affect RC flying. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) and Flite Test representatives have been working with the congressional committees and feel that the new bills have become more realistic and hope that even more RC flyer input can be put into the 2023 legislation. Video Update from AMA.
At this time this is what you need to do:
The links below will guide you. You need to take a general knowledge test they call the "Trust Recreational Flyer Test". You are not going to fail because they give you the answers then ask you the questions. Go to the AMA sight below and select the START button. The test is free and only takes 15-30 minutes. Print a copy of your test completion certificate when you are done and put it in your flight box.
This is the TRUST test: https://trust.modelaircraft.org/group/4?tour=1
According to the FAA themselves ... To fly under the exception for recreational flyers you must:
1. Have a current registration.
2. Fly only for recreational purposes.
3. Follow the safety guidelines of a community organization.
4. Keep your drone within your visual line of site.
5. Give way and do not interfere with any manned aircraft.
6. Fly at or below 400 feet in controlled airspace and only with prior authorization.
7. Fly at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace.
8. Comply with all airspace restrictions.
9. Pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test.
10. Register if you are flying any planes/drones that weigh more than 0.55 lbs.
Register with the FAA. The FAA requires you to register one specific plane (your drone) when you register but that one number can be used on all of your planes. I registered just one plane but I have many other planes that will also have the same FAA number on them. Each plane does not need its own ID number. Reading the FAA site it feels like they are asking you to register each plane but this is not necessary. There is a $5 registration renewal fee every 3 years. This registration fee is per RC flyer, not per plane or drone. Print copies of your Trust test and FAA registration and put them in your flight box so you have something to show if ever asked which I doubt will ever happen for most of us "line of sight" park plane flyers. I think the quad flyers will get more attention from neighbors and they need to be more prepared.
Get your RC identification number here: https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/
We can keep flying in community locations. I do not see any rules that say you have to only fly in a FRIA sanctioned flight park as long as you are safely flying line of sight under 400 feet in a safe area and not annoying the neighbors or interfering with manned aircraft. Many flyers across the country do not have sanctioned fields near where they live and can still fly with these basic FAA rules.
There are 4 flying options: At this time they FAA wants every flyer to (1) fly at an FRIA site where they wouldn't need remote ID, or (2) use remote ID, or (3) fly "drones" under 250 gms. At this time I am waiting for the finial legislation and the availability of the remote IDs at a reasonable price. I don't think it will change flying much for most flyers when the Remote IDs evolve to something simple and usable. (4) I hear some flyers say they won't comply. These groups are the ones that make it tough for the rest of us. I encourage you to at least make an effort to follow the rules to help the rest of us.
If you want to register a FRIA site that won't need the remote ID you need to make application through Flitetest or the FAA. Links are below.
If you want to set up an FRIA site at your local park or school though Flitetest look here Got FRIA?
If you want to set up and FRIA site though the FAA look here FAA.gov ID/FRIA
Before you fly (B4UFLY) is an FAA app you can download from your phone app store that can give you more specific information about where you can fly in your area. This app has a map that shows boundaries around airports and hospital air pads that are controlled fly zones. The boundaries are not as restrictive as I thought they would be. Click on the location you want to fly at and the program will tell you if it is open for flying. Read carefully what it says because some locations in restricted areas are still flyable if you have LAANC permission.. B4UFLY
Remote ID update: As of September 16, 2023 the current congressional proposed bill states that outside sanctioned parks a remote GPS ID transponder would be required to identify and locate aircraft over 250 gms. So far that technology doesn't exist in an affordable and usable form as promised by the FAA. I hear there is a major development and production delay and backlog because manufacturers need to produce as many as 500,000 remote ID units. We will keep watching and update this page as time progresses. The advantage of the flying at a FRIA sanctioned RC flight park is no ID transponder would be required. However you don't need an approved FRIA site if you are using remote ID. Planes under 250 grams don't need to be registered and don't have the transponder requirement outside FRIA. Once Remote ID transponders are available I'll get a couple and use them. It will hardly affect the way I fly now.
The FAA rules ask us to follow the safety guidelines of a community organization. The main organization in the USA is the AMA. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) has a safety handbook that can be found here: AMA safety Handbook
If you are flying FPV or professionally shooting video, or flying for a company, whether you are paid or not, even if you are flying a drone that is under the 250 gms, the rules changed and you need a FAA #107 commercial license to fly. To get your FAA #107 you need to take a 60 question comprehensive test which has to be retaken every two years to keep you current on present flying regulations.
This is a link to the FAA information page for getting your FAA #107 certification. FAA #107 There are also many YouTube help videos available. There are companies with classes and videos that can help you get your FAA #107 commercial license. Pilot Institute is one of the paid online drone programs but there are also free programs available. See videos below. Pilot institute Drone Pilot License Another program is Remotepilot101.com
A few remote IDs transponders are starting to be seen on the market. Don't buy anything yet. Technology is still evolving and prices are coming down. I'll try to wait to buy a remote ID to to be compliant when I can find a stand alone unit with GPS for under $50 that actually works. This technology will advance quickly when the remote ID rules are better defined and more competitors enter the market.
Remote ID limitations: Bluetooth maximum range is only going to be about 9/10ths of a mile in perfect line of sight which isn't going to alert airports or air traffic your flying in the area. Think about that for a minute. Who is going to see you have remote ID and know who you are and where you are flying? Even if flying site neighbors know about the Remote ID rules they have to download an app to get more information on their Android phone. Apple phones can't read the remote ID signal. There is a video on line where multiple remote ID units are tested and the longest range they got was 2400 feet which is less than a half of a mile.
This is a list of approved Remote ID modules most of which are quadcopter based. At this time this is the most complete list I have seen. Many of the modules you find on line are not stand alone units. I'm sure there will be a lot more information in the next few weeks.
Here is a list of the approved Remote ID modules as of 8-01-23
I have been a member of the AMA for many years. The AMA leadership met with the legislators in congress and defended RC rights and traditions. Here is a Video Link from the AMA about legislation. Without them the FAA rules would be much different and much more restrictive than they are now. AMA membership also has a limited liability insurance. Many clubs, events and flying sites require AMA insurance. I am an AMA member so I can fly at their club fields. The AMA fields won't require the remote ID since they will be FAA FRIA sites. Learn more about the AMA
This is a great article that gives a little history and gives some general information.
https://www.modelairplanenews.com/remote-id/
My View
Flying used to be simple and no one seemed to care about where and what we flew. One day the FPV drones with cameras appeared which were being flown all over town, over houses, over restricted area for fun and for business and the news media couldn't tell enough stories, which were occasionally true, about drones being where they shouldn't be. Big companies like Amazon started requesting permission to deliver merchandise with quadcopter drones to residential houses. Police, real estate companies, film makers and hobbyists were promoting the new FPV technology. FPV flight videos were being posted showing the drones flying over people and property anywhere and everywhere you could imagine. The popularity of RC crash videos and the buzzing bee sounds of quads hasn't helped. People started associating the sound of a drone to the invasion of their privacy.
The FAA felt they had been forced to come up with some regulations to protect the lives of pilots and passengers of full sized aircraft and protect the public privacy. The FAA has struggled with a constant change of the congressional committee people so those in the ruling body haven't been in all the previous discussions so they lack some of the insight of what has gone on before. This bill is hundreds of pages long and only a small amount is related to model aircraft. Things are still unsettled as congress prepares to vote on the latest version of the bill.
I don't think there are going to be law enforcement people showing up to check your FAA registration in most locations unless there is a neighbor complaint or video that shows you in violation. Know that the FAA has already used the 2018 rules to fine flyers for rule violations with much of the evidence coming from videos the flyers posted of themselves breaking the rules. If you fly safe within the rules and don't post videos of you breaking the rules they should leave you alone.
If you have any additions or corrections to the information on this page please contact us at our website and we will update this site.
Thanks
Lee
Every 4 years the FAA comes up for review. Congress and Senate will be voting on bills in the fall of 2023 that will affect RC flying. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) and Flite Test representatives have been working with the congressional committees and feel that the new bills have become more realistic and hope that even more RC flyer input can be put into the 2023 legislation. Video Update from AMA.
At this time this is what you need to do:
The links below will guide you. You need to take a general knowledge test they call the "Trust Recreational Flyer Test". You are not going to fail because they give you the answers then ask you the questions. Go to the AMA sight below and select the START button. The test is free and only takes 15-30 minutes. Print a copy of your test completion certificate when you are done and put it in your flight box.
This is the TRUST test: https://trust.modelaircraft.org/group/4?tour=1
According to the FAA themselves ... To fly under the exception for recreational flyers you must:
1. Have a current registration.
2. Fly only for recreational purposes.
3. Follow the safety guidelines of a community organization.
4. Keep your drone within your visual line of site.
5. Give way and do not interfere with any manned aircraft.
6. Fly at or below 400 feet in controlled airspace and only with prior authorization.
7. Fly at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace.
8. Comply with all airspace restrictions.
9. Pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test.
10. Register if you are flying any planes/drones that weigh more than 0.55 lbs.
Register with the FAA. The FAA requires you to register one specific plane (your drone) when you register but that one number can be used on all of your planes. I registered just one plane but I have many other planes that will also have the same FAA number on them. Each plane does not need its own ID number. Reading the FAA site it feels like they are asking you to register each plane but this is not necessary. There is a $5 registration renewal fee every 3 years. This registration fee is per RC flyer, not per plane or drone. Print copies of your Trust test and FAA registration and put them in your flight box so you have something to show if ever asked which I doubt will ever happen for most of us "line of sight" park plane flyers. I think the quad flyers will get more attention from neighbors and they need to be more prepared.
Get your RC identification number here: https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/
We can keep flying in community locations. I do not see any rules that say you have to only fly in a FRIA sanctioned flight park as long as you are safely flying line of sight under 400 feet in a safe area and not annoying the neighbors or interfering with manned aircraft. Many flyers across the country do not have sanctioned fields near where they live and can still fly with these basic FAA rules.
There are 4 flying options: At this time they FAA wants every flyer to (1) fly at an FRIA site where they wouldn't need remote ID, or (2) use remote ID, or (3) fly "drones" under 250 gms. At this time I am waiting for the finial legislation and the availability of the remote IDs at a reasonable price. I don't think it will change flying much for most flyers when the Remote IDs evolve to something simple and usable. (4) I hear some flyers say they won't comply. These groups are the ones that make it tough for the rest of us. I encourage you to at least make an effort to follow the rules to help the rest of us.
If you want to register a FRIA site that won't need the remote ID you need to make application through Flitetest or the FAA. Links are below.
If you want to set up an FRIA site at your local park or school though Flitetest look here Got FRIA?
If you want to set up and FRIA site though the FAA look here FAA.gov ID/FRIA
Before you fly (B4UFLY) is an FAA app you can download from your phone app store that can give you more specific information about where you can fly in your area. This app has a map that shows boundaries around airports and hospital air pads that are controlled fly zones. The boundaries are not as restrictive as I thought they would be. Click on the location you want to fly at and the program will tell you if it is open for flying. Read carefully what it says because some locations in restricted areas are still flyable if you have LAANC permission.. B4UFLY
Remote ID update: As of September 16, 2023 the current congressional proposed bill states that outside sanctioned parks a remote GPS ID transponder would be required to identify and locate aircraft over 250 gms. So far that technology doesn't exist in an affordable and usable form as promised by the FAA. I hear there is a major development and production delay and backlog because manufacturers need to produce as many as 500,000 remote ID units. We will keep watching and update this page as time progresses. The advantage of the flying at a FRIA sanctioned RC flight park is no ID transponder would be required. However you don't need an approved FRIA site if you are using remote ID. Planes under 250 grams don't need to be registered and don't have the transponder requirement outside FRIA. Once Remote ID transponders are available I'll get a couple and use them. It will hardly affect the way I fly now.
The FAA rules ask us to follow the safety guidelines of a community organization. The main organization in the USA is the AMA. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) has a safety handbook that can be found here: AMA safety Handbook
If you are flying FPV or professionally shooting video, or flying for a company, whether you are paid or not, even if you are flying a drone that is under the 250 gms, the rules changed and you need a FAA #107 commercial license to fly. To get your FAA #107 you need to take a 60 question comprehensive test which has to be retaken every two years to keep you current on present flying regulations.
This is a link to the FAA information page for getting your FAA #107 certification. FAA #107 There are also many YouTube help videos available. There are companies with classes and videos that can help you get your FAA #107 commercial license. Pilot Institute is one of the paid online drone programs but there are also free programs available. See videos below. Pilot institute Drone Pilot License Another program is Remotepilot101.com
A few remote IDs transponders are starting to be seen on the market. Don't buy anything yet. Technology is still evolving and prices are coming down. I'll try to wait to buy a remote ID to to be compliant when I can find a stand alone unit with GPS for under $50 that actually works. This technology will advance quickly when the remote ID rules are better defined and more competitors enter the market.
Remote ID limitations: Bluetooth maximum range is only going to be about 9/10ths of a mile in perfect line of sight which isn't going to alert airports or air traffic your flying in the area. Think about that for a minute. Who is going to see you have remote ID and know who you are and where you are flying? Even if flying site neighbors know about the Remote ID rules they have to download an app to get more information on their Android phone. Apple phones can't read the remote ID signal. There is a video on line where multiple remote ID units are tested and the longest range they got was 2400 feet which is less than a half of a mile.
This is a list of approved Remote ID modules most of which are quadcopter based. At this time this is the most complete list I have seen. Many of the modules you find on line are not stand alone units. I'm sure there will be a lot more information in the next few weeks.
Here is a list of the approved Remote ID modules as of 8-01-23
I have been a member of the AMA for many years. The AMA leadership met with the legislators in congress and defended RC rights and traditions. Here is a Video Link from the AMA about legislation. Without them the FAA rules would be much different and much more restrictive than they are now. AMA membership also has a limited liability insurance. Many clubs, events and flying sites require AMA insurance. I am an AMA member so I can fly at their club fields. The AMA fields won't require the remote ID since they will be FAA FRIA sites. Learn more about the AMA
This is a great article that gives a little history and gives some general information.
https://www.modelairplanenews.com/remote-id/
My View
Flying used to be simple and no one seemed to care about where and what we flew. One day the FPV drones with cameras appeared which were being flown all over town, over houses, over restricted area for fun and for business and the news media couldn't tell enough stories, which were occasionally true, about drones being where they shouldn't be. Big companies like Amazon started requesting permission to deliver merchandise with quadcopter drones to residential houses. Police, real estate companies, film makers and hobbyists were promoting the new FPV technology. FPV flight videos were being posted showing the drones flying over people and property anywhere and everywhere you could imagine. The popularity of RC crash videos and the buzzing bee sounds of quads hasn't helped. People started associating the sound of a drone to the invasion of their privacy.
The FAA felt they had been forced to come up with some regulations to protect the lives of pilots and passengers of full sized aircraft and protect the public privacy. The FAA has struggled with a constant change of the congressional committee people so those in the ruling body haven't been in all the previous discussions so they lack some of the insight of what has gone on before. This bill is hundreds of pages long and only a small amount is related to model aircraft. Things are still unsettled as congress prepares to vote on the latest version of the bill.
I don't think there are going to be law enforcement people showing up to check your FAA registration in most locations unless there is a neighbor complaint or video that shows you in violation. Know that the FAA has already used the 2018 rules to fine flyers for rule violations with much of the evidence coming from videos the flyers posted of themselves breaking the rules. If you fly safe within the rules and don't post videos of you breaking the rules they should leave you alone.
If you have any additions or corrections to the information on this page please contact us at our website and we will update this site.
Thanks
Lee
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