How do I Meet FAA Regulations
Keep on flying. We have some ideas to help make this as painless as possible.
The FAA is going forward with the Remote ID requirement as of March 16th 2024. I'm frustrated with the new regulations but I think we can live with them. I can still fly the same planes in the same places I have been flying prior to remote ID. The FAA 250 gm restriction is not an option for the way I like to fly.
I ordered a Spektrum 9500 because it is simple and small and plugs into a servo plug on my receiver and runs off of the flight battery. The new Ruko unit is less expensive and also does the job and has an internal rechargable 5 hour battery. Some of the local flyers are using both of these remote ID devices. Take a look:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=remote+id+FAA&crid=35QJPDSICA7A7&sprefix=remote+id+faa%2Caps%2C143
https://www.spektrumrc.com/product/sky-remote-id-module/SPMA9500.html
The FAA is asking us to:
1) Take the TRUST test: https://trust.modelaircraft.org/group/4?tour=1
2) Register with the FAA: https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/
3) Have a remote ID module if you are not flying at a FRIA field
According to the FAA ... To fly as a recreational flyer 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 or 250 gms.
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 and your remote IDs. 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 unless you are flying professionally. 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. Put your name and FAA number on each of your planes. My label has my name and phone number and instructs them to call me if the plane is found. My FAA and AMA numbers happen to be on there too. I use address labels I print on my computer.
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 with Remote ID 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. It is no surprise that most violations are quadcopters shooting video in restricted areas, flying beyond line of sight, flying over crowds of people or events or over private property without permission.
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. (4) I hear some flyers say they won't comply. I encourage you to at least make an effort to follow the rules to help the rest of us.
Watch this video where the FAA is answering questions from two prominent drone advocates. Notice the way at the end of the video he says the FAA is out to teach and council drone pilots not intimidate them. As usual, they talk mostly about quad copters and don't address line of sight flying with model airplanes. https://youtu.be/_GkvNlRYtqc
If you want to set up a FRIA site that won't need the remote ID you need to make application through Flitetest or the FAA.
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
This is the Drone Scanner app where you can see what Remote ID things are going on around you. It shows you what others can see about you when you are flying. It shows speed and altitude in metric measurements but is interesting to use. Good to know, 122 meters is 400 feet elevation. MS or meters per second X 2.3 equals MPH. 20 MS is 46 MPH. 30 MS is 67 MPH. 40 MS is 92 MPH.
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
Remote ID limitations: Bluetooth maximum range is only about a half 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. Most of my flights are only 8-20 minutes with my wings so they only will have that much time to look for me because the Remote ID will go off when I change batteries. 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 so to identify you they have to already be very close. The government isn't sitting and watching you from a distance.
I have been a member of the AMA for many years. The AMA (Academy of Model Aircraft) leadership met with the legislators in congress and defended RC rights and traditions. Without the AMA 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 also 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. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) has a safety handbook that can be found here: AMA safety Handbook
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. One day someone started calling our model airplanes drones which has an evil connotation. To me they are still model airplanes.
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, sporting events 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.
A new fear of the public is the way drones are being used in war. Ukraine and Russia are fighting a war with drones and that affects us by the public fear and perception of what a drone can do.
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.
There isn't going to be law enforcement people showing up to check your FAA registration and weigh your plane in most locations unless there is a neighbor complaint or video that shows you in violation so they should leave you alone. The Remote IDs have limited Bluetooth range of less than 2400 feet and they only broadcast if they are plugged in at that moment so your not going to be that easy to find. Fly responsibly and we shouldn't have problems.
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
The FAA is going forward with the Remote ID requirement as of March 16th 2024. I'm frustrated with the new regulations but I think we can live with them. I can still fly the same planes in the same places I have been flying prior to remote ID. The FAA 250 gm restriction is not an option for the way I like to fly.
I ordered a Spektrum 9500 because it is simple and small and plugs into a servo plug on my receiver and runs off of the flight battery. The new Ruko unit is less expensive and also does the job and has an internal rechargable 5 hour battery. Some of the local flyers are using both of these remote ID devices. Take a look:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=remote+id+FAA&crid=35QJPDSICA7A7&sprefix=remote+id+faa%2Caps%2C143
https://www.spektrumrc.com/product/sky-remote-id-module/SPMA9500.html
The FAA is asking us to:
1) Take the TRUST test: https://trust.modelaircraft.org/group/4?tour=1
2) Register with the FAA: https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/#/
3) Have a remote ID module if you are not flying at a FRIA field
According to the FAA ... To fly as a recreational flyer 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 or 250 gms.
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 and your remote IDs. 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 unless you are flying professionally. 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. Put your name and FAA number on each of your planes. My label has my name and phone number and instructs them to call me if the plane is found. My FAA and AMA numbers happen to be on there too. I use address labels I print on my computer.
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 with Remote ID 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. It is no surprise that most violations are quadcopters shooting video in restricted areas, flying beyond line of sight, flying over crowds of people or events or over private property without permission.
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. (4) I hear some flyers say they won't comply. I encourage you to at least make an effort to follow the rules to help the rest of us.
Watch this video where the FAA is answering questions from two prominent drone advocates. Notice the way at the end of the video he says the FAA is out to teach and council drone pilots not intimidate them. As usual, they talk mostly about quad copters and don't address line of sight flying with model airplanes. https://youtu.be/_GkvNlRYtqc
If you want to set up a FRIA site that won't need the remote ID you need to make application through Flitetest or the FAA.
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
This is the Drone Scanner app where you can see what Remote ID things are going on around you. It shows you what others can see about you when you are flying. It shows speed and altitude in metric measurements but is interesting to use. Good to know, 122 meters is 400 feet elevation. MS or meters per second X 2.3 equals MPH. 20 MS is 46 MPH. 30 MS is 67 MPH. 40 MS is 92 MPH.
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
Remote ID limitations: Bluetooth maximum range is only about a half 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. Most of my flights are only 8-20 minutes with my wings so they only will have that much time to look for me because the Remote ID will go off when I change batteries. 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 so to identify you they have to already be very close. The government isn't sitting and watching you from a distance.
I have been a member of the AMA for many years. The AMA (Academy of Model Aircraft) leadership met with the legislators in congress and defended RC rights and traditions. Without the AMA 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 also 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. The AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) has a safety handbook that can be found here: AMA safety Handbook
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. One day someone started calling our model airplanes drones which has an evil connotation. To me they are still model airplanes.
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, sporting events 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.
A new fear of the public is the way drones are being used in war. Ukraine and Russia are fighting a war with drones and that affects us by the public fear and perception of what a drone can do.
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.
There isn't going to be law enforcement people showing up to check your FAA registration and weigh your plane in most locations unless there is a neighbor complaint or video that shows you in violation so they should leave you alone. The Remote IDs have limited Bluetooth range of less than 2400 feet and they only broadcast if they are plugged in at that moment so your not going to be that easy to find. Fly responsibly and we shouldn't have problems.
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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