Today, September 13, the FAA Distant ID deadline has been prolonged by 6 months. Drone operators will now have until March 16, 2024 to comply with the distant ID for drones regulations. Find the rule within the Code of Federal Regulations here: or on the FAA website here.
The FAA Distant ID deadline was originally set for September 16, 2023. By that date, drone operators were liable for ensuring that their aircraft were compliant: either through the use of a drone equipped for Distant ID by the manufacturer, attaching an external broadcast Distant ID module, or flying only in a delegated recreational area (FRIA.)
The Distant ID process has been subject to delays. The FAA didn’t publish the accepted technique of compliance for Distant ID to the Federal Register until August 11, 2022, one month before the deadline for manufacturers to provide compliant platforms. The FAA then prolonged a notice for “discretionary enforcement” for manufacturers through December 16, 2022. That deadline applied to latest products: many manufacturers have struggled to fulfill the operators deadline to update existing products for his or her user base. And, for a lot of industrial operators utilizing aircraft that can’t or is not going to be updated by the manufacturer to be Distant ID compliant, modules have proved difficult to source: with supply chain challenges resulting in 6 to eight month delays in delivery in some cases.
On the Business UAV Expo last week, FAA officials reassured the audience that they’d issue relief from the looming deadline: but gave little indication as to what form the relief would take. The extension comes as welcome news to pilots who were willing but unable to comply with the regulations, and faced the alternative of ceasing operations or operating illegally.
The FAA announcement:
Drone pilots who’re unable to comply with the published requirement of the Distant ID Rule will now have until March 16, 2024, to equip their aircraft. After that date, operators could face fines and suspension or revocation of pilot certificates.
In making this decision, the FAA recognizes the unanticipated issues that some operators are experiencing finding some distant identification broadcast modules.
Drone pilots can meet this deadline by purchasing a normal Distant ID equipped drone from a manufacturer or purchasing a Distant ID broadcast module which will be affixed to existing drones that do not need Distant ID equipment.
Distant ID acts like a digital license plate and can help the FAA, law enforcement, and other federal agencies find the control station when a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or where it will not be allowed to fly.
On behalf of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), Chief Advocacy Officer Michael Robbins issued the next statement in regards to the Distant ID deadline extension:
“The FAA has estimated that the variety of recreational and hobbyist, non-commercial drones will reach 1.48 million by 2024. Further, drones are increasingly used as industrial tools and for public safety, saving lives and money, and enhancing safety and security. In an increasingly busy airspace, the needs of airspace stakeholders have to be harmonized with those of law enforcement agencies.
FAA’s Distant ID rule appropriately advances drone integration in a way that increases safety for all airspace users. The ultimate rule has been subject to a lengthy rulemaking process, open comment periods, publication of Technique of Compliance, judicial review, and prolonged deadlines.
AUVSI urges drone operators to comply with Distant ID requirements as quickly as possible and for the FAA to swiftly implement all agency rulemaking. Distant ID is essential to make sure the continued expansion of scalable and secure drone operations within the national airspace system – which is able to bring significant advantages to the American public and businesses.”
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