RID Compliance

[olderrookie]

So I have a mini pro 4, 249g. Once I add fly more batteries (puts it over 249g), it will be registered with FAA.
What happens if I use the regular batteries to put it back at 249??
Will I be out of compliance since its already registered to FAA?

 

[GFields]

No

 

[Vic Moss]

So I have a mini pro 4, 249g. Once I add fly more batteries (puts it over 249g), it will be registered with FAA.
What happens if I use the regular batteries to put it back at 249??
Will I be out of compliance since its already registered to FAA?

Technically if the drone is registered, it must transmit an RID signal. So once you register it, you can no longer legally use the smaller batteries that turn off RID.

But there is the letter of the law, and they spirit of the law. I seriously doubt the FAA would give a single care about someone flying a registered Mini 4 Pro recreationally if it didn't transmit RID under 250g. If I were you, I'd just put the registration number only on the larger batteries and call it happy. In the very unlikely event that a law enforcement person responding to a complaint actually uses an RID app to find you, you can show it isn't registered.

*not legal advice.

 

[Drbobk]

Technically if the drone is registered, it must transmit an RID signal. So once you register it, you can no longer legally use the smaller batteries that turn off RID.

But there is the letter of the law, and they spirit of the law. I seriously doubt the FAA would give a single care about someone flying a registered Mini 4 Pro recreationally if it didn't transmit RID under 250g. If I were you, I'd just put the registration number only on the larger batteries and call it happy. In the very unlikely event that a law enforcement person responding to a complaint actually uses an RID app to find you, you can show it isn't registered.

*not legal advice.

Vic, not sure I follow. It is registered, and he's using the large battery, so RID is being broadcast, which is how the RID app actually found him. Why would be claim it isn't registered? And if he's using the small battery, and it isn't broadcasting RID, how does the RID app find him? The drone doesn't know whether it's registered or not, so that can't affect the broadcast. (And how do you show that a drone isn't registered?)

 

[Vic Moss]

Vic, not sure I follow. It is registered, and he's using the large battery, so RID is being broadcast, which is how the RID app actually found him. Why would be claim it isn't registered? And if he's using the small battery, and it isn't broadcasting RID, how does the RID app find him? The drone doesn't know whether it's registered or not, so that can't affect the broadcast. (And how do you show that a drone isn't registered?)

Correct, I wasn't very clear on that.

If you have the small batteries in the drone, it won't broadcast RID. But if an LEO sees you flying (no matter how they find you) and has to check for RID, if you have a registration number on the drone, it's supposed to be broadcasting. And if you have the small battery installed, it won't.

Hence, just put the registration number on the large batteries and you can likely avoid an issue. Assuming anyone ever cares anyway.

 

[Drbobk]

Correct, I wasn't very clear on that.

If you have the small batteries in the drone, it won't broadcast RID. But if an LEO sees you flying (no matter how they find you) and has to check for RID, if you have a registration number on the drone, it's supposed to be broadcasting. And if you have the small battery installed, it won't.

Hence, just put the registration number on the large batteries and you can likely avoid an issue. Assuming anyone ever cares anyway.

My guess is that most LEO's won't even know what RID is, unless they're part of a drone squad or have a drone themselves.

 

[olderrookie]

Vic, not sure I follow. It is registered, and he's using the large battery, so RID is being broadcast, which is how the RID app actually found him. Why would be claim it isn't registered? And if he's using the small battery, and it isn't broadcasting RID, how does the RID app find him? The drone doesn't know whether it's registered or not, so that can't affect the broadcast. (And how do you show that a drone isn't registered?)

Clarification…I dont yet have the plus batteries-so not RID broadcasting. I’m just curious if I buy the plus batteries can I switch back-and-forth and still be legal? apparently - from what I’m understanding once it’s registered and it’s RID compliant with the plus batteries apparently I should not be going back to the regular batteries, correct?
Shoulda just bought the plus batteries (smh) bc I want to add a strobe light.
Thank you all- you all are knowledgeable, have integrity and helpful.

 

[Vic Moss]

Clarification…I dont yet have the plus batteries-so not RID broadcasting. I’m just curious if I buy the plus batteries can I switch back-and-forth and still be legal? apparently - from what I’m understanding once it’s registered and it’s RID compliant with the plus batteries apparently I should not be going back to the regular batteries, correct?
Shoulda just bought the plus batteries (smh) bc I want to add a strobe light.
Thank you all- you all are knowledgeable, have integrity and helpful.

Technically, once it's registered, you can't fly w/o RID. But as I mentioned, the odds of anyone official caring at all are basically nil.

 

[jaja6009]

My guess is that most LEO's won't even know what RID is, unless they're part of a drone squad or have a drone themselves.

This is how it is in the city I work in.

Members of our sUAS team know the actual drone regs and are familiar with the RID apps.

Other PD patrol members most likely do not know about RID or the apps used to track drones.

The drone would have to be doing something quite bad for this to escalate to a phone call to a member of the drone team for clarification.

In our city, if you fly your drone like a reasonable person you will most likely never have a problem. If a member of our drone team sees something that needs to be addressed, a simple conversation educating the person cures the problem. Nobody wants to jam up a drone pilot, unless they are being a clown.

BUT, the New Jersey mysterious drone issue does have some people wanting to create a drone ordinance. I hope this does not happen as it is a purely reactionary move and most likely would be poorly drafted.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Technically, once it's registered, you can't fly w/o RID. But as I mentioned, the odds of anyone official caring at all are basically nil.

This is the basic philosophy of western rule-of-law. Most laws, regulations, etc. are there to maintain order and address actual problems, not control the public. As a result when there's no "problem" as a result of technically breaking the law, it usually isn't pursued.

Among the best examples is jaywalking. Everyone does it. Including police officers. 99.999% of the time it's totally innocuous and harmless.

Yet people do rarely get cited. When they cause a problem. Jaywalk across a busy, 8-lane city main street with dense traffic going 30mph and there's a good chance you'll be cited if an LEO is around.

 

[Art Cox]

So I have a mini pro 4, 249g. Once I add fly more batteries (puts it over 249g), it will be registered with FAA.
What happens if I use the regular batteries to put it back at 249??
Will I be out of compliance since its already registered to FAA?

My understanding of the FAA rule on Remote ID is: If it's under 250g registered or not, it doesn't have to broadcast RID. I have a Mini 3 Pro that is registered with the FAA, I use it when I fly Real Estate jobs. (Furtherance of a Business), therefore has to be registered, If I'm just Recreational Flying doesn't matter. Hope this helps.

 

[MS Coast]

My understanding of the FAA rule on Remote ID is: If it's under 250g registered or not, it doesn't have to broadcast RID. I have a Mini 3 Pro that is registered with the FAA, I use it when I fly Real Estate jobs. (Furtherance of a Business), therefore has to be registered, If I'm just Recreational Flying doesn't matter. Hope this helps.

If it's registered or required to be registered, it must broadcast RID.

ttps://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/RID

Remote Identification (RID) Compliance​

All persons operating unmanned aircraft (UA) registered or required to be registered under 14 CFR Parts 47 or 48 must comply with the operating requirements of Part 89 by September 16, 2023.

 

[Art Cox]

If it's registered or required to be registered, it must broadcast RID.

ttps://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/RID

Remote Identification (RID) Compliance​

All persons operating unmanned aircraft (UA) registered or required to be registered under 14 CFR Parts 47 or 48 must comply with the operating requirements of Part 89 by September 16, 2023.

Correct, but if he's flying the Plus batteries on the Mini 4 Pro it will automatically broadcast RID. If he has the 249g batteries in, it will not, back to my original quote of, if your flying "Recreationally" it doesn't matter if your Part 107 or if you're flying under 44809. Just because it's registered doesn't mean RID is required.

§44809. Exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft​

(a) In General.-Except as provided in subsection (e), and notwithstanding chapter 447 of title 49, United States Code, a person may operate a small unmanned aircraft without specific certification or operating authority from the Federal Aviation Administration if the operation adheres to all of the following limitations:
(1) The aircraft is flown strictly for recreational purposes.
(2) The aircraft is operated in accordance with or within the programming of a community-based organization's set of safety guidelines that are developed in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration.
(3) The aircraft is flown within the visual line of sight of the person operating the aircraft or a visual observer co-located and in direct communication with the operator.
(4) The aircraft is operated in a manner that does not interfere with and gives way to any manned aircraft.
(5) In Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport, the operator obtains prior authorization from the Administrator or designee before operating and complies with all airspace restrictions and prohibitions.
(6) Except for circumstances when the Administrator establishes alternative altitude ceilings or as otherwise authorized in section (c), in Class G airspace, the aircraft is flown from the surface to not more than 400 feet above ground level and complies with all airspace and flight restrictions and prohibitions established under this subtitle, such as special use airspace designations and temporary flight restrictions.
(7) The operator has passed an aeronautical knowledge and safety test described in subsection (g) and maintains proof of test passage to be made available to the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.
(8) The aircraft is registered and marked in accordance with chapter 441 of this title and proof of registration is made available to the Administrator or a designee of the Administrator or law enforcement upon request.

 

[MS Coast]

Just because it's registered doesn't mean RID is required.

Actually, RID is required in all cases for a registered drone, regardless of weight and whether the flight is recreational or commercial. A registered Mini 4 Pro with the standard batteries is not strictly legal to fly unless an RID module is attached.

There have been a couple of discussions about this during the last couple of months.

 

[eEridani]

Tape a penny to the drone, problem solved.

 

[MS Coast]

Tape a penny to the drone, problem solved.

Actually, not. The drone broadcasts RID only if the plus battery is installed. The switch is made based on the battery type, not weight.

 

[mavic3usa]

And there you have it, the same argument I have had for over a year now....the FAA regulations are not clear and to many, they are confusing.

The FAA maintains a database of registered drones and that database is wildly inaccurate, has a lot of false entires, had foreign entries, has equipment entered that is no longer flying, has people in it that are deceased or no longer flyers, has equipment that has changed hands repeatedly so it has multiple entries, and it has expired entries that have not been renewed (even though the equipment is still flying). And....it has drone serial numbers in it that has NO RID or Serial # data linked to it (i.e. a simple blank entry).

As of now, technically if your drone is registered in the FAA database, in order to legally fly, it MUST have RID details. Which means, if you try to enter a tiny drone with no RID details, the database will not capture your serial #. If you are recreational flyer and you want to enter your sub-250 drone into the database to register it, you cannot add that specific drone unless provide the RID details which in that case would mean some sort of external broadcast RID module which you would attach. Otherwise, the recreational portal won't allow you to add the serial # and while the drone is added to your inventory, technically it's not registered because the serial # component of the registration process is absent (even if you attach your registration number to the drone). My guess is if someone were to check your registration number, they would find a list of your drone inventory and this particular drone would be listed but *without* RID details which technically violates the aforementioned regulation (even though the database accepted it). So the label is key, if you are not broadcasting then you need to make sure that label (if it identifies as an FAA registration) is not affixed to your drone. Upon closer examination, the true RID details may be discovered on an internal manufacturing label, I suppose.

In the future, when that drone gets heavy and you re-visit your registration (to add the RID details), you can re-affix the label and fly legally. Let's say during that same outing, you switch batteries and your drone is no longer broadcasting and all else remains the same. For the next flight, not technically legal....even if you rip off the registration sticker (because that drone is listed in the FAA database along with those RID details). IMO, this is why the drones that work this way are a PIA and should never be repeated by DJI. Not only because likely no one can understand all of the iterations but also because it's nearly impossible to legally enforce those applicable regulations as they currently stand. RID is not 100% on the flyer IMO.

 

[MS Coast]

The FAA maintains a database of registered drones and that database is wildly inaccurate, has a lot of false entires, had foreign entries, has equipment entered that is no longer flying, has people in it that are deceased or no longer flyers, has equipment that has changed hands repeatedly so it has multiple entries, and it has expired entries that have not been renewed (even though the equipment is still flying). And....it has drone serial numbers in it that has NO RID or Serial # data linked to it (i.e. a simple blank entry).

Your recent detailed audit of the FAA database uncovered all this wild inaccuracy?