Still time to get in on the drone Remote ID public comment period

Got opinions on the FAA’s proposal for remote drone identification? You can get in on the FAA’s Remote ID public comment period anytime from now until March 2.

The Federal Aviation Administration released its proposal for Remote ID — a sort of electronic license plate system for drones — at the end of 2019. And the FAA’s Remote ID proposal unleashed a firestorm of Internet comments, both in favor and against.

The FAA likely won’t read your rant on Twitter, but they do want your thoughts, and they say they’ll read them. The FAA is giving you until Monday, March 2 to leave your opinion. And the FAA has already received thousands of opinions (you can read them here).

Even the Drone Girl received comments (mostly against the proposal) when we reported the news at the end of 2019. Readers called it “unnecessary and completely government over reach,” “devastating for STEM” and “disappointing.” Many readers suggested that the proposal would come with higher costs that would particularly impact small businesses and individuals, and added that it could invoke First Amendment concerns.

How do I leave an official drone Remote ID public comment?

To leave a formal comment with the FAA, go to Federal Register’s page on ‘Remote Identification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems’ and click the green button in the top right that says ‘Submit a Formal Comment,’ which should redirect you to this page.

From there, you’ll be able to submit text comment, plus any supporting documents, like spreadsheets, charts or maps. You’ll also be able to submit your personal info. Just remember, whatever you submit in comments (and accompanying, personal info), will be public.

You have until Monday, March 3 to leave your own Remote ID public comment.

What is the FAA’s Remote ID proposal?

The FAA wants to know who is flying drones, much like cops want to know who owns what car. But instead of tiny license plates on drones (which you can’t see from the ground anyway), the FAA is looking to implement an electronic system where drones transmit their information digitally.

The newly released FAA proposal would require the design and production of drones to fall into one of two categories: standard remote identification UAS and limited remote identification UAS.

• Standard remote identification drones:  Drones under this classification would have to broadcast their identification and location information directly from the aircraft. Additionally, the drone would have to simultaneously transmit that same information to a Remote ID USS through an internet connection.
• Limited remote identification drones: Drones under this classification would have to transmit their information through internet only, with no broadcast requirements. If drones meet this requirement and not the other, then they would have to be designed to operate no more than 400 feet from the control station.

You can view the entire text of the FAA’s drone remote ID proposal here.

The FAA says there are currently nearly 1.5 million drones and 155,000 remote pilots registered in the U.S.