Remote ID Pro

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) released new regulations in order to increase the safety and transparency of Drone operations. Drones that are manufactured after January 1st, 2024, must obtain the C-certification (must have a license plate) in order to fly in the A2 subcategory (> 250 grams). It is necessary to have this C-certification, otherwise all drones between 250 grams and 25 kg will have to fly in subcategory A3.

Start by identifying the type of drone you have, find the subcategory of the drone and the appropriate requirements. You can do so by checking the tables on the EASA website (https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/civil-drones-rpas/open-category-civil-drones)

From January 2024, drone operations within the EU require that almost all open-category aircraft should have an installed drone remote identification system. The direct remote Identification is the transmission of the Operator ID through Bluetooth or Wifi. This allows the public and authorities to know the number of the drone operators at all times. Because drones can be small, high up or far away, just having a number is not sufficient to identify them easily. This is why the need for a simple digital way arises to access this information through an app on a smartphone or other devices.

The specific category stands for riskier operation that are not covered under the open category. In the specific category, you must submit a declaration for a standard scenario or apply for an operational authorization to the NAA Member State where you are registered. For the open category you must register with the National Aviation Authority (NAA) of the EU country where you intend to fly your drone. The registration number issued by the NAA must be displayed with a sticker on all of your operating drones and then upload it into the Remote Identification system of your drone. Moreover, the open category is split up into three additional subcategories, which bring additional rules. The subcategory determination is based on the class identification label and weight of the drone.

Besides Direct Remote ID, there is the network remote ID where the drone can send real-time information directly to UTM (Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management) using mobile internet. Network ID is appropriate for advanced operation such as BVLOS flights, drone deliveries, and a combination of manned and unmanned traffic in the same airspace.

The maximum distance a drone can fly is influenced by factors like battery capacity and legal restrictions, with consumer drones typically ranging from 0.25 to 4.5 miles. Drone flight range is affected by battery size, drone weight, and environmental conditions. Drones with larger battery capacities can typically fly longer distances. Smaller and lighter drones tend to have shorter ranges compared to larger and heavier ones. This is because smaller drones have less space to accommodate larger batteries, which limits their flight time and range.