This week is all about Distant ID, because the September 16, 2023 is the last deadline for drone pilots to make their drones Distant ID compliant. That’s beneath the Federal Aviation Administration’s last rule for distant ID, which mandates a approach that drones should present identification and placement data. However drone distant ID modules are proving to be out of inventory — and that’s inflicting an issue for a lot of drone pilots.
What are drone distant ID modules?
Most drone pilots don’t even have to fret about buying separate distant ID modules. That’s as a result of many drones — significantly off-the-shelf drones from main producers — include built-in Distant ID functionality.
Among the many hottest drones with built-in Distant ID functionality embrace the Autel Lite collection, DJI Mini 3 Professional, DJI Air 2S and the DJI FPV. For homeowners of these drones, they sometimes simply must run a firmware and app replace, they usually’re largely good to go.
However for homeowners of different drones that would not have built-in Distant ID functionality, you’ll want a separate Distant ID module.
These modules are small, sometimes <40 gram gadgets that may mount to your drone. For now, there are a couple of half dozen firms who make distant ID modules. Among the many largest and most respected is Dronetag, which is predicated within the Czech Republic and makes distant ID modules which are compliant in each EU and US areas.
Dronetag merchandise embrace:
- Dronetag Mini: A complicated Distant ID providing full-featured, limitless vary ($329)
-  Dronetag Beacon Broadcast Distant ID Module: A bare-bones module that may transmit your drone’s location by way of Bluetooth to as much as a 3 km ($219)
- Dronetag DRI: A 1.5-gram module for Pixhawk controllers operating PX4 or Ardupilot ($52)
Drone distant ID modules are bought out just about in all places
Dronetag’s choices are strong — however just about all Dronetag merchandise — in addition to the distant ID modules bought by different firms — are bought out (or no less than, backordered).
For instance, Adorama says the Dronetag Beacon is on backorder, anticipated to reach by October 15. The identical is true for its Dronetag Mini. There are solely 6 authorised module producers in the mean time — and the others are additionally usually unavailable for buy.
For instance, BlueMark’s DroneBeacon Db120 RemoteID (Distant ID RID) Broadcast Module is offered for pre-order. However because it’s not clear when it’ll truly ship, ordering one is dangerous. Pierce Aerospace makes its personal distant ID module known as the B1 Distant ID Beacon, however the $265 machine can also be solely out there for pre-order. The corporate says its machine is estimated for supply someday in October 2023.
How is the scarcity affecting pilots?
Pilot Institute, which presents programs on drones, performed a survey of two,081 drone pilots to see how ready they’re for Distant ID. And of the two,081 respondents of their survey, 51% mentioned they nonetheless wanted no less than one Distant ID module. There are a couple of explanation why, however of that cohort, 23% mentioned they merely haven’t ordered modules as a result of they’re both backordered or not out there. In the meantime, 11% of the individuals who nonetheless want Distant ID modules mentioned that they ordered one however they only haven’t arrived.
Pilot Institute estimates that greater than 350,000 distant ID modules are wanted with a view to get all American drone pilots to compliance. Based on their calculations, it could take 26 weeks of two,200 models made per the present variety of authorised module producers wanted to have sufficient modules for everybody.
Pilot Institute pointed to challenges just like the worldwide provide chain points as a purpose for all of the backordered or bought out gadgets.
What do I do if I can’t discover any Distant ID modules on the market?
If you wish to stay compliant, your choices are slim.
Borrow a drone that’s compliant: You can briefly use a drone that does have a built-in Distant ID module, however that might be an costly proposition. You may see in case your drone is already distant ID by looking for that specific plane mannequin by way of the FAA’s UAS Declaration of Compliance web site.
Prohibit your self to FRIAs: You can fly solely in a FAA-Acknowledged Identification Space, that are locations across the nation acknowledged by the FAA as spots the place unmanned plane not geared up with Distant ID are nonetheless allowed to legally fly, akin to fields owned by flying golf equipment, mannequin plane teams or universities. Flying in such areas is one in all a handful of how you possibly can conduct Distant ID-compliant drone flights. That’s additionally tough. Based on Pilot Institute, there are only a few FRIAs even authorised, that means there’s unlikely to even be one in your space.
Wait it out: Endurance, buddies. Most drone Distant ID modules are projected to be again in inventory inside the month. You can all the time fly indoors utilizing one thing just like the DJI Avata (as indoor drone flights would not have to be Distant ID compliant).
Petition the FAA: That’s what some people are doing, together with Greg Reverdiau, who’s the cofounder of Pilot Institute. He wrote an open letter to the FAA, asking that the group delay Distant ID enforcement for drone operators from September 16, 2023 to March 2024 or later.
“With out widespread acceptance and compliance, Distant ID will fail and can be unimaginable to implement,” he wrote in his letter. “Because it stands, 43% of operators can be compelled into non-compliance in 2 weeks, or just refuse to conform. This quantity can lower if pilots and operators are given extra time to conform.”
