By Justin Franz
For many, drones have changed how we look at the railroad landscape. But as we roll through 2023, a major change is coming for drone users: the implementation of Remote ID. I have covered this topic before in Camera Bag (See “New FAA Rules, Remote ID, and Smaller Drones”), but it’s time for an update because these rules will soon impact railroad photographers who have added drones to their camera bags in recent years.
First, a quick recap of what the Federal Aviation Administration has done. In December 2020, the FAA released its most sweeping set of drone regulations yet. Among the new rules was a provision to allow certified pilots to fly over people or at night, but the thing that will probably impact railfans the most is something called “Remote ID.” Starting on September 16, 2023, it will be illegal to fly a drone that weighs more than 250 grams unless it comes with or has been outfitted with broadcasting equipment that lets others see where it is and who is flying it. Presently, when you register your drone with the FAA, you’re supposed to put the registration number on the side of the drone. But unless you have a really good set of binoculars, it’s pretty hard to read that number when it’s hovering some 200 feet in the air. With Remote ID, once the drone takes off and until it lands, it will need to broadcast its registration number, location, altitude, and velocity, plus the time and location of the drone’s controller (aka you, the pilot).
Why is this necessary? Well, according to the FAA, Remote ID will help the agency and law enforcement find the pilot if they spot a drone flying in an unsafe manner or where it’s not allowed to fly. What exactly those situations might be could vary, although one issue that has emerged in recent years is drones flying near wildfires. On multiple occasions, helicopters and planes being used to fight the fire have been grounded because of a drone.
Drone manufacturers, including the largest, DJI, have been preparing for this for the last few years and many of its newest models comply with Remote ID. That means if you purchased a drone in the last year or two, you are most likely already in compliance and don’t have to worry about anything. Among the models that have Remote ID are the Air 2S, Mavic 3, and Mini 3, even though the latter doesn’t need to have it unless, of course, you’re flying professionally under Part 107 (see “How to Railfan With a Drone — Legally” in the January 2022 issue for more on that). In total, there are at least 15 DJI models that have been certified with Remote ID, according to the website DroneDJ.com. However, some drones that are popular with railfans, including the Phantom series, are not among the drones that will have firmware updates allowing them to comply with Remote ID. Those pilots will need to get an add-on device. As of this writing in early 2023, the FAA has approved at least one of these — Dronetag Mini. This 30-gram device can stay charged for eight hours and be attached to your drone with Velcro tape or some other adhesive. The tag costs about $285.
As I said, many railfans will not have to deal with that if they’ve purchased a new drone in the last few years. But for those flying older drones, it might be worth looking into upgrading drones or purchasing something like Dronetag, especially before the busy summer and fall “railfan” season.
