Knowledge base
Remote ID – a drone's licence plate in the air
Updated:
In short
Drones sold with an EU class label (C1, C2, C3, and C5 and C6 in the specific category) broadcast, during flight, the operator's registration number, the drone's position and altitude, and the pilot's or take-off location over short-range radio. This makes cooperative drones quick to identify – non-cooperative ones, not.
What it broadcasts
- the operator's registration number
- the drone's unique serial number
- the drone's position, altitude, heading and speed
- the pilot's position, or the take-off point if unknown
- the drone's emergency status
The signal is standardised and Wi-Fi- or Bluetooth-based, so suitable receivers – and some drone detection systems – can read it directly.
What it means for drone protection
Fast triage. If a drone broadcasts its ID correctly, the system immediately shows the operator and the pilot's position. That alone helps enormously with alert handling.
Whitelisting. Your own authorised drones – such as an event's official camera operator – can be filtered out of alerts by their ID.
The silent drone is the suspicious one. Custom-built, FPV or older drones don't broadcast, and the signal can be manipulated. Remote ID complements, but doesn't replace, detection of non-cooperative drones. FPV drones
Manufacturer IDs
Some manufacturers use their own decodable ID protocols alongside or before standard Remote ID. Many RF sensors read these too.
Data protection
Pilot location and operator ID are personal data. They may only be recorded and kept for a defined purpose, in a governed way.
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If a drone poses an immediate danger, call 112.