3 Part 89
Part 89 is new, and went into effect in September 2023. Overall, Part 89 establishes a framework for identifying unmanned aircraft systems operating in U.S. airspace ensuring drones are traceable and identifiable. You should read it.
Practically speaking, if you are operating a drone after September 2023, it must have Remote ID. If you have an older drone without Remote ID, you’ll have to retrofit it to make it usable under this new section of regulation. If you have bought a drone in 2023 or later, it was likely built in.
3.1 Subpart A
89.5: It prohibits falsification or alteration of any documentation related to remote identification and outlines the penalties for such actions, including denial of applications and civil penalties.
3.2 Subpart B
Subpart B establishes that if you had to register under Part 48, you have to comply with Part 89.
89.105: After September 16, 2023, unmanned aircraft must meet remote identification requirements, which can be achieved through standard remote identification (§ 89.110) or alternative means (§ 89.115).
89.110: Drones must broadcast specific information (defined later) from takeoff to shutdown, and their equipment must meet certain standards. Your remote ID unit must comply with FAA regulations, and if it stops broadcasting that information, you have to land immediately. You also cannot intentionally disable remote ID.
89.115: Outlines conditions under which drones not meeting the standard remote identification can operate, including the use of remote identification broadcast modules or operating within FAA-recognized identification areas.
89.120, 89.125, 89.130: These parts say the FAA can authorize people doing aeronautics research to fly without remote ID; drones can NOT use ADS-B (which manned aircraft use); and foreign aircraft have to comply with remote ID, but have to go through an alternative procedure to comply.
3.3 Subpart C
Establishes procedures for the recognition of certain areas where unmanned aircraft without remote identification equipment can operate. Those areas include airfields for hobby RC pilots and educational institutions operating drone programs. There’s a procedure on how to apply. None of it is likely going to be on the Part 107 test.
3.4 Subpart D
Specifies the technical requirements for standard remote identification unmanned aircraft and remote identification broadcast modules, including performance and broadcasting standards.
89.305: Specifies what has to be broadcast in the message coming from the remote ID module:
(a) The identity of the unmanned aircraft, consisting of:
A serial number assigned to the unmanned aircraft by the person responsible for the production of the standard remote identification unmanned aircraft; or
A session ID.
(b) An indication of the latitude and longitude of the control station.
(c) An indication of the geometric altitude of the control station.
(d) An indication of the latitude and longitude of the unmanned aircraft.
(e) An indication of the geometric altitude of the unmanned aircraft.
(f) An indication of the velocity of the unmanned aircraft.
(g) A time mark identifying the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time of applicability of a position source output.
(h) An indication of the emergency status of the unmanned aircraft.
89.310: Spells out requirements of the module itself. It requires that it must record the control station location (i.e. where you are standing, not the drone); the time; must be tamper resistant; must include error correction information; must report diagnostics; and must broadcast all this information via non-proprietary signals (aka must broadcast on unregulated radio channels).
89.315 and 89.320: Contains requirements for the ground broadcast station method of complying with remote ID. The message and module requirements are the same.
3.5 Subparts E and F
Subparts E and F document what manufacturers must do to have their remote ID modules accepted by the FAA. These will not be on the test and do not apply to drone pilots.