THE FRIA APPLICATION
PROCESS CONTINUES
By Tyler Dobbs, Senior Director of Government Affairs | tylerd@modelaircraft.org
AS MOST PROBABLY KNOW, compliance with the Remote ID rule will be required beginning in September 2023. In anticipation of the requirement, AMA has begun requesting FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs) on behalf of our chartered clubs.
We ask that those who have submitted their club’s FRIA questionnaire to AMA to please be patient. This process will take many months to complete. After AMA has submitted your club’s questionnaire for FAA review, the applicant will be notified of the submission.
Please keep in mind that the FAA will not begin processing these applications until summer 2023, so it might be some time before you are notified of your FRIA approval or denial. AMA continues to meet with the FAA regarding FRIAs and the FRIA application process.
For those who do not fly at a FRIA site, you will need to satisfy the Remote ID requirement by flying an aircraft with built-in standard Remote ID or by adding
a broadcast module to your aircraft. A current list of FAA-compliant aircraft and broadcast modules can be found at https://uasdoc.faa.gov/listDocs.
Please keep in mind that the aforementioned list represents the aircraft and broadcast modules that the FAA has approved to have met the Remote ID standard so far. Not all of the aircraft and broadcast modules on the list are available for sale at this time. AMA will be sure to update our members when additional add-on broadcast modules become more widely available.
AMA has compiled a list of frequently asked questions to assist in complying with the upcoming Remote ID rule. This FAQ page can be found on the AMA Government Affairs blog.
If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the Government Affairs department at (765) 287-1256 or amagov@modelaircraft.org. For assistance with the FRIA application process, please contact the AMA Clubs department.
AMA Meets With FAA and DOT Policy Teams
AMA recently met with FAA and Department of Transportation (DOT) leadership regarding 2023 FAA Reauthorization and the legislative changes that will likely be coming later this fall. This reauthorization gives AMA an opportunity to shape the legislation governing our hobby and remove some of the burdens that have been in place since 2018.
Although our requested legislative changes might look different, all of the parties in attendance agreed that current requirements and processes were too burdensome and restrictive. AMA will continue working with Congress, the FAA, DOT, and other industry stakeholders toward fewer and more streamlined rules and processes.
