Get Started Flying R/C Airplanes: Step-by-Step

Step 13: FAA Requirements (Registration, TRUST, Remote ID, and Airspace)

RC airplanes are unmanned aircraft under FAA rules. The basics boil down to four things: TRUST, registration, Remote ID (sometimes), and airspace authorization (sometimes).

1) TRUST: required for recreational flying

• You must pass TRUST before you fly recreationally.

• Keep the completion certificate on your phone (and/or printed). If you lose it, you generally have to re-take the test, so save a backup copy.

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2) FAA registration: when you must register, what it costs, and what to label

You must register if your aircraft weighs more than 0.55 lb (250 g) (including battery) and is under 55 lb.

• Cost: $5 total, valid for 3 years for recreational flyers (covers your whole inventory).

• After registering:

  • Label the aircraft with your FAA registration number.

  • Keep your registration certificate with you (digital is fine).

Pro tip (saves headaches): Register only through FAA DroneZone. There are scammy “registration helper” sites that charge extra.

3) Remote ID: when it’s required, and your 3 compliance options

If your aircraft requires FAA registration, you typically need to meet Remote ID requirements unless you’re flying inside a FRIA.

Your options:

• Standard Remote ID aircraft (Remote ID built in)

• Remote ID Broadcast Module (add-on module you attach)

• Fly inside a FRIA (FAA-Recognized Identification Area), where Remote ID equipment isn’t required as long as you and the aircraft stay inside the FRIA boundaries and you maintain visual line of sight.

Practical nugget: If you use a broadcast module, you’ll also need to add that module (and/or Standard Remote ID devices) to your inventory in DroneZone.

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Important note for our club: Valley RC Flyers’ field is FRIA registered. That means you can fly aircraft without Remote ID at our field as long as you remain within the FRIA boundaries and maintain visual line of sight. (Remote ID-equipped aircraft can also fly there; they may still broadcast.)

4) Airspace and altitude: where you can fly without extra steps

You always need to follow recreational rules like visual line of sight and yielding to manned aircraft, but the big “gotcha” for new pilots is controlled airspace near airports.

• In uncontrolled airspace (Class G), recreational flyers are generally limited to 400 ft AGL without special authorization.

• In controlled airspace (Class B/C/D and surface Class E around airports), you need FAA authorization before you fly, most people use LAANC (or FAA DroneZone) for that.

Local note for Valley RC Flyers: Our club field is FRIA registered and has FAA authorization up to 700 ft AGL at the field. That altitude authorization is site-specific, it applies at our field under our rules, and it does not automatically apply anywhere else.

5) One more “don’t get surprised later” note: recreational vs Part 107

This guide assumes recreational flying (for fun). If you fly for compensation or in ways that don’t qualify as “limited recreational operations,” different rules may apply.

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For the most current FAA rules and guidance on recreational RC flying including TRUST, registration, Remote ID, and airspace authorization, visit the FAA’s UAS (drone) hub: https://www.faa.gov/uas.