CAA Remote ID (RID) for drones and model aircraft
The CAA is rolling out Remote ID for drones and model aircraft, requiring them to broadcast identity and location information when flying. It is applied to new drones from 1 January 2026 and extends to most aircraft weighing 100g or more on 1 January 2028, however the CAA have stated that they are not proposing any significant changes to the current regulation for model flyers and will exempt most model aircraft from the requirements for Remote ID subject to the following provisos:
- The remote pilot has an active membership of an Article 16 authorised model aircraft club
- The aircraft meets the criteria for a low-risk model aircraft
- The flight takes place within the bounds of a model aircraft flying site
CAA issues the BMFA/BDF Article 16 authorisation for 2026
Issue 8 of the Model Aircraft Article 16 Authorisation was issued in December 2025.
There are no significant changes to report – this is a continuation of Article 16 provisions for BMFA members. This means that we can continue to fly model aircraft and drones with the extra freedom that Article 16 offers.
On mobile devices, the latest Issue 8 of the Authorisation may appear towards the bottom of the page.