17,000 unmanned aircraft may still lack digital licence plates, which are mandatory from Dec 1
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From Dec 1, 2025, it is mandatory for all unmanned aircraft weighing over 250g to be equipped with a digital licence plate.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
Follow topic:
- CAAS reports 17,300 unmanned aircraft (UA) were not equipped with Broadcast Remote Identification (B-RID) at the point of registration as at Oct 15.
- From Dec 1, UA over 250g must have B-RID, transmitting location data; non-compliance risks a $10,000 fine, jail, or both.
- Free B-RID modules were offered; exemptions exist for FlyItSafe app users, indoor flights, or enclosed environments, says CAAS.
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SINGAPORE – Some 17,300 unmanned aircraft (UA) in Singapore did not have a “digital licence plate” at the point of their registration as at Oct 15.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) gave this update on Oct 28, about a month before it becomes mandatory for such devices weighing over 250g to have this licence plate from Dec 1
The authority said some users of the 17,300 UA may have already installed their own digital licence plates, while others may decide not to fly their unequipped aircraft.
As at Oct 15, there were about 27,000 registered UA in Singapore. This figure includes those that are exempt from the requirement.
When a UA such as a drone is in flight, the digital licence plate – known as Broadcast Remote Identification (B-RID) – transmits information such as the aircraft’s position and the location of its operator.
“UA operators who intend to continue flying their UA are reminded to install their own B-RID modules if they have not already done so,” CAAS said.
Operating a UA without meeting the B-RID requirement, or intentionally broadcasting false or misleading identification information, is an offence. Those convicted can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.
“The new requirement is crucial in the light of the current global security landscape, where unlawful drone use can pose a serious threat to aviation and public safety,” said Mr Tan Kah Han, senior director of the unmanned systems group at CAAS.
He urged UA operators to “work with us to keep our skies safe as we continue to support and facilitate UA flights”.
The authority announced this requirement in September 2024 and said it would cover the cost of installing B-RID modules for applications made between Jan 1 and March 31, 2025.
Around 6,300 free B-RID modules were issued to those who applied during that period, CAAS said on Oct 28.
Users with an operator permit who use the FlyItSafe mobile app during flights are exempt from the B-RID requirement. The app allows operators to monitor their UA flights to ensure they remain within permitted areas and avoid restricted zones. A B-RID is also not required for UA operated indoors or in enclosed environments.
B-RID uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology to share information such as a UA’s position, serial number and the operator’s identification reference number.
This information can be received by government agencies within transmission range to identify UA in flight for safety and security purposes, CAAS previously told The Straits Times.
Correction note: An earlier version of this story misstated that more than 65 per cent of registered unmanned aircraft in Singapore did not have a digital licence plate at the point of their registration. This has been corrected.
