What is a "RIDE"?

 

By now, most of us are familiar with FRIAs (Federally Recognized Identification Areas).  These are geographic locations where drones and model aircraft can legally be flown without Remote ID installed.  The AMA indicates these on the Club Finder tool using this symbol:

In the February edition of Model Aviation, Lucas Rodden discusses another kind of RID exemption available to AMA clubs:  a RIDE (Remote ID Exemption).

What's the difference?  Although 94% of AMA clubs have a FRIA established at their field, some were unable to do so.  One reason is that the FAA imposes no limits on who can operate in a FRIA, and there are no operational conditions like restricted flight days or NOTAM requirements.  This can be a problem if the field is in a sensitive location, such as near an airport traffic pattern.

In contrast, RIDEs are tailored for a specific field, often because a FRIA was denied.  They may be limited to specific days or times and may require the club to issue a NOTAM.  In addition, the RIDE exemption only applies to club members and their guests.

The red RIDE logo shown at the top of this article has been added to the AMA Club Finder.  If you're operating at a field with a RIDE, make sure to familiarize yourself with any operational restrictions or other local requirements to keep your hosts out of trouble.