Definition
A regulatory requirement for most unmanned aircraft (drones) operating in U.S. airspace to broadcast identification and location information during flight. The broadcast includes the drone's unique identifier, its current position and altitude, its takeoff location, and a timestamp, transmitted via radio signal so that authorized parties can identify the drone and locate its control station in real time.
Plain English
A rule that says most drones flying in U.S. airspace must continuously broadcast a kind of digital license plate while in the air, telling people nearby who the drone is, where it is, and where it took off from.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA material about drone operations, especially rules for identifying unmanned aircraft in flight.
Derivation
Remote means 'from a distance,' and identification means 'making something known.' Together it describes a system that lets the drone be identified from a distance, without anyone having to physically reach it.
Why Pilots Care
Manned pilots gain situational awareness of nearby drones; drone operators avoid violations and penalties while supporting safe integration of unmanned traffic into shared airspace.
Analogy
It is similar to a digital license plate for a drone, except it can be read from a distance while the drone is flying.
Intuition Check
RID does not mean the aircraft is being remotely controlled. Here, it means the aircraft can identify itself remotely while operating.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying his drone near the field, the operator confirmed his Remote ID module was active and broadcasting.
Example Sentence 2
ATC used the RID signal to identify the operator of a small UAS operating near the approach path.