All commercially sold drones would from 2026 need to be equipped with a remote identification tracking feature, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said yesterday.
Requiring a remote ID, which provides identification and location information that can be used by other parties, has become a global norm as civilian drones have gained popularity, CAA Deputy Director-General Lin Chun-liang (林俊良) said.
Under new regulations approved by the CAA, all drones sold commercially in Taiwan would need remote IDs by Jan. 1, 2026, while those that are already in use would have a grace period for installation of the feature, Lin said.
Photo: Lo Hsin-chen, Taipei Times
Beyond helping the government monitor drones in the nation’s airspace, the remote ID function would also allow the public to use the CAA’s Drone Map app to check whether drones are registered and are flying in an authorized area, Lin said.
The CAA also plans to lower the minimum age for registering a drone from 16 to 13, in line with similar regulations set by the US Federal Aviation Administration, Lin said.
There are about 40,000 registered drones in Taiwan — of which three-quarters are licensed to individuals, and the rest to companies and other entities, the CAA said.
More than 17,000 people have drone operating licenses, CAA data show.
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