SINGAPORE – Users of multiple unmanned aircraft (UA) will be able to register a single digital number plate, instead of one per UA, when the new regulations come into force in December 2025, the Aviation Authority said Civil Society of Singapore (CAAS) on November 12.

Making the digital number plate transferable is a suggestion accepted by CAAS following a month-long public consultation which ended on October 1. It received 236 responses from the public as well as community and industry groups.

The digital license plate – known as Broadcast Remote Identification (B-RID) – transmits information about the location of the UA and that of its operator.

CAAS announced in September that starting December 1, 2025, DU users must comply with new regulations requiring DUs weighing more than 250g to have the B-RID.

A UA is considered B-RID equipped when it has either an integrated B-RID capability or a B-RID module attached to it.

In Singapore, the majority of new AUs on the market and more than half of CAAS-registered AUs in 2024 are equipped with integrated B-RID modules.

According to the aviation authority, some respondents during the public consultation had suggested that certain DU users should be exempt from these requirements.

But the authority rejected the proposal, saying it was “unable to grant exemptions” because B-RID “is ​​necessary to improve the safety and security of aviation and the public.”

CAAS said, however, that it would “consider waivers in certain circumstances where the standard B-RID requirements cannot be met, or if it is difficult to do so.”

The Straits Times asked CAAS what these circumstances might include.

The authority is working with AU manufacturers on a list of B-RID-compliant models and B-RID modules that meet its requirements. The list will be published on the CAAS website in December, it is specified.

It was also suggested to increase the weight threshold for AU compliance with the B-RID requirement.

CAAS noted that “drones weighing more than 250g, when crashed into a person, can result in serious injury or even death.”

“For safety reasons, the 250 g weight threshold for B-RID requirements should be maintained,” the statement said.