FAA’s DiSCVR System Helps Law Enforcement Identify Drones in Flight

New FAA data tool connects Remote ID broadcasts with registration and airspace authorization records

As drone use continues to grow across the United States, law enforcement agencies are gaining new tools to understand what is happening in the airspace above them. A system developed by the Federal Aviation Administration called DiSCVR (Drone Information for Safety, Compliance, Verification, and Reporting) helps authorized users determine whether a drone flight is registered and operating legally.

The capability builds on the FAA’s Remote Identification (Remote ID) requirement, which requires most drones to broadcast identification and location information during flight.

Together, the two systems create a framework that allows authorities to identify drone operations in a way similar to how vehicle license plates work on the ground.

Remote ID: A Digital License Plate for Drones

Remote ID allows drones to broadcast identifying information during flight using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signals. According to the FAA, the technology acts like a “digital license plate” for drones.

The broadcast signal includes information such as the drone’s identification number, its location and altitude, and the location of the control station or takeoff point. This information can be received by nearby devices.

Remote ID compliance became mandatory for most drones operating in the United States beginning in 2023. The rule applies to both recreational and commercial operators whose aircraft must be registered with the FAA.

The system allows authorities and other stakeholders to identify drones flying nearby and determine where the aircraft is being controlled from. However, the broadcast signal alone does not reveal who the operator is.

DiSCVR Links Broadcast Data to FAA Records

That is where the FAA’s DiSCVR system comes in.

DiSCVR is an application programming interface that connects multiple FAA databases related to drone operations. According to FAA documentation, the system integrates data from DroneZone, which stores drone registration records, and LAANC, which manages automated airspace authorizations for drone flights.

By combining these data sources, authorized government users can determine whether a drone is registered and whether the operator has an authorization to fly in controlled airspace.

FAA privacy documentation indicates the system allows authorized users to query information related to drone registration and operational approvals. These records can help investigators determine whether a drone flight matches an approved authorization.

Restricted Access Protects Personal Information

The structure of the system mirrors how vehicle registration works.

Anyone can see a car’s license plate. However, access to the government database that connects that plate number to the vehicle’s registered owner is limited to authorized agencies.

Remote ID follows the same model. The drone broadcasts an identification number publicly, but access to FAA registration records tied to that identifier is restricted.

Authorized federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government users may access the DiSCVR system through approved channels. The FAA provides the capability as part of its broader effort to support public safety agencies responding to drone incidents.

Improving Situational Awareness

As drones become more common in commercial, recreational, and public safety operations, identifying legitimate flights quickly has become increasingly important.

Remote ID provides the ability to detect drones operating nearby. Systems like DiSCVR help investigators determine whether those flights are registered and authorized.

Together, the technologies provide a clearer picture of activity in the airspace. For law enforcement responding to drone reports, that additional context can help distinguish routine operations from flights that may require further investigation.

Read more:

• GAO Report: Remote ID Not Living Up to Potential
• BREAKING: FAA Publishes Remote ID for Drones Final Version, Ops Over People
• Michael Kratsios Lays Out White House Priorities, Discusses NPRM at CDA BVLOS Summit