Drone News Update

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: the FCC vote, DJI drone and payload leaks, and a California homeowner is facing a massive $300,000 fine based on drone surveillance. Let's get to it.First up, in a 3-0 vote, the FCC granted itself the authority to retroactively ban equipment from companies on its "Covered List." This new rule was driven by Chinese communication equipment issues and it closes two major loopholes. First, it prohibits the authorization of any new devices that contain components from a Covered List company. Second, and this is the big one, it allows the FCC to revoke previously authorized equipment if national security concerns arise. As I said, this was motivated by huawei and other Chinese telecom equipment. Why does it matter to the drone world?DJI and Autel could end up on the FCC Covered List by the end of the year if an audit of their technology is not completed by the US government. If/when they get added, then the FCC would have the authority to do what they just voted on. There is technically a notice of proposed rule making coming up on this to follow, but as of this recording, it is NOT public.Next up, DJI has a few rumored releases including the Neo 2, which is rumored to be released by the time you’re watching this recording! Some notable upgrades include forward-facing LiDAR, 2 Axis Gimbal, possible sensor upgrades, and the battery, reportedly offering 15% more capacity for a flight time of around 19 minutes. But that upgrade comes at a cost—leaked Australian pricing shows the new battery will be $129, which is more than double the original's $59 price tag. DJI Enterprise is teasing a new payload for all the surveyors and mappers out there. The company has announced a launch event for November 4th at 7 AM EST for what is almost certainly the new Zenmuse L3 LiDAR payload. The teaser tagline is "See Through, Far and True," which gives us some big clues. "See Through" likely points to improved vegetation penetration, which is critical for forestry and terrain mapping. "Far" suggests a longer detection range than the Zenmuse L2's 450 meters. And "True" implies even better accuracy, which would be impressive since the L2 already boasts 4cm vertical and 5cm horizontal accuracy.Leaked photos show the L3 payload in a rugged Pelican-style case, and it features a distinctive pink and purple display screen that matches the teaser video. This is the logical successor to the Zenmuse L2, which was launched back in October 2023. DJI has been a game-changer in this space, bringing the cost of aerial LiDAR down from over $100,000 to something much more accessible. Fourth this week, a homeowner in Stanton, California, is facing a staggering $300,000 fine after a drone owned by the City allegedly recorded illegal fireworks being set off at his property on July 4th. The city claims its drone documented approximately 300 explosions, and they're fining him $1,000 for each one. The homeowner insists he wasn't even home at the time.And next week at this time, we’ll be in Las Vegas for the Vegas Drone Meetup! We’ll be teaching a few in-person courses on select Part 107 topics and on photography and cinematography. If you’re in the area, check it out and we hope to see you there! Link in the description if you wanna join!We’ll be talking about all these stories and more on Post Flight, our Premium community show where we share our opinions. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you on Monday for the live! https://dronexl.co/2025/10/28/drone-surveillance-fine-california-homeowner/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/24/dji-neo-2-leaked-first-images-features-price/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/28/dji-enterprise-zenmuse-l3-photos/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/29/fcc-retroactive-power-ban-dji-drones/Las Vegas Drone Meet Up:https://vegasdronemeetup.com/

Post Flight on Community:https://bit.ly/pilot-institute-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: a Florida Senator is pushing for an emergency retroactive ban on DJI and Autel drones, a new drone payload can physically restrain suspects from the air, and several men who were alleged to have used a drone to drop contraband into a prison. Florida Senator Rick Scott sent a letter on October 20th to the FCC, urging the agency to take aggressive action against DJI and Autel Robotics. He's not just asking for a future ban; he's demanding the FCC retroactively revoke ALL equipment authorizations for DJI and Autel devices that have been issued since December 23rd, 2024. The letter specifically calls out what Scott describes as a "deliberate evasion strategy" where Chinese companies allegedly use shell companies to get around U.S. restrictions.Now, as always, is a good time to reach out to your representatives to demand an extension on the audit. The audit needs to be completed to end this national security debate once and for all. Next up, we have a story that sounds like it's straight out of a sci-fi movie. Wrap Technologies, the company behind the BolaWrap, has just unveiled a drone payload system that can physically restrain a person from the air. It's called the DFR-X payload, or MERLIN-Interdictor, and it essentially mounts their tether technology onto a drone. This marks a major shift for Drone as First Responder, or DFR, programs, which have so far focused entirely on observation and situational awareness. Now, they're moving into active intervention.So how does it work? The system is a drone-agnostic payload with six cassettes. Each cassette can deploy an 8-foot Kevlar tether that shoots out at over 500 feet per second to wrap around a suspect's arms or legs. The company says it's a non-lethal tool designed to deter, delay, and disrupt threatening behavior before officers arrive on the scene. They're positioning it as a life-saving tool for situations like active shooters in schools or dynamic SWAT operations. Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on November 17th, 2025, though no pricing has been announced. And finally, we have another story about the misuse of drones. Three men were arrested near Washington State Prison in Georgia after deputies allegedly found them with a drone and other evidence that was quote “indicative of an attempted drone drop”. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, deputies allegedly spotted a suspicious vehicle leaving the prison area just after midnight on Saturday and pulled it over for traffic violations. Inside, they found the drone and arrested the three individuals on charges of Trading with Inmates and Flying an Unmanned Aircraft.This isn't an isolated incident; it's a full-blown crisis. This was the second major bust at this same prison in just 10 days. The local sheriff reported that his office stopped 21 attempted drone drops in 2024 alone. Statewide, the Georgia Department of Corrections has logged over 1,000 drone incidents since 2022. https://dronexl.co/2025/10/21/wrap-drone-physically-restrain-suspects/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/21/three-arrested-drone-contraband-georgia-prison/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/21/dji-drones-could-be-banned-this-week/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: the FCC is set to vote on new rules that could impact covered list entities, DJI is appealing the "Chinese Military Company" court ruling, and we have a drones-for-good story out of New York. Let's get to it.First up, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced that the agency will vote on October 28th to close two major loopholes that companies on the "Covered List" have been using. The proposed rules would do two things. First, they would prohibit the authorization of any new devices that contain component parts from a Covered List company. And second, they would give the FCC the power to revoke previously issued authorizations in specific cases. This vote is happening just as DJI faces a December 23rd deadline from the National Defense Authorization Act. If a security review isn't completed by then, DJI automatically gets added to the FCC's Covered List. This is a direct shot at the strategy we've been discussing, with companies like Skyany, Skyrover, and Jovistar popping up with what are essentially rebranded DJI drones. According to the press release from the FCC, there may be an NPRM to follow, but the new rules could also prevent the import and sale of devices already approved.Next up, in a related story, DJI is appealing a federal court decision that kept it on the Pentagon’s “Chinese Military Company” list. This is a really interesting case because DJI is in a legal paradox where it seems to have won based on the facts but lost in court. On September 26th, a D.C. District Court judge ruled that DJI would remain on the list, BUT the judge’s decision explicitly rejected most of the Defense Department’s core allegations. The court found no evidence that DJI is owned or controlled by the Chinese Communist Party or that it's linked to a military-civil fusion enterprise.The court only upheld two of the Pentagon's claims. The first was that DJI holds a "National Enterprise Technology Center" status, which the court acknowledged is widely granted to innovative tech companies, including U.S. ones. The second was that DJI products have "substantial dual-use applications," which is true for tons of off-the-shelf technology. Critically, the court found no evidence of actual misuse by the Chinese military. Despite all this, the judge deferred to the Pentagon’s “broad discretion” on national security, keeping the label in place. This designation restricts federal contracts and spooks the private sector, which is a major problem when DJI still controls about 76% of the U.S. consumer drone market. And finally this week, a drones-for-good story! The Olean Police Department in upstate New York used a thermal drone to rescue three kayakers in distress on the Allegheny River. The distress call came in just before 8 p.m., and in the darkness, a traditional search would have been incredibly difficult. Instead, police and fire personnel quickly deployed their drone, which appears to have been a Mavic 3 Thermal. Within minutes, the drone’s thermal sensor picked up the heat signatures of two of the kayakers in the cool water. This dramatically cut down the search time and likely prevented hypothermia. The search teams then shifted to the surrounding woods and located the third person on land. And this week on Post-flight, the show in the Premium Community where we share our opinions, we’ll talk about these stories and a $500 million counter-drone program for the upcoming World Cup. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you on Monday for the live! https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-415068A1.pdfhttps://dronexl.co/2025/10/14/dji-appeals-court-ruling-pentagon-chinese-military-company/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/12/fcc-vote-kill-dji-shell-company-strategy-december-ban-deadline/https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/olean-police-rescue-kayakers-in-distress-with-drone-technology/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News update, we have 3 stories for you: Amazon resumes operations after two drones crash into a crane, Flock Safety launches Aerodome Drone as Automated Security, and Phase One releases a 247MP camera! First up, Amazon Prime Air has resumed delivery flights after two of its MK30 aircraft collided with a mobile crane in Tolleson, Arizona. The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 1st when a construction crane was doing roofing work at a business. The two drones impacted the crane a few minutes apart, with one falling to the ground and catching on fire. Both the FAA and NTSB have begun investigations. Amazon resumed operations on Friday, October 3rd, raising questions about whether Amazon is prioritizing conducting operations over safety. According to DroneXL, this incident is the 4th reported crash this year by an Amazon MK30, and the second time the system has been grounded. In January, Amazon halted operations after two MK30s crashed during testing in Oregon due to faulty LiDAR programming. This event hasn’t yet hit the NTSB’s CAROL database, but we’ll likely get more information if or when it does. Next up, Flock Safety has released their Aerodome Drone as Automated Security (DAS). This system is designed to be a turn-key solution for security patrols. This is a separate product and mission profile from Drones as First Responder, and caters to the private entity looking for a similar solution. It appears that Flock is using the DJI Dock 3 and the Matrice 4D, with Flock’s own back-end deployment software. The system also integrates with Flock’s ecosystem through FlockOS, allowing private entities to utilize alarm panels, video management systems, license plate readers, and audio sensors. Way to diversify! Last up this week, Phase One has released a 247MP photogrammetry camera! If you’re unfamiliar with Phase One, they’ve been a well-known name in the mapping space for their high-megapixel cameras. This week they released the iXM-RS250, with a resolution of 19,200×12,800 pixels and a new IIQ-X compression format, which reduces file size by 90% when compared to 16-bit TIFFs. The new camera is also said to reduce mapping times by 30% compared to previous systems. For those operators who fly large missions and deal with terabytes of data, this could be a game-changer. The iXM-RS250 is immediately compatible with the DJI Matrice 400, and features a USB 3.0 and 10G ethernet for other systems. At this time, Phase One has not released any pricing for the iXM-RS250, but it’s safe to say it’ll be pricey! And on Post Flight, our show where we share our opinions, we won’t be talking about part 108… We will be discussing these stories and Sikorsky, who has released an entire family of VTOL drones. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week! https://dronexl.co/2025/10/08/phase-one-247mp-drone-camera-intergeo/https://dronexl.co/2025/10/03/amazon-resumes-drone-deliveries-days-after-tolleson-crane-crash-and-fire/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/30/flock-safety-aerodome-das-drone-security/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week; DJI loses lawsuit against the Pentagon, DJI unveils new Mavic 3 Thermal Advanced, Freely releases the Ember FPV, and an Ohio bill to ban foreign made drones. Let's get to it.First up, DJI has lost its lawsuit challenging the Pentagon's "Chinese Military Company" designation. On September 26th, a U.S. District Judge rejected DJI’s challenge, upholding the national security threat classification. The ruling leaves DJI facing major business restrictions and the very real possibility of an automatic product ban.This is because its technology has "substantial theoretical and actual military application," regardless of DJI's own policies against military use. DJI argued that its founder and early investors control 88% of the stock and over 99% of voting rights, but the judge ruled that the ownership structure was "difficult to discern."This is a massive disruption, considering DJI accounts for over 76% of registered drones in the U.S. For public safety agencies, the costs are staggering. The Department of Interior documented price increases from $2,600 to over $15,000 per unit when switching from DJI to approved domestic drones.The biggest threat, however, is a looming deadline. The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act mandates a security review by December 23, 2025. If no federal agency completes this review, DJI will automatically be added to the FCC's Covered List.In some new product news, DJI has quietly launched the Mavic 3TA, an advanced thermal version of its Mavic 3 Enterprise series. This seems to be an iterative update focused on boosting real-world utility for professionals in search and rescue, public safety, and inspections.The Mavic 3TA features an uncooled VOx microbolometer with an 8-micrometer pixel pitch. This smaller pixel pitch should provide finer detail and more accurate temperature readings. The thermal lens also has a longer 60-millimeter equivalent focal length, compared to the 40-millimeter on the 3T. The temperature measurement range is still robust, from -20 to 500 degrees Celsius.It keeps the same compact, foldable design, weighing 920 grams. It has a 45-minute flight time, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and an IP54 weather resistance rating. The visual cameras are the same as the 3T, with a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera using a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with a 56x hybrid zoom.Next up, Freefly released the Ember FPV drone, a 500g FPV drone with a high-speed camera on it. By high speed, I mean somewhere between 600 and 3000 fps. While specs aren’t yet public on this guy, it looks to be a huge upgrade from the exiting cinelifters we see carry larger cameras.There’s also a new bill in Ohio this week, which would ban drones made by a foreign adversary. Of course, AUVSI is in support of stripping public safety agencies from using the best possible equipment, as they’ve pushed for in other states. If you haven’t yet written your comment for Part 108, time is running out. You have until Monday at 11:59PM ET to get your comments in. It’s extremely important that you voice your opinions.Like every week, we’ll discuss these stories in depth and share our opinions on Post Flight in the premium community. We’ll see you there and we’ll see you on Monday for the live! https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb180https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/sb180/00_IN/pdf/https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7378982847786823682/?originTrackingId=WoVXzy9%2B7TVAhS3oVQkgHA%3D%3Dhttps://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2025-1908-0023/commenthttps://dronexl.co/2025/09/29/dji-unveils-mavic-3ta-enterprise-drone-with-upgraded-thermal-tech/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/26/dji-loses-pentagon-lawsuit/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Part 108 NPRM updates, Skydio unveils two new drones for specialized operations, Auterion secures a massive $130 million in funding, and an update to the story about the Super Scooper mid-air collision. Let's get to it.First, let's talk about some Part 108 NPRM stuff. The deadline is approaching for submitting your comment. Please take the time to write a comment about how this would affect your ability to fly BVLOS. There are currently 800 comments ONLY. There were over 50,000 comments on the Remote ID NPRM.DJI sounded the alarm this week on the NPRM. The company is warning that the rules, as they’re currently written, could effectively ground the vast majority of drones being used today, not just DJIs, and sideline thousands of skilled pilots. While everyone agrees we need a clear path forward for BVLOS, DJI points out some fundamental problems in the draft.If you haven’t yet written your comment for Part 108, time is running out. All comments must be submitted by October 6th, 2025.Next up, American drone manufacturer Skydio is expanding its lineup with two new specialized drones. The Skydio R10 is designed for tactical indoor situations where you wouldn't want to send a person. It’s a compact, 10-by-10-inch quadcopter that weighs 1.7 pounds and has built-in blade guards for navigating tight and/or dangerous spaces. It offers features for first responders, including onboard lighting, a two-way audio system to communicate with suspects or victims, and Skydio’s obstacle avoidance for flying in complete darkness. The R10 is slated for early access this autumn.Then there’s the F10, which is built for speed and endurance. This is a fixed-wing drone that can hit speeds of over 80 miles per hour and stay airborne for more than 90 minutes. This is a good fit for large-scale BVLOS missions like monitoring wildfires or conducting long search and rescue operations. The F10 is scheduled for release in the first half of 2026. Both of these drones also integrate into the X10 ecosystem, using the same software, controllers, and workflows. It’ll be interesting to see if we can get our hands on these to put them to the test. Next up, Auterion has secured a massive $130 million in Series B funding to scale its defense software. The company, which began with open-source drone software, has evolved into a major defense contractor. They're creating an operating system for autonomous systems across air, land, and sea. According to reports, their technology is already being used on the battlefield in Ukraine, where they are delivering tens of thousands of AI "strike kits" under a Pentagon contract. This new funding will help Auterion expand its work on AI-enabled software for large-scale, coordinated drone operations. And finally, an update to last week’s story about the drone that hit the firefighting airplane in LA earlier this year. We found out that Peter Akemann is facing jail time and a staggering $156,000 fine after crashing his DJI Mini 3 Pro into a firefighting airplane. The pilot pleaded guilty to unsafe drone operation and was sentenced to 14 days in prison, 30 days of home detention, 150 hours of community service, and a total fine of $156,000. And in post-flight this week, our show on the premium community where we share our opinions, we’ll cover these stories and we’ll talk about the DJI Mini 5 weight-gate. We’ll see you there! https://dronexl.co/2025/09/19/dji-warns-faa-bvlos-rules-ground-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/23/gamer-crashes-dji-mini-plane-fine-jail/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/19/skydio-unveils-new-drones-for-indoor/https://dronelife.com/2025/09/23/auterion-secures-130-million-series-b-to-scale-defense-software/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI has announced the new Mini 5 Pro, a drone pilot has been sentenced for colliding with a firefighting aircraft, and a search-and-rescue drone was shot in Maine. Let's get to it.First, DJI has unveiled the Mini 5 Pro, and the specs are pretty jaw-dropping for a sub-250-gram drone. The headline feature is a 50-megapixel, 1-inch CMOS sensor. This is something pilots have been requesting for years. The camera can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second in HDR and even does 4K slow-motion at 120 frames per second. For the pros, it supports 10-bit D-Log M and HLG color profiles, with a max ISO of 12,800. The gimbal also got a major upgrade, with a 225-degree roll rotation and true vertical shooting. For safety, DJI is introducing what they call "Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing," which uses a forward-facing LiDAR and multiple vision sensors for better performance in low light. Flight time is rated at 36 minutes with the standard battery, and an optional Intelligent Flight Battery Plus can supposedly push that to 52 minutes! Now for the big catch: the Mini 5 Pro will NOT be officially available in the US market through DJI's store. Other retailers may carry it, but it won’t be available through the DJI store. Next up, a drone pilot in California has been sentenced for a mid-air collision with a firefighting airplane. Peter Akemann, a 57-year-old from Culver City, pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor for the unsafe operation of a drone. This incident happened back in January 2025, when he flew his drone into the path of a "Super Scooper" firefighting aircraft that was battling the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. The drone struck the aircraft's wing, causing a 3-by-6-inch hole and forcing the plane to be grounded for repairs. The cost of those repairs? A whopping $65,169.As part of his plea agreement, Akemann has been ordered to pay full restitution to the Quebec government, which owned the plane, and to the repair company. He also has to complete 150 hours of community service supporting wildfire relief efforts. This is a stark reminder for everyone: flying in a Temporary Flight Restriction, especially over an emergency scene, is incredibly dangerous and illegal. In our final story, a real-world drones-for-good story took a bad turn in Maine. A commercial drone operated by 2A Tac Air Services was shot while it was being used to search for two missing dogs. The operator, Rob Russell, was flying the drone at an altitude of 366 feet in Corinth, Maine, when he received a warning. Upon inspection, he found a bullet hole straight through the M30’s front sensors. Russell, who uses his fleet of drones for SAR missions across New England, said the damage will cost thousands to repair and takes a critical tool out of service. This incident is now under federal investigation. It’s important for everyone to understand that shooting at a drone is a federal offense, legally equivalent to shooting at a manned aircraft. On this topic, the FAA is proposing in the new Part 108 NPRM to add language that would protect remote pilots and their Visual observers from harassment and distraction. This is a welcome addition.It’s incredibly important to make your voice heard on the issues with the Part 108 NPRM. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out our latest video on our comment for Part 108. Spoiler alert, part 108 as proposed would NOT include current part 107 or recreational pilot. We have a solution to that. Be sure to watch that video next and get your comment submitted before October 6th, 2025! And lastly, if you like our proposal to fix the NPRM, be sure to fill out our form so we can include you and your company as supporters in our joint comment to the FAA.

https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mugWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. DJI Mini 5 Pro leaks and a possible release date, Department of Commerce to release regulations around trade and importation of drones, and finally, a 30-mile medical delivery by drone in Kansas.First up this week, it looks like the DJI Mini 5 Pro is right around the corner. Trustworthy sources and leaked images are pointing to a September 16th launch, with the drone hitting store shelves as soon as September 17th. The marketing slogan is "Pro in Mini," and based on the leaked specs, they are not kidding! The biggest news is that DJI has apparently managed to pack a 1-inch sensor into a sub-250-gram drone. The camera is rumored to have an F/1.8 lens, which should be fantastic for low-light performance. Leaked photos also clearly show what looks like forward-facing LiDAR, which will help with obstacle avoidance and protecting that big new gimbal and sensor. European pricing has also been spotted, with the base model and the screenless RC-N3 remote starting at 799 euros. The Fly More Combo with the RC2 controller is expected to be around 1129 euros. There’s even a rumor that you might be able to use your Mini 3 and Mini 4 batteries in the new Mini 5. Wouldn't that be awesome? The one major catch, especially given our next story, is that the Mini 5 probably won’t be available in the United States. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.Next up, according to a report from Reuters, the U.S. Commerce Department will release regulations to address national security risks. These rules will target the information and communications technology in drones from China and other foreign adversaries. While the announcement didn't give specific details, this action follows the ANPRM we saw earlier this year. It’s important to note that this ANPRM is and was separate from the existing audit requirements set forth in the 2024 NDAA for DJI and Autel. At this time, there is NO preview or draft text of the ruling from the Department of Commerce, but we’ll keep you updated when we see one.Last up, Kansas just made history with the state's first-ever long-range medical drone delivery. In a landmark test flight, the Community HealthCare System used a Pyka autonomous drone to deliver an AED to a rural hospital in Onaga. The 30-mile flight took only 30 minutes, a journey that would have taken a courier van over an hour. The drone used was the Pyka Pelican Cargo, which is a VTOL aircraft with a 70kg or 150lb payload and a range of 200 miles. For this mission, the drone flew autonomously along a pre-approved FAA flight plan. The project was a collaboration between the healthcare system, Kansas State University, and the Kansas Department of Transportation. This is a great use of drones and one of the best uses of delivery drones in my opinion. On post-flight we’ll also be talking about our comments for the Part 108 NPRM! We’ll see you on Monday for the live, have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2025/09/08/dji-mini-5-launch-release-date-leak/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/07/kansas-medical-drone-delivery/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/05/trump-administration-chinese-drone-imports/https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mug

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: a new NDAA-compliant drone from Angel Aerial, a drone pilot who was sentenced for flying over Cape Canaveral, a drone captured a rescue in North Carolina, and Amazon has revealed a new safety system for its delivery drones.First up, Ohio-based Angel Aerial Systems has released a new NDAA-compliant tricopter called the Trio Scout. Its big claim to fame is a 100-minute hover time. The Trio Scout weighs 5.5 pounds, including its battery. The payload is a dual EO/thermal gimbal, featuring a 1280x720 electro-optical camera with 20x optical and 2x digital zoom for a total of 40x zoom. The thermal camera is a 640x480 sensor with 4x digital zoom. The company claims a max transmission distance of 1.86 miles and a wind tolerance of 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. The price is listed at $34,999 with a 10-week lead time. Now, the 100-minute flight time is from real-world tests, not theoretical flight time. The company is transparent that in warmer conditions, like 120 degrees Fahrenheit at 5,000 feet, you're looking at about 88 minutes and in the extreme cold, that can drop to 65 minutes.Next up, a 71-year-old Canadian drone pilot, Xiao Guang Pan, has been sentenced for illegally flying his drone over Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida. He pleaded guilty to unlawfully photographing defense installations and received 12 months of probation before being deported back to Canada.According to court records, in January of this year, NASA officials detected a drone near the base. Deputies found Pan operating a DJI Mavic 3 Pro from a nearby parking lot. He had reportedly been flying in the area for at least three consecutive days. While he was flying in Class D airspace, he was right on the edge of restricted areas. His drone captured 56 images and two videos of sensitive infrastructure.When questioned, Pan claimed he was just a tourist photographing cruise ships and sunrises and that he hadn't received any airspace warnings. However, a forensic analysis of his devices told a very different story. Investigators found over 1,900 files, including 243 images and 13 videos of the base. More importantly, the drone's data logs showed that the DJI system had issued multiple geofencing and airspace warnings.And in our third story this week, incredible drone footage has been released showing the rescue of a pilot from a plane that crashed into the ocean off Oak Island, North Carolina. On August 2nd, a single-engine plane piloted by Mark Finkelstein suffered an engine failure, forcing him to ditch the aircraft in the ocean. Luckily, the Oak Island Beach Safety Unit was nearby and responded immediately. They launched a drone, which provided a crystal-clear, stable overhead view of the entire scene. You can see the rescuers surrounding the cockpit and pulling Finkelstein out feet-first through the windshield. The entire extraction took less than 30 seconds once they reached him. He walked away with only a minor cut.Lastly, Amazon is rolling out a new safety feature for its delivery drones. The new tech is called "Safe Contingent Landings," or SCL. It’s a sophisticated "Plan B" for the drone if it detects a major problem like a system malfunction or severe weather. Instead of just falling or making a risky return flight, the drone can autonomously scan the ground in real-time, build a 3D map, and find a safe spot to land, avoiding people, animals, and cars. http://dronexl.co/2025/09/02/drone-captures-rescue-pilot-from-plane/https://dronexl.co/2025/09/02/amazon-drones-now-have-plan-b/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/28/angel-aerials-trio-scout-drone-ndaa/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/28/drone-pilot-sentenced-cape-canaveral-space-force-base/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: Inspired Flight has secured $12 million in funding, Anzu Robotics V3.8 is out, Japanese drone maker ACSL is releasing new stuff and pricing leak for the upcoming DJI Mini 5 Pro.First up, American manufacturer Inspired Flight Technologies has raised $12 million in Series A funding. The investment was led by Tri-Valley Ventures and is aimed at accelerating new product releases and, most importantly, scaling up the company's U.S.-based manufacturing. Inspired Flight is known for its NDAA-compliant and BlueUAS-certified platforms, like the IF1200 Hexacopter and the IF800 Tomcat. These drones are used in government and commercial sectors for everything from mapping and inspection to public safety. It takes a LOT of time and money to build up manufacturing capacity, and this is a step in the right direction. Next, Anzu Robotics has introduced Version 3.8 for their Raptor Series. This update introduces augmented reality overlays for street names and custom airspace. Also included in this update are some bug fixes, map layer customization, and other map upgrades. Before we get onto the last story, this is your last chance to join us at Commercial UAV Expo. On Tuesday, join Vic Moss, Amy Wiegand, and Jared Janacek and myself for a deep dive into the regulations, technology, and business strategies that are shaping the future of the drone industry.On Wednesday, I’m personally teaching a workshop on how to build your drone business. On Thursday, Jared will teach you his professional mapping process. Spots for each day are limited and they are filling up. Go to pilotinstitute.com/cuav to see the details and secure your seat.Next, another company is stepping up to provide more NDAA-compliant options for professional pilots. ACSL, Japan’s top drone manufacturer, has announced a new smart controller, an upgraded thermal payload, and a partnership with Teledyne FLIR. First is the new TAITEN Smart Controller. It's an NDAA-compliant remote with a 7-inch integrated display that boasts 1500 nits of brightness and an IP54 ingress protection rating. The company also enhanced its SAMO payload, which is now ITAR-free and features Teledyne FLIR’s Hadron 640R camera module. This payload is a dual-sensor system, combining a 64-megapixel optical camera with a 20x zoom and a 640x512 Boson radiometric thermal camera. ACSL says it will also support FLIR's MSX fusion technology by the end of the year, which overlays visual details onto the thermal image for better situational awareness. And finally, a European online store allegedly listed the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo with the RC2 controller for 1129 euros. That's the exact same price as the current Mini 4 Pro Fly More Combo. Getting a 1-inch sensor and LiDAR for the same price seems almost too good to be true, but we'll have to wait and see. Leaked accessory prices also seem to be in line with current models. With all these details and even a folding animation video surfacing, rumors are pointing to a mid-September release. We'll be keeping a close eye on this one!And on Post Flight, our weekly show in the premium community, where we discuss our opinions on these stories and the ones that didn’t make the cut, we’ll be talking about a cool drone from the UK that flies like an owl and about Commercial UAV Expo.That’s it for this week, if you’re going to Commercial UAV Expo next week, be sure to check out the workshops and stop by the booth! https://www.inspiredflight.com/news/12m-series-a-tri-valley.phphttps://dronexl.co/2025/08/26/dji-mini-5-pro-animation-retail-price/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/27/acsl-taiten-smart-controller-teledyne-flir/https://www.anzurobotics.com/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: SiFly sets world record for endurance, Inspired Flight releases a new controller, FreeFly Fest, and a man arrested in Florida for allegedly crashing a drug-loaded drone into someone’s house.First up this week, California-based drone manufacturer SiFly has officially set a new Guinness World Record for flight endurance. Their Q12 prototype quadcopter completed a flight lasting an incredible 3 hours and 11 minutes. This absolutely shatters the previous record for a small, electrically powered multi-rotor drone by almost a full hour. The record-setting flight took place on July 26th in California's Salinas Valley and was certified by an official Guinness adjudicator on-site.Inspired Flight Technologies has just launched a new ground control station, the GS-ONE. This is a rugged, handheld controller aimed squarely at professional operators in commercial, industrial, and government sectors. It's designed to integrate seamlessly with Inspired Flight's own IF800 Tomcat and IF1200 UAS platforms.The GS-ONE features a 7-inch, glove-compatible touchscreen that boasts 2,000 NITs of brightness. That's going to be fantastic for a sunlight-readable experience out in the field. It has an NDAA-compliant 2.4 GHz radio with up to 6 miles of range and hot-swappable batteries that provide up to 5 hours of continuous runtime. The whole thing is housed in an IP55-rated enclosure for durability. On the inside, it's running Android 14 on a Qualcomm QCS6490 processor with 8 gigs of RAM and 128 gigs of storage. It's also packed with connectivity, including LTE, WiFi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2. We visited FreeFly for their yearly partner’s event in Washington State. It was packed with announcements, including: Alta X Gen 2, A Firmware update for first Gen Alta X, FreeFly Platforms are back on Blue List, Several Astro Max upgrades, Ember toolbox for FreeFly’s high speed cameras, A 1,000,000 lumen spotlight light called the Flying Sun, and even more cool LiDAR and camera tech. Also at the show was a Verizon demo where they flew a FreeFly Astro Max from both Florida and from Alaska using 4 and 5G. Pilot Institute is hosting three separate workshops. On September 2nd, join me, Vic Moss, Amy Wiegand, and Jared Janacek for a deep dive into the regulations, technology, and business strategies that are shaping the future of the drone industry.Then on September 3rd, I’m personally teaching a workshop on how to build your drone business. And on September 4th, Jared will teach you his professional mapping process. Spots for each day are limited and they are filling up. Go to pilotinstitute.com/cuav to see the details and secure your seat.A story that falls squarely into the "what not to do with your drone" category. Out in Lutz, Florida, a 49-year-old man allegedly crashed his drone into a residential home. According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the drone was allegedly carrying multiple bags of methamphetamine and fentanyl. In Post Flight, our show where we share more of our opinions, we’ll be talking about these stories along with even more nuggets we’ve found in the Part 108 NPRM and Ag Eagle, who launched a new multispectral camera. We’ll see you on Monday for the live and for Post Flight in the premium community! https://www.commercialuavnews.com/inspired-flight-introduces-new-ground-control-stationhttps://www.fox13news.com/news/video-drone-carrying-drugs-crashes-home-suspect-arrestedhttps://dronelife.com/2025/08/20/siflys-q12-breaks-drone-endurance-barriers/https://freeflysystems.com/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week.First, The Antigravity A1 drone by insta360 is out, we have some DJI Mini 5 Pro leaks, and AVSS has a new drone system for avalanche control.First up, Insta360, a name we all know and love for their 360-degree cameras, has incubated a new drone brand called Antigravity. And they’ve just unveiled their first product, the Antigravity A1. Antigravity is making a bold claim: it's the world's first drone with built-in 8K 360-degree capture. The A1 features a dual-lens camera system, with one lens on top and one on the bottom of the drone. This allows it to capture a complete spherical view with no blind spots. The software then stitches the footage together and even renders the drone itself invisible, which is a feature Insta360 is famous for.Now, what really sets this apart is the flight experience. It's designed to be fully immersive, using goggles and a "Grip controller” that responds to natural hand movements instead of traditional sticks. With their "FreeMotion" technology, you can freely look around in any direction using head tracking, completely separate from the direction the drone is flying. If you've ever wanted to look left while flying forward, this drone promises to deliver that. And because it's shooting in 360, you can reframe your shots in post, create Tiny Planet effects, and pull multiple shots from a single flight.Next up this week, we've got some major leaks, courtesy of Jasper Ellens over at DroneXL, about the DJI Mini 5 Pro. Let's talk specs. The camera is said to have a 1-inch sensor with a 24mm equivalent lens and a fast f/1.8 aperture, which should be fantastic for low-light performance. It can reportedly shoot video up to 4K at 120 frames per second and has a 48mm medium-telephoto mode. The drone is also said to feature forward-facing LiDAR for obstacle sensing. Next up, in a real-world drones-for-good story, Canada has given the green light to a new drone-based system for avalanche control. For nearly 80 years, safety crews have used risky methods like helicopter drops and even World War II-era artillery to trigger controlled avalanches. Now, a Canadian company called AVSS has a much safer and more efficient solution. Transport Canada has issued a nationwide Special Flight Operations Certificate, or SFOC, for the AVSS "SnowDart" system. This is a big deal because it opens the door for commercial use across the country.The system, called the Precision Avalanche Management System, uses a drone to fly to precise locations where it drops small, low-cost, and eco-friendly explosive devices called SnowDarts. These darts trigger controlled snow releases, preventing larger, more dangerous avalanches from forming. The whole mission can be planned and flown autonomously, keeping human crews far from any danger. This is a massive improvement in safety and its more flexible and cost-effective than traditional methods. On post flight, our show where we share our opinions, we’ll be discussing all these stories, plus talking more about the Part 108 NPRM, which we finally finished reading, and just posted a video on! https://dronexl.co/2025/08/13/dji-mini-5-pro-leak-reveals-c0-label-secrets/https://dronedj.com/2025/08/11/drone-avalanche-control-canada-avss/https://www.antigravity.tech/us/drone/antigravity-a1

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: The FAA has finally unveiled its proposed rule for Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations, an update to the story about a drone collision in Kerrville Texas, and we have some major leaks about the DJI Mini 5 ProThe FAA has released its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, or NPRM, for Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, operations. This is a massive deal for our drone industry. For years, complex BVLOS operations have required a slow, case-by-case waiver process. This new rule aims to create a standardized, scalable framework to normalize these flights. The proposal is designed to unlock the economic potential of drones in areas like package delivery, agriculture, and infrastructure inspection.So, what's in the proposal? There’s a ton. We’re working on a full video debrief of the NPRM now, but here are some points: • Operations will be at or below 400 feet, • Aircraft up to 1,320 lbs, • All operators would need FAA approval for the area where they intend to fly. They would identify the boundaries and the approximate number of daily operations, as well as takeoff, landing, and loading areas, if applicable, • All drones would need Remote ID and lighting, • BVLOS drones could be operated over people in different situations, • There are security requirements for BVLOS operators, • BVLOS operators may not need ANY FAA certificates.What we haven’t seen in the NPRM so far is: • Any mention of network remote ID, • and any mention of extended visual line of sight for Part 107 operators.Next up, An update to the Helicopter and Drone mid-air out of Kerrville, Texas last month.During the catastrophic floods in Kerrville, Texas, on July 7th, a military UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing after colliding with a drone. Initial reports immediately blamed an unauthorized civilian drone violating the active Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR. We reported this as it was reported by others, stating that the drone appeared to be an unauthorized flight in the TFR.However, testimony at a state hearing later clarified what really happened. The drone involved was actually an AUTHORIZED search and rescue drone that is alleged to have malfunctioned. According to the report, it “flew too high, stalled, and then collided with the helicopter”. Last up are some DJI leaks! It looks like we're getting our first real glimpse of the DJI Mini 5 Pro, thanks to some leaked images of the product box and a new render. And if these specs are real, this could be a game-changer for the mini drone category. The box confirms a 1-inch image sensor capable of shooting up to 4K/120fps video. That would be quite an upgrade from the 1/1.3-inch sensor in the Mini 4 Pro. The leak also points to a gimbal with 225 degrees of rotation for more flexible camera movements, a 48mm medium-telephoto mode, and Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing that uses a forward-facing LiDAR sensor. But here's the most important detail, and it's what's MISSING from the box. The Mini 4 Pro box clearly stated "Less Than 249 g," but that text is nowhere to be found on this new leak. With a bigger sensor and a LiDAR unit, it's very possible the Mini 5 Pro will tip the scales over that magic 250-gram mark. This would have major implications for pilots who rely on the regulatory freedom of the sub-250g category. https://dronexl.co/2025/08/05/faa-unveils-proposed-bvlos-rule-drone/https://dronexl.co/2025/08/03/dji-mini-5-pro-key-features-box-confirms/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/31/authorized-drone-disrupts-rescue-helicopter-kerrville/

Welcome back to your Weekly UAS News Update. We've got three stories for you this week. First, the Neo 2 has been spotted in FCC filings, Insta360 is jumping into the drone game with a new brand called Antigravity, and the CEO of DroneUp seems to be pushing for digital airspace authorizations.First up, it looks like DJI might have some serious new competition. Insta360, the company known for its 360-degree cameras, has launched a new drone brand called Antigravity. And their first drone sounds pretty revolutionary: it's reportedly the world's first 360-degree drone that weighs less than 249 grams and can shoot in 8K.Antigravity says its focus isn't on raw specs, but on creating an "immersive flight" experience that makes storytelling easy for everyone, from beginners to experts. The drone will reportedly include smart safety features, like payload detection to deter misuse or modifications. The full, official unveiling is scheduled for this August. We've seen other companies like GoPro and Skydio struggle to challenge DJI's dominance, so it will be interesting to see if Insta360 and Antigravity’s approach.Next up, a new DJI drone, the Neo 2, has surfaced on the FCC website, which is usually the first major step before a product can be sold in the US. The filing reveals a notable upgrade: a 1606 milliamp-hour battery, which is about a 12% increase from the original Neo. This should translate to longer flight times than the original's 18 minutes. While FCC approval is a promising sign, it doesn't guarantee the Neo 2 will be available in the US. Since last October, US Customs has been detaining some DJI shipments, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. DJI firmly disputes any connection to forced labor, but the issue has already prevented the official US release of other products, like the Mavic 4 Pro. So, even with the FCC's green light, the Neo 2's future in the American market remains uncertain.And finally, Tom Walker, the CEO of DroneUp, published an opinion piece for Fox News where he pointed to a recent, dangerous incident during the Texas floods. A private drone reportedly collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing the crew to land and grounding a vital asset during a life-or-death situation.Walker says this isn't an isolated problem. He cited FAA data showing that illegal drone incursions near US airports jumped by 25% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2024. He warns that our current systems for detecting and responding to these threats are, in his words, "fractured, outdated, and dangerously inadequate."So what's the solution? Walker wants a unified, real-time tracking system for all low-altitude air traffic. He's also pushing for secure digital credentials to link drones to their pilots, and for expanding the authority of local law enforcement to counter drone threats. He argues that the technology to do this already exists, but says we need to act now before one of these incidents becomes a national tragedy.I can tell you that we at Pilot Institute will oppose any sort of technology that introduces ANY cost to access the national airspace system. Access to the NAS must remain free for ANY and ALL users. We’ll be watching this closely. And on Postflight, our show where we share our opinions in the premium community, we’ll discuss the SkyRover X1 and how drones are being used to drop mosquitos in Hawaii. We’ll see you on Monday for the live and for post flight in the community! https://dronedj.com/2025/07/25/dji-neo-2-drone-fcc/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/28/insta360-antigravity-drone-360-8k/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/21/drone-ceo-warns-of-escalating-airspace-risks/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, DEXA secures a nationwide BVLOS waiver for drone deliveries, DroneDeploy launches Progress AI, and a drone pilot finds a missing girl in Wisconsin. First up, U.S. drone delivery company DEXA has hit a major regulatory milestone, securing a nationwide Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, waiver from the FAA. This is a huge deal because it allows the company to conduct autonomous delivery operations across the country without needing visual observers on the ground for every flight. This approval puts DEXA in an elite group alongside giants like Amazon Prime Air, Wing, and Zipline, who are all pushing the boundaries of commercial drone logistics.In addition to this new BVLOS waiver, the company already holds a Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate, which legally allows them to run a drone airline. They also have an airworthiness certification for their DE-2020 delivery drone. Having all three of these in place is the key to unlocking scalable, repeatable, and, most importantly, profitable drone delivery services. They're using their own U.S.-made aircraft and a direct-to-consumer app called DEXA NOW. Next up, DroneDeploy has just announced a new tool that called Progress AI, and it's designed to completely automate construction progress tracking. Instead of someone walking a site with a clipboard and manually marking up drawings, this system uses AI to analyze data from drones and 360-degree cameras to generate fast and reliable progress reports. DroneDeploy claims the platform can deliver reports with 95% accuracy within minutes of the images being uploaded.One of the coolest features is its natural-language interface. This works without needing a complex Building Information Model, or BIM, which lowers the barrier to entry for a lot of companies. Early users are already reporting great results, with one project engineer saying they caught a framing issue with a door install just by reviewing a walkthrough, saving them days of rework. Progress AI is currently in early access and is expected to be widely available in October as an add-on for DroneDeploy customers. Last up, a real-world drones-for-good story! A volunteer drone pilot in Milton, Wisconsin, is being called a hero after he found a missing 4-year-old girl in a dense cornfield. The girl, Lou Easton, is autistic, nonverbal, and reportedly doesn't feel pain, which made her disappearance incredibly urgent. With sunset approaching, her family feared she had wandered into a nearby cornfield. That's when Rock County officials called for aerial support.The hero of the day is Jeremy Harring-Spoerl, a volunteer with Wisco Aerial and Ground Services. He launched his DJI Matrice 30 drone and got to work. In just 40 minutes, he spotted Lou deep in the cornfield and was able to guide rescue teams directly to her location. She was found safe and unharmed. This is a perfect example of why drones are such incredible tools for search and rescue. A drone can cover a massive area far more quickly than a ground team, and thermal cameras can spot heat signatures that would be impossible to see otherwise. Stories like this are a powerful reminder that for every headline about drone bans, there are pilots out there using this technology to save lives. A huge congratulations to Jeremy for a job well done!Alright, and the team will be back from Oshkosh next week, so no Live on Monday or Post flight this coming week, but we’ll pick back up the following! https://dronexl.co/2025/07/14/dexa-faa-bvlos-waiver-drone-deliveries/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/21/drone-hero-saves-missing-girl-wisconsin/https://dronelife.com/2025/07/22/dronedeploy-launches-progress-ai-to-automate-construction-tracking/

Join our community 👉 https://bit.ly/pilot-institute-communityFirst up, the U.S. Commerce Department has officially launched a Section 232 national security investigation into drones and their components, with a clear focus on Chinese manufacturers . This investigation falls under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, giving the government the power to recommend tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions if it finds that imported products threaten national security. The probe will look at whether our reliance on foreign-made drones weakens US supply chains and exposes sensitive data.If the ODNI review finds what they call "unacceptable risks," it could trigger rapid regulatory action along with inclusion on the FCC’s Entity list, which would prevent any FCC licenses from being issued. Now, DJI has repeatedly denied any affiliation with the Chinese military, and a 2022 Pentagon audit found no malicious code in their Government Edition drones. However, the lawmakers behind this push argue that audit was limited and is now outdated. This is a developing situation, but a 30-day timeline is extremely aggressive. It’s also very curious that the lawmakers behind the language in the NDAA are the ones pushing for this audit to occur. We’ll keep you updated when we know more. Along the same lines, Representative Stefanik introduced an amendment to the 2026 NDAA that would require all Chinese drone manufacturers to undergo the same security audit as DJI and Autel. And even more news from the US Government, The Senate has confirmed Bryan Bedford as the new FAA Administrator with a 53-43 vote. Bedford is the former CEO of Republic Airways. Next up, DJI rolled out three new agriculture drones for the global market, but not for the US. The new models are the Agras T100, the T70P, and the T25P, each designed for different scales of farming. The Agras T100 is an absolute beast, basically a flying tractor. It can carry a massive 100-liter payload for spraying or 150 liters for spreading. With a top speed of 20 meters per second, it's twice as efficient as its predecessor. The T70P is a step down, designed for mid-sized farms, with a 70-liter spray capacity and a 100-liter spread capacity. It features DJI's new Safety System 3.0, which combines millimeter-wave radar and a Tri-Vision system for better obstacle avoidance in tricky terrain.Finally, there's the Agras T25P, which is built for solo operators or smaller, more complex plots like orchards. It's compact and foldable but still packs a punch with a 20 kg payload and a spray rate of 16 liters per minute. It even allows for adjustable droplet sizes between 50 and 500 micrometers for super precise applications. These drones were actually released in China last year, but their global launch signals a major push by DJI in the agricultural space.And on post flight, our show where we discuss these stories and share our opinions, along with discussing DJI’s FlyCart 30 that’s been operating on Mt Everest this season! We’ll see you there on Monday, on Youtube for Live on Monday, and back here on Friday for news update! https://dronedj.com/2025/07/15/dji-autel-drone-national-security/https://dronedj.com/2025/07/16/dji-agras-new-drone-launch/https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/10/natsec-review-chinese-drone-maker-dji/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/09/senate-confirms-bryan-bedford-as-faa-administrator/

First up, it’s another case of "hurry up and wait" for our drone industry. The FAA has missed another major deadline for publishing the much-anticipated Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. This time, the deadline was set by a presidential executive order. On June 6th, 2025, President Trump signed the “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” order, which gave the FAA a very aggressive 30-day timeline to issue the proposed rule. Well, that deadline was July 7th, and it came and went with no NPRM in sight.This new missed deadline joins the one from the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which mandated the NPRM be published by September 16, 2024. A Bit of history: The BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee, or ARC, delivered its comprehensive 381-page report with 70 recommendations all the way back in March of 2022. That report gave the FAA a set of recommendations for enabling BVLOS. Next up, Florida Senator Rick Scott has introduced the "Drones for America Act," a bill aimed at banning Chinese-made drones and their components while trying to boost U.S. manufacturing. The bill proposes a phased approach. It would implement a full ban on the sale of Chinese-manufactured drone systems by January 1, 2028, and a ban on Chinese-made components by January 1, 2031. In the meantime, a gradually increasing tariff would be placed on these items to phase them out of the market. The revenue collected from these tariffs would be used to fund a grant program. This program is designed to help American companies develop and produce U.S.-manufactured drones and components along with helping first responders, law enforcement, and even farmers and ranchers purchase these American-made drones. However, this bill neglects the largest users of drones, small businesses and recreational flyers. Right now, there are no real alternatives to DJI for consumers and small businesses. And we’ve heard from the people who are likely behind this bill that there has been NO study done to determine the output of drones from American Manufacturers. These bill threaten to destroy the drone industry in favor of a few American manufacturers, who don’t even have an interest in making consumer drones. Please reach out to your Senators and Representatives and tell them this is not a good idea. And finally this week, a story that serves as a critical reminder for all of us about why the rules exist. On July 7th, during catastrophic flooding in Kerr County, Texas, a drone reportedly collided with a rescue helicopter. The helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing and is now out of commission. This has sidelined a critical life-saving asset in an area where, tragically, over 100 people have died. The entire area was under a Temporary Flight Restriction, or TFR, specifically NOTAM FDC 5/2615, to keep the airspace clear for these exact types of rescue operations.Alright, we’ll see you on Monday for the Live and for Post Flight in the Premium Community! https://dronelife.com/2025/07/07/another-missed-deadline-the-bvlos-nprm-still-awaits-publication/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/07/drone-fiasco-in-kerr-county/https://www.rickscott.senate.gov/2025/6/sen-rick-scott-introduces-drones-for-america-act-to-ban-chinese-made-drones-components-support-u-s-drone-manufacturing

Check out Post Flight on Community 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week; DJI has released the FlyCart 100, Wingtra is teasing a new drone, set for release on July 10th, and a drones-for-good story where a drone was used to rescue a man from a flood.First up this week, DJI has dropped the FlyCart 100. The FC100 can carry a payload of 80 kilograms—that’s 176 pounds—over a distance of 6 kilometers, or about 3.7 miles, on a single battery. If you pop in the dual battery, the payload drops slightly to 65 kilograms, or 143 pounds, but the range increases to 12 kilometers, which is 7.4 miles. With no payload at all, this thing can cruise for 26 kilometers, or 16 miles! The max takeoff weight is a hefty 149.9 kilograms, or 330 pounds.It comes with a hoist system that has a 30-meter, or 98-foot, retractable cable, complete with auto anti-sway technology and real-time weighing. For safety, it has a built-in parachute with its own independent power supply. The drone itself is built like a tank with an IP55 rating and wind limit of 27 miles per hour. It’s also packed with sensors, including front and rear phased-array radars, five-eye fisheye cameras, and LiDAR for obstacle avoidance. The price starts at $12,500 for the base model. Its predecessor, the FlyCart 30, is FAA-approved in the U.S., and while this new model isn't yet, we're hoping that changes soon. Next up, Swiss-based drone manufacturer Wingtra is teasing a new product launch for July 10th, and it looks like it could be a big deal for the mapping and surveying world. Wingtra is known for its high-precision, vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, fixed-wing drones. Their current flagship, the WingtraOne, is already impressive, capturing data at resolutions up to 1.2 centimeters per pixel and covering up to 200 hectares, or 494 acres, in a single flight.The company posted a teaser this week, "What we’re about to share with you isn’t just another product launch. It’s a shift in what’s possible." The image shows the silhouette of a sleek drone, suggesting an evolution of their current platform. While we don't have the exact specs yet, we can speculate a bit. We might see an even longer flight time, maybe over 60 minutes, improved sensors for night operations, or even better AI for real-time data processing. Given the demand for large-scale mapping, they could be pushing the coverage area to over 300 hectares, or 741 acres, per flight. We're definitely excited to see what they unveil on July 10th, as this could set a new standard for professional mapping drones.And finally this week, a real-world drones-for-good story! In southwest China, a drone operator performed a dramatic rescue during severe flooding. He spotted a man stranded on a rooftop, completely surrounded by rising floodwaters. Acting quickly, Lai repurposed his agricultural drone, which he normally uses for spraying fertilizer and hauling materials, to perform an airlift. He used the drone's long cord to hoist the man from the rooftop and fly him to safety on a nearby road.And on post-flight, our show where we share our opinions in the Premium Community, we're going to cover all of these stories in depth, along with rumors about DJI Care Refresh and a man who faces federal charges for attempting to destroy a Law Enforcement drone. Alright, that's all we have for you this week. Join us for the live Q and A on Monday and in post flight in the premium community as well! https://dronexl.co/2025/07/01/drone-saves-man-from-flood-china/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/01/dji-flycart-100-drone-midlife-crisis/https://dronexl.co/2025/07/01/wingtra-fixed-wing-drone-launch-july-10/

Post Flight on Community 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. Charges for drone pilot allegedly interfering with a medical helicopter, NASA ASRS reports on the possible chop list, and New York Legislation to restrict what drones can be purchased by state agencies. First up a 64-year-old drone operator in Orange County, Texas, has been charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly delaying a medical helicopter flight back in February. According to 12NewsNow, the incident occurred when first responders were aiding a 3-year-old child who had suffered cardiac arrest after a near-drowning. A medical helicopter called to transport the child was reportedly delayed because a drone was flying directly above it, somewhere between 50 and 100 feet over the helicopter. The drone pilot was identified, and his device was confiscated. He now faces a charge of "interfering with public duties," a class B misdemeanor in Texas, potentially leading to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. It's unknown if federal charges will follow, but the FAA takes interference with manned aircraft, especially emergency services, VERY seriously. Thankfully, the child made a full recovery. Please don’t be that guy. Next up, this is really important for the entire aviation community, including us drone pilots. We have until July 7th – that’s just a few weeks – to submit comments on the value of two crucial voluntary safety reporting systems: NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and the Confidential Close Call Reporting System (C3RS). The program provides for pilots, controllers, mechanics and others to make confidential reports to the ASRS within NASA, insulating the reports from the FAA. As a result, NASA reports aviation safety issues in nearly real-time. The big advantage of the report is that the reporting person can't be subject to FAA enforcement actions even if a regulation has been broken. That's of course, if the action is inadvertent and if the report is made within 10 days.And finally, in New York, bill A2237/S3259 has passed the assembly earlier this week. The bill would restrict what equipment can be purchased by state and local public safety departments. This isn’t specific to drones and includes any and all “HARDWARE, SYSTEMS, DEVICES, SOFTWARE, OR SERVICES”. Waivers are available, but it’d be better for public safety not to need a waiver to purchase the best equipment fro the job. As of this recording, the bill hasn’t passed into law yet, and is going to the Governor next. So if you’re in NY, please reach out to your senators, representatives, and contact the Governor's office, especially if you're in public safety!And on post-flight this week, we're going to cover Renault, the French car manufacturer who has partnered with Parrot for a built-in vehicle dock, and Amazon, which is starting deliveries in San Antonio. Post-flight is our weekly show where we dive deeper into the news update items, with more opinionated takes and it is available in the Premium community at pilotinstitute.com/communityAlright, that's all we have for you this week. Join us Monday for the live Q and A on Monday.https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/orange-county-drone-operator-charged-with-misdemeanor-in-connection-with-delay-of-life-saving-helicopter-flight/502-94b3858e-19f6-45ca-8b94-27ac90c0efd1https://avweb.com/aviation-news/comments-sought-on-blame-free-aviation-incident-reporting/https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/?vvsrc=%2FCampaigns%2F125752%2FRespond

Post Flight in Community 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, DJI unveils the new Matrice 400, Altitude Angel secures a U.S. patent for its ARROW ground-based detect-and-avoid system, and the National Fire Academy is hosting train the trainer courses for local fire officials! Let's get to it.National Fire Academy Program:https://forms.gle/AzEAmvRzydypPdS48First up this week, DJI has pulled the wraps off its latest enterprise drone, the Matrice 400. They're claiming up to 59 minutes of forward flight time and 53 minutes of hovering with an H30T. The M400 can carry a hefty 13.2-pound payload, and and comes with an IP55 rating. It can handle -4 degrees Fahrenheit all the way up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning you should be able to fly it even in Phoenix during the summer! Inside, the Matrice 400 is equipped with LiDAR, mmWave radar, and full-color low-light fisheye sensors. DJI says this setup allows it to navigate challenging environments and detect small obstacles like high-voltage power lines in low-light conditions. The video transmission is also getting a boost with the O4 Enterprise Enhanced system, supporting image transmission up to 24.9 miles. It uses a ten-antenna aircraft design, and there's even a built-in relay module so one M400 can extend the range of another. For payloads, it has four E-Port V2 ports and can support up to seven simultaneous payloads. This includes compatibility with the Zenmuse H30 series, the L2 for LiDAR mapping, and the P1 for photogrammetry. Next up this week, Altitude Angel, a company known for its Unmanned Traffic Management, or UTM, technology, has just secured a U.S. patent for its ARROW system. ARROW is a ground-based detect-and-avoid solution. What that means is it uses a network of ground sensors, like radio frequency detectors and high-resolution cameras, to monitor the airspace. The software then fuses this data to create a real-time picture of what’s flying around. The big advantage here is that it could allow drones to operate safely BVLOS without needing expensive onboard sensors, which could reduce costs by 50%.This isn't just a concept; ARROW powered Project Skyway in the UK, which was a 165-mile drone superhighway. They demonstrated what they call "Separation-as-a-Service," allowing multiple drone operators to share airspace safely. Now, access to this technology isn’t free, and specific costs aren’t public. Based on Altitude Angel’s website FAQs, costs depend on the area and the amount of traffic in that area. Here in the US, I think this would primarily be used by drone delivery companies, rather than others. It’s important that the airspace remains free to access, so we’ll have to keep an eye on this to ensure that local government or land owners don’t attempt to charge for access to public airspace. Last up, the National Fire Academy is hosting a 2 week train the trainer program designed for state, local, and tribal fire service professionals. Now this might not seem like big news to most, but traditionally the train the trainer program is restricted to federal personnel only. This allows program mangers, state fire, and program leads, to learn about teaching wildfire operations, mission planning NIST, Law Enforcement Responses, search and rescue, and more. So if you’re in public safety, be sure to check out the link below to apply for the program! This week on Post Flight we’ll be discussing the White House Executive Orders and Walmart expanding their drone delivery. We’ll see you on Monday for the Live, and Post flight in the Premium community! https://dronexl.co/2025/06/10/dji-matrice-400-enterprise-drone/https://dronexl.co/2025/06/10/altitude-angel-arrow-patent-drone-ops/