Drone News Update

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, the FCC extends the firmware waiver for foreign drones, the FAA announces strict No Drone Zones for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and lastly, Pierce Aerospace is building a massive Remote ID network for NASA. Let's get to it.First up this week, we have some interesting news regarding the FCC and foreign-made drones. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology just released Public Notice DA 26-454. This notice extends the waiver for software and firmware updates on previously authorized foreign-made drones, including DJI and Autel, until at least January 1, 2029. The original deadline was January 1, 2027, meaning after this deadline, foreign-made drones that were previously approved by the FCC, would not have been able to get software updates. This is your Mavic, Air, Mini drones that you currently have on the shelf. This extension basically allows for updates not until early 2029. The waiver covers Class I changes, which are your standard security patches and bug fixes. But it now also includes Class II changes, which are more substantial software updates intended to prevent consumer harm. The FCC is basically admitting that blocking security patches on the millions of DJI and Autel drones already sitting in American homes would create a worse cybersecurity problem than the ban was meant to allegedly fix. Ban foreign drones because they allegedly are a security risk, but allow them to get updates so they don't become a security risk.Next up, if you are planning to fly anywhere near the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, you'll want to pay close attention to this next story. The FAA and law enforcement have officially designated all World Cup stadiums and surrounding event spaces as strict No Drone Zones. During the matches, the FAA will be putting Temporary Flight Restrictions, or TFRs, in place to secure the airspace. This means taking off, landing, or flying a drone within these restricted areas is a serious violation of federal rules. The FAA is working closely with the FBI and local law enforcement, and they will be actively monitoring the airspace to detect and track unauthorized drones. Even if you are an experienced Part 107 pilot or you have a standard airspace authorization, you are not permitted to fly during these active TFR windows. The penalties for violating these restrictions are severe, including heavy fines, potential criminal charges, and having your drone confiscated.And in our third story this week, Pierce Aerospace has been selected to deploy a large Remote ID sensor network throughout Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. They were chosen by Metis Technology, the prime contractor for NASA's Aerospace Research Technology and Simulation contract. Pierce Aerospace will be deploying their YR1 and YR2S Remote ID sensors in a layered network to support NASA's Air Traffic Management and Safety project. As a reminder, Remote ID is the FAA's requirement that drones broadcast their location via telemetry data. This new sensor network will provide regional coverage to help NASA figure out how to safely integrate new technologies like package delivery drones and electric air taxis into our National Airspace System.We’ll see you on Monday for the live and on post flight in the premium community where I’m sure this week we’ll be sharing some opinions… Have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2026/05/11/fcc-extends-foreign-drone-firmware-waiver-2029-da-26-454/https://www.faa.gov/fifaworldcup2026https://www.pierceaerospace.net/blogs/news/pierce-aerospace-selected-to-build-remote-id-network-for-nasa-paving-the-way-for-drone-and-air-taxi-flight-in-the-bay-area

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update, We have three stories for you this week: DJI reveals that 25 unreleased products are stuck in regulatory limbo, Reliable Robotics raises 160 million dollars for autonomous cargo flights, and Starlight Aerial Productions makes history at Sun N Fun. Let's get to it.First up this week, DJI has filed a sharply worded brief in its Ninth Circuit court fight with the FCC, and they finally put specific numbers on how much the current ban is hurting their pipeline. According to the filing, the FCC has already voided authorizations for 14 existing products, which includes five drones and nine other products that are currently unreleased, and 25 planned product launches for 2026… This means a total of 39 DJI projects won’t hit the market this year due to the FCC ban. According to DJI, this will cause a 1.56 billion dollar loss this calendar year alone. DJI's legal team filed a briefing, arguing that the FCC is trying to run out the clock by not making a formal decision. They are also making a major constitutional argument, claiming that FCC staff shouldn't have the power to ban entire product categories without a full Commission vote and judicial review. DJI is asking the court for a six-month pause on the ban to force the FCC to make a formal decision and issue a final ruling. This is obviously a massive deal for our drone industry, specifically consumers, public safety, and even some enterprise. We will keep a close eye on how the court responds.Next up, Reliable Robotics has closed a 160 million dollar funding round, bringing the company's valuation to nearly 1 billion dollars. The company, led by a former SpaceX engineer, is trying to certify an uncrewed Cessna 208 Caravan under Part 23 airworthiness rules. Instead of building a brand new drone from scratch, Reliable's system retrofits an already-certified Cessna 208 with a continuous autopilot that handles taxi, takeoff, cruise, and landing, all while a ground operator monitors the flight. They actually flew a Cessna with no one on board for 12 minutes back in November 2023. Now, they are planning to run autonomous cargo routes between airports in New Mexico and Colorado starting this summer. This is a huge step for large Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations. By putting autonomy into an airframe the FAA already knows and trusts, they are cutting a clear pathway for autonomous commercial cargo. If they actually start moving paying freight in US-controlled airspace this summer, that will be another major jump forward, and will set a massive precedent for every commercial operator out there. Last up, Starlight Aerial Productions and the Red Bull Air Force, staged what they describe as a first in airshow history: three people in wing suits flying through an illuminated drone formation at approximately 2,000 feet AGL during the night show. The demonstration was part of the event's "Red, White & Blue at 52" theme, marking both the 52nd annual expo and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The performance required months of planning, safety validation, and rehearsals coordinated among the FAA, Starlight, and the Red Bull Air Force to integrate crewed human flight with unmanned aerial systems in a live audience setting. The drone formation used American-made Lumenier Arora drones and was choreographed to create a three-dimensional lighted gateway timed to the wingsuiters' flight paths. And let me tell you, it was a great show and super cool to see the wing suits fly through the drone show! Be sure to join us in the Premium Community for Post flight, where we share our opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube, and on Monday for the live! We’ll see you next week! https://dronexl.co/2026/04/21/reliable-robotics-160m-nimble-partners-faa-certification/https://dronexl.co/2026/04/22/dji-ninth-circuit-opposition-brief-fcc-ban-1-56-billion/https://starlightdroneshows.com/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update, we have three stories for you this week, the Pentagon cites classified intelligence to oppose DJI's FCC petition, the FAA clears the military to use anti-drone lasers in U.S. airspace, and DJI officially teases the new Lito drone launch. Let's get to it. First up this week, the Department of Defense has officially filed a memo with the FCC opposing DJI's petition to be removed from the agency's Covered List. The Pentagon stated that their national security decision wasn't just based on public supply chain concerns, but actually relied on both classified and unclassified intelligence. They even submitted a classified document to Congress on April 3rd. DJI has been fighting this on three different legal fronts, including a Ninth Circuit petition and a D.C. Circuit appeal. But this classified intelligence creates a massive hurdle. How do you defend yourself against evidence you aren't allowed to see? Meanwhile, the FCC is pushing forward with new rules to support domestic drone manufacturing under the "Unleashing American Drone Dominance" initiative. They recently gave conditional approvals to four non-Chinese drone systems; all enterprise models. Next up, the FAA has officially given the U.S. military clearance to use high-energy anti-drone lasers in U.S. airspace. This comes after a tense two-month standoff that actually shut down commercial flights over the Texas-Mexico border twice. Back in February, Customs and Border Protection used a Pentagon-owned laser to target what turned out to be metallic balloons. The FAA immediately closed all airspace within a 10-nautical-mile radius of El Paso from the surface up to 18,000 feet. The White House eventually had to step in to lift the shutdown. Then, in a crazy friendly-fire incident on February 26th, soldiers used the same laser to shoot down a drone over Texas. It turns out, the drone belonged to CBP, and it reportedly cost about 30 million dollars! After these incidents, the FAA and Pentagon ran a live test at the White Sands Missile Range. During the test, a commercial aircraft drifted into the laser's tracking angle, and the system's automatic safety shutoff immediately powered the laser down before it could fire. Because of that successful safety feature, the FAA determined the lasers do not present an increased risk to the flying public. If you are flying manned or unmanned aircraft near the southern border, pay attention, because the FAA will be issuing an advisory about increased anti-drone laser activity. And finally this week, after months of leaks, DJI has officially teased a new drone launch for April 23rd. The teaser uses the tagline "Just Fly" and confirms the Lito name with hashtags for the DJI Lito and Lito X1. Now let's talk about the rumored specs. We are reportedly expecting two models, and we’re thinking this will replace the Mini series as the entry level drone. The entry-level Lito 1 is reported to be a sub-250-gram drone with 22 gigabytes of internal storage and a price tag around $330. The higher-end Lito X1 is rumored to have 42 gigabytes of storage and cost around $759. Both drones are expected to feature multi-band connectivity across 2.4, 5.2, and 5.8 gigahertz, along with Wi-Fi 6. Flight times are rumored to be around 30 minutes on the standard battery, pushing up to 50 minutes with a heavier plus battery that will put you over that 250-gram limit. The Lito X1's FCC filing also mentions an "SDR Transmission 2 Transceiver," which has people speculating about O5-class transmission performance. Alright, that’s it for this week, no Post Flight or Live, but if you’re in the Lakeland Florida area, be sure to stop by Sun N Fun to meet the team on Saturday or Sunday! `https://dronexl.co/2026/04/11/faa-clears-military-use-anti-drone-lasers/https://dronexl.co/2026/04/11/pentagon-dod-classified-intelligence-dji-fcc-covered-list-opposition/https://dronexl.co/2026/04/14/dji-teases-lito-drone-launch-for-april-23/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update, we have three stories for you: the ACLU releases a major report on drone surveillance and airspace restrictions, the House unanimously passes the ACERO Act for wildfire drone operations, and a questionable South Carolina bill . Let's get to it.First up this week, the American Civil Liberties Union has published a major report arguing that U.S. drone policy is locking ordinary people out of the skies. The report is titled "Drones For Them But Not For Us?" and it claims the current rules give government agencies and corporations unchecked access to the skies while restricting citizens and journalists. The paper cites several concerning examples, including reports of the NYPD flying Skydio X10 drones directly over protest crowds without parachute recovery systems, massive airspace lockdowns, like a 935-square-mile temporary flight restriction over Chicago during federal operations, and invisible 3,000-foot no-fly zones that follow Department of Homeland Security vehicles. The report calls out trends where hobbyists and commercial pilots face more restrictions, while government agencies get a free pass. It also touches on the foreign drone ban, warning that it could price consumer drones out of reach. Much of this is not new to this audience, as we’ve been reporting on it for the last several years. It’s interesting now that those outside of the UAS industry are beginning to take notice. We’ll keep an eye on this and see if it goes anywhere. Next up, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the ACERO Act, sending the bipartisan wildfire drone bill to the Senate. This legislation directs NASA to expand its Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project. The goal is to tackle airspace coordination during active wildfires. Right now, when a fire is burning, helicopters, fixed-wing tankers, and drones all share the same airspace. The bill requires NASA to build a shared framework using their Portable Airspace Management System, which shares aircraft locations across a fire zone in real time. Think of this system as basically portable unmanned and manned traffic management, which can be deployed in remote locations. Using drones to keep firefighters safe and track wildfires is exactly the kind of innovation our industry needs, and we’re glad to see Congress supporting it.Finally, South Carolina lawmakers are considering a new bill that would impose restrictions on drone pilots. The bill, H4679, proposes to ban UAS operations within 1,000 feet of any “Critical Infrastructure”, over or within 1500 feet of any state or county correctional facility without authorization from the facility or SC Department of Corrections, over or within 1500 feet of any military installation, and over private property “in a matter that invades privacy, harasses occupants, creates a nuisance, or presents an obvious safety hazard”. In addition, the bill would make it unlawful to operate within 5 miles of an airport without FAA authorization. As many of us know, authorization is based on airspace, not distance to an airport. If you’re in South Carolina, it’s time to start reaching out to your representatives. This bill is sponsored by C. Mitchell, B.L. Cox, M.M. Smith, Wooten, Chapman, W. Newton, Herbkersman, Wickensimer, Guest and McCravy. That’s it for this week, We’ll see you in the community for Post Flight, where we share our opinions, and next Monday for the live! https://dronexl.co/2026/03/27/aclu-drone-policy-government-surveillance/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/27/house-acero-act-drone-wildfire-bill/https://www.wrdw.com/2026/03/30/sc-drone-bill-would-create-state-penalties-illegal-flights/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: the FAA escalates enforcement on the controversial DHS TFR, that same TFR gets its first federal court challenge, and the Forest Service updates their filming rules. Let's get to it.First up this week, the FAA has given some serious teeth to a very controversial NOTAM. Back in January, the FAA issued NOTAM FDC 6/4375. This bans all drones within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet vertically of any Department of Homeland Security, DOD, or DOE mobile asset, including unmarked ICE vehicles. The problem is that you cannot see this restriction on B4UFLY or LAANC, making it completely invisible to pilots. The FAA has also issued Order 2150.3C Change 13, which eliminates investigator discretion for airspace violations. If you get caught in this invisible zone, investigators must refer your case directly to the Chief Counsel for legal action. I’ll say that again, if caught in one of these TFRs, the FAA’s Aviation Safety Inspector MUST refer your case for legal action. There are no more warning letters, meaning you could face criminal charges, civil penalties, or even the seizure of your aircraft.On the same topic, the DHS TFR just got its first federal court challenge. Minneapolis-based photojournalist Rob Levine, represented by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, has filed a petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals directly challenging NOTAM FDC 6/4375. Levine argues that the rule is unconstitutionally vague because you have no way of knowing in advance if you are flying near an unmarked federal car. This restriction makes compliance structurally impossible for pilots who are trying to do the right thing. Levine is also arguing that the FAA failed to follow required notice-and-comment rule-making. Reportedly, a revised NOTAM has already been drafted by the FAA, but another agency, widely believed to be DHS, is blocking its release. We will be watching this developing legal case very closely. It is obviously pretty important to have rules that we can actually follow.Finally, The US Forest Service is officially updating its special uses regulations to align with the new EXPLORE Act. In the past, you often needed a special use permit and had to pay fees for commercial filming, no matter how small your crew was. The new rule creates three simple tiers for filming and still photography on National Forest System lands. First, if your activity involves one to five people, no permit or fee is required at all! Second, if you have six to eight people, you’ll need a de minimis use authorization, which is free, and the Forest Service is setting up a website for automated approvals. Finally, if you have more than eight people, you will need a standard permit and will have to pay a reasonable fee. This applies to all content creation, whether it is commercial or noncommercial. Join us on Monday for Post flight, where we’ll share our opinions on these stories and we’ll see you for the live! Have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2026/03/17/faa-dhs-drone-ban-rob-levine-lawsuit/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/12/faa-ice-notam-fdc-6-4375-compliance-problem/https://dronedj.com/2026/03/17/faa-drone-tracking-api-illegal/https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-05457.pdf

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have five stories for you this week. First, Oregon exposes the real cost of the DJI ban. Second, the FAA reveals DJI makes up 96% of US drones. Third, the Commerce Department updates drone export rules. Fourth, Indiana prosecutes illegal drone deer scouting. And finally, a drone assists in a 900-foot tower rescue. Let's get to it.First up, the Oregon Department of Aviation has released a white paper exposing the real-world cost of the federal DJI ban. They surveyed 25 state transportation departments, and the numbers are staggering. Across those states, at least 467 drones are currently grounded or restricted. The total national exposure is estimated to be anywhere from $50 million to $2 billion! Wisconsin reported that 100% of its fleet is grounded. Colorado lost 90% of its capacity, and Oregon itself has exactly ONE compliant drone still operational out of 22. The white paper is recommending a waiver until September 2027 to give our drone industry time to catch up.New FAA-funded research puts a hard number on DJI's market dominance. The ASSURE A83 2025 Annual Report analyzed Remote ID telemetry data from 64 monitoring locations. DJI platforms make up more than 96% of detected drones in US airspace. Skydio accounted for just over 1%, and all other manufacturers combined made up less than 2.4%. Looking at the specific models, the DJI Mini 4 Pro alone accounts for 19% of all detected platforms. The Air 3 sits at 13%, and the Mavic 3 Pro holds 8%. More than 93.7% of the top 22 detected platforms weigh 3 pounds or less. Heavy-lift models like the Matrice 400, Agras T50, and FlyCart 30 remain a tiny fraction of overall flights. The US Commerce Department is streamlining drone export controls. The Bureau of Industry and Security published an interim final rule that makes two big changes. It removes the license requirement for commercial drones with a maximum endurance under one hour when exported to allied nations. Second, it opens a faster pathway for certain longer-range systems, like heavy-lift 25-liter agricultural sprayers and cargo delivery drones. Previously, these drones were caught up in the Missile Technology Control Regime, which was designed to restrict systems capable of carrying a 500-kilogram payload at least 300 kilometers. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is bringing its first-ever prosecution for illegal drone deer scouting. Under Indiana law, you can legally use a drone to recover an animal that has already been harvested, but using it to scout or locate game during the season or 14 days prior is strictly illegal. Conservation officers seized a drone and pulled the forensic data. The GPS logs, timestamps, flight paths, and other data reportedly showed hundreds of images systematically tracking a specific trophy buck to a baited area. The suspects are allegedly facing charges for drone scouting.In Texas, two people were trapped in a hot air balloon basket that collided and became snagged on a communications tower 925 feet in the air. Longview Fire and first responders had to execute a highly complex high-angle rescue, assisted by drone. The passengers were safely rescued after a four-hour operation, but the crew still had to remove the tangled balloon using a cage and cable system. That’s all we’ve got this week, we’ll see you in the community for Post Flight where we share our opinions that aren’t suitable for YouTube. Have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2026/03/03/oregon-exposes-real-cost-dji-ban/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/02/indiana-drone-deer-scouting-prosecution/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/02/925-feet-down-one-drone-call/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/01/us-commerce-department-drone-export-controls/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/03/faa-research-dji-us-drone-platforms/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: the FAA abruptly shut down all airspace around El Paso, Texas, DJI's former Vice President of Sales has been detained in China on bribery charges, a new bill could give Kansas City police the authority to take down drones during the 2026 World Cup, and a drone pilot is facing federal charges after flying over a highly sensitive military site and posting the video on YouTube. Let's get to it.First up, a major story out of Texas where a reported dispute between the FAA and the Pentagon led to the complete shutdown of airspace around El Paso International Airport. The FAA issued a NOTAM classifying the airspace within a 10-nautical-mile radius of the airport as "National Defense Airspace." The order was effective for 10 days and even authorized the use of deadly force. This grounded everything: commercial flights, cargo, and even air ambulance operations. According to reports from CNN and CBS News, this drastic measure was a result of the Pentagon's plan to test a high-energy counter-drone laser at nearby Fort Bliss. The problem was, they hadn't received the final safety sign-off from the FAA. The Pentagon reportedly wanted to use the laser to target cartel drones crossing the border, but the two agencies had a meeting scheduled for a week later to finalize safety protocols. It seems the Pentagon wanted to move faster, and the FAA responded by shutting everything down.Next up, some big news from inside DJI. The company's former Vice President of Sales has been criminally detained in China on suspicion of accepting bribes. The executive, identified only by his surname Yuan, was in charge of DJI's global sales operations from May 2019 through May 2024. According to reports, he is suspected of accepting "huge" amounts of money through illicit deals involving "channel partnerships and order allocations." This is a sell-side problem, meaning it's about corruption in how DJI's drones were sold and distributed, not how they were built. In our third story, Kansas City police could soon have the authority to take down drones during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A new bill has been introduced called the Counter Drone State and Local Defender Act. It would temporarily grant state and local law enforcement the power to intercept and disable drones that pose a threat. Currently, only federal agencies have the legal authority to use counter-drone systems to jam, seize, or shoot down a drone. This bill would create a pathway for local agencies to get that power and this legislation could become a model for how security is handled at future large-scale events like the Super Bowl. And finally this week, a story that serves as a perfect example of what not to do. A drone pilot in Maryland is facing federal charges after allegedly flying his drone over the Raven Rock Mountain Complex and then posting the footage to his YouTube channel. If you're not familiar with Raven Rock, it's often called the "second Pentagon." The airspace above it is classified as restricted national defense airspace. According to the court affidavit, a military official saw the video on YouTube and reported it to the FBI. Investigators then traced the video back to the pilot, searched his home, and seized the drone. He's now been charged with a knowing or willful violation of national defense airspace, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison. That’s it for this week, We’ll see you in the premium community for Post Flight, our show where we talk about these stories and share opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube and on Monday for the live Q&A! https://dronexl.co/2026/02/17/drone-second-pentagon/https://dronexl.co/2026/02/16/dji-former-sales-vp-bribery-charges/https://dronexl.co/2026/02/17/kansas-city-police-drones-world-cup/https://dronexl.co/2026/02/11/faa-el-paso-airspace-pentagon-laser-test/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: FAA NOTAM creates invisible no-fly zones, the FAA has reopened the comment period for BVLOS rulemaking, SkyeBrowse launches a new AI feature to improve 3D models for crash scenes, a DJI drone helps save a 96-year-old woman from a fire in Texas. Let's get to it.First up this week, the FAA has issued a security notice creating new "invisible" no-fly zones that could affect pilots nationwide, especially in urban areas. The notice, NOTAM FDC 6/4375, was issued on January 16th. It prohibits drones from flying within 3,000 feet laterally and 1,000 feet above stationary and mobile assets from the Departments of Defense, Energy, and Homeland Security. The FAA is classifying this as "National Defense Airspace." The big problem here is that there's no practical way for us pilots to know where these moving restricted areas are. Unlike a TFR for a stadium, these assets aren't going to show up on B4UFLY or other mapping apps, because that would be a major operational security issue for federal agents.Next up, another important update from the FAA. They are reopening the comment period for the Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, rulemaking. But you have to act fast. The comment period is only open for two weeks, from January 28th to February 11th, 2026. The FAA is specifically looking for feedback on electronic conspicuity. The original proposal from last year suggested giving drones presumptive right-of-way over manned aircraft, unless the manned aircraft was broadcasting its position with something like ADS-B Out. As you can imagine, that got a lot of pushback from the general aviation community.Now, the FAA is asking seven specific questions to get more data before finalizing the rule. They want to know what alternate electronic conspicuity devices exist, how quickly they could get to market, and if their performance standards should match ADS-B. This is a critical moment for our drone industry. The outcome of this will determine who bears the cost of airspace safety—drone operators or manned aircraft pilots.Next up this week, some cool new tech for our first responders. SkyeBrowse, the 3D modeling platform, just released a major update that uses AI to solve one of the biggest headaches for public safety drone pilots: inconsistent model quality. The new feature is called "SkyeBrowse Thinking." It automatically analyzes a 3D model as it's being processed. If the AI detects that the model doesn't meet quality standards, it automatically re-processes it with optimized settings, all without the user having to do anything. In addition to this, Skyebrowse is also reporting 40% faster website performance, 2x faster internal tooling, and the ability to upload 10 videos at once. And finally this week, a real-world drones-for-good story! A DJI Matrice 30T drone is being credited with helping save the life of a 96-year-old woman during an apartment fire in Euless, Texas. Fire crews were called to the scene around 1 a.m., but before the first engine even arrived, a drone was automatically launched from a nearby fire station as part of the city's DFR program. The M30T's thermal and zoom cameras immediately gave the incident commander a clear view, showing heavy fire already breaking through the roof.Based on that live aerial feed, the fire chief was able to call for a second alarm and request mutual aid from other cities right away. This was critical because when firefighters got on scene, a bystander told them a woman was trapped inside. Because the chief already knew that backup was on the way, the initial crews were able to focus entirely on the rescue. They entered through a window and pulled the woman to safety. Join us in the community for Post flight, our show where we’ll recap these stories, share opinions that aren’t suitable for YouTube, and discuss some drone parts suppliers that are shutting down.

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week, Updates to the Foreign Drone Ban, the Department of Homeland Security is creating a new permanent counter-drone office, and the Super Bowl LX no-fly zone. Let's get to it.First up, according to a report from Reuters, the U.S. Commerce Department has withdrawn its plan to impose sweeping restrictions on Chinese-made drones. This was the result of the ANPRM we discussed last year, and it was targeting the entire supply chain. Including things like flight controllers, operating software, and data storage. Reports say it’s a diplomatic move, as the White House is reportedly freezing some actions against China ahead of a planned meeting between the President and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April. It’s also possible the rule is no longer necessary, as the goal has been achieved through the FCC’s actions. Speaking of, the FCC has clarified its own rule. The agency partially reversed its sweeping ban on ALL foreign drones, but with some major catches. The new rule exempts drones on the Pentagon's "Blue List"—so aircraft from companies like Parrot, Skydio, and Wingtra are now fine. It also exempts U.S.-manufactured drones, as long as domestic parts account for 65 percent of the cost—but that exemption only lasts until 2027. The most important part for our community is that the ban STILL covers DJI and others. And again, this does NOT ground your existing drone, it means no new DJI models can get the required FCC authorization to be sold in the U.S.Next up, the Department of Homeland Security is getting very serious about counter-drone operations. The DHS announced it's creating a new permanent office called the "Program Executive Office for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter-UAS." This is being launched with an initial $115 million investment to beef up security for the America250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But that's just a small piece of the puzzle. This funding is on top of a $500 million counter-drone program announced last October and a potential $1.5 billion contract for Customs and Border Protection to acquire new counter-drone tech.DHS revealed it has already conducted over 1,500 missions to protect the U.S. from "illicit drone activities" since 2018. That works out to more than four counter-drone operations every single week, happening mostly under the radar. This new office will formalize and expand that capability. It will also serve as the coordination hub for local police departments, which were recently given authority to disable drones under the SAFER SKIES Act. So, what does this mean for you? The World Cup is basically the justification for building a permanent, nationwide counter-drone infrastructure. The equipment and training your local police get for the World Cup won't just disappear after the games. And finally this week, a very important public service announcement if you're going to be anywhere near Northern California for the Super Bowl. The FAA has released its advisory for Super Bowl LX, which is happening on February 8, 2026, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, and they are not messing around. In the days leading up to the game, from February 3rd through the 7th, there will be a TFR within a one-nautical-mile radius of downtown San Francisco, up to 1,000 feet AGL. On Game day, Feb. 8th, the TFR expands to 2 miles at 11:00 AM, and then to 30 miles at 2:30 PM. If you haven’t seen it already, the results of our survey on how the industry will be affected by the FCC ruling is out. So go check out that video and we’ll see you on Post flight, the show where we share our opinions that aren’t suitable for YouTube. Have a good weekend. https://dronexl.co/2026/01/13/dhs-permanent-counter-drone-office/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/10/commerce-department-drops-drone-restrictions/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/08/super-bowl-faa-drones/https://www.flyingmag.com/fcc-eases-foreign-drone-ban-dji/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: a DJI drone finds a missing man in Kentucky after 29 hours, the XPrize competition that's using drones to autonomously fight wildfires, a new unofficial world record for the longest endurance multi rotor drone, and the FAA changes process to submit waivers. Let's get to it!First up this week, a drones-for-good story out of Kentucky. On December 20th in LaGrange, a local man went missing after failing to return from his routine afternoon walk. As temperatures dropped and daylight faded, the Oldham County search and rescue team was called in. The search area included not just neighborhoods but also large, dense forests that were completely unreachable on foot or even by ATV.The county’s aerial response team deployed a mobile command post and launched several drones, including a DJI Matrice 4T. After hours of searching, the assistant chief pilot, Justin Hilliard, spotted a faint heat signature on his thermal feed. He said it didn't look like a person at first, more like a plastic garbage bag filled with water. But something told him to check it out. A team member was sent to the location on foot, and moments later, they confirmed it was the missing man. He was alive after 29 hours in the bitter cold but was unable to walk. Thanks to the drone, this was a rescue. Next up, we're looking at how drones are being used to fight wildfires before they even get started. The XPrize Wildfire competition is pushing the boundaries of autonomous technology with a massive challenge: to find and extinguish a wildfire inside a 1,000-square-kilometer area, all in under ten minutes. One team, called Crossfire, is using a two-drone system. The "eyes" of the operation is an off-the-shelf DJI drone equipped with thermal and optical cameras. Its video feed runs through a deep learning model trained on thousands of fire images, allowing it to spot a real fire and ignore false positives. Once a fire is confirmed, the "action" drone is deployed. This is a Freefly Alta X, a heavy-lift platform normally used for cinema cameras. It's tasked with carrying a water-filled balloon and dropping it with incredible precision just meters above the flames to extinguish the fire at its source.While a drone can't carry as much water as a helicopter, the precision is the key. Traditional aircraft drop water from high altitudes, where a lot of it gets scattered by the wind. This method puts the water exactly where it needs to be, wasting less and stopping a small fire faster. Of course, regulations around autonomous flight and payload drops are still a major hurdle. But this competition is important because it funds the research and lets engineers break things so that firefighters don't have to. I want to pause for just a minute to discuss an upcoming webinar we’ll be hosting. This webinar is all about how to land clients in 7 days. It’ll run for one hour, and you will need to preregister if you want to attend. Check out the link below and we hope to see you there! Next story comes from our friend Alex Suarez. He’s created a multi rotor drone that flies for 4 hours. Yes, you heard that right, a 4 hour flight time. And this isn’t a small aircraft either, it’s a large hexacopter spinning some huge propellers. Currently, we’re not sure what flight controller, batteries, or props were used, but this is an extremely impressive achievement, especially when you consider that this was 4 hours of hover time, not forward flight time. Alex is in the process of attempting a Guinness world record, and we’ll keep you updated when we hear more! For now, awesome job Alex! We’ll see you on Post Flight, our Premium community show where we share our uncensored opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube! Have a great weekend!https://dronexl.co/2025/12/26/drones-wildfires-explode/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/26/drone-missing-man-29-hours-cold/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, the 2026 NDAA is set to give local police new counter-drone authority, SkyeBrowse releases its biggest update of the year with, a drones-for-good story out of Washington where a drone delivered a life jacket to a man trapped by a flood, and a man pleads guilty after flying his drone over the MLB All-Star game. Let's get to it.First up, the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, has passed the House and is now headed to the Senate. Tucked inside this 3,000-page bill is the SAFER SKIES Act, which for the first time creates a federal framework allowing state, local, and tribal police to detect, track, and even take down drones. Previously, this authority was limited to federal agencies like the DHS and DOD. Now, local officers who complete federal training will be able to use approved counter-UAS systems to mitigate drones that pose a "credible threat" to places like stadiums and critical infrastructure. The push for this was reportedly driven by the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and the fact that the NFL has documented over 2,000 drone incursions per season for the last three years. The bill also introduces new felony penalties, with up to five years in prison for serious violations involving national defense airspace. And note, this is NOT yet law. This is only the House’s version of the NDAA. We haven’t seen the Senate version just yet, so this provision may or may not remain in the final law. We’ll keep you updated as we see more. Next up, SkyeBrowse has just announced its biggest software update of the year. They've released two new processing modes: SkyeBrowse Rapid and SkyeBrowse Ultra. SkyeBrowse Rapid is designed for speed, especially for first responders in remote areas with bad reception. They claim it's 5 times faster in good reception and up to 20 times faster in bad reception. In one example, they took a 7-minute, 1.5-gigabyte video and processed it into a full 3D model in under two minutes. For those who need maximum detail, there's SkyeBrowse Ultra, which provides 4 times higher quality for photorealistic, lifelike 3D models. This feature will be available for their Premium Advanced customers. On top of that, they've also given their Freemium users a boost. Free users now have access to tools like annotations, drawing, clipping, and distance measurements, which were previously paid features. Our third story is in King County, Washington, where heavy rains caused the Snoqualmie River to flood rapidly, trapping a man on the roof of his vehicle. With the current too strong for responders to enter the water, a sheriff's deputy had a great idea. Instead of waiting for a helicopter, the deputy launched a drone, attached a life jacket to it, and flew it directly to the stranded man. Last up, a story of what NOT to do. A 47-year-old man from Georgia, Mitchell Parsons Hughes, has pleaded guilty to allegedly flying his drone over the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park. According to prosecutors, he flew directly into the one-mile TFR that was active for the event. To make matters worse, he was flying an unregistered drone and had no Part 107 or TRUST. Security officials from the FBI, DOT, and FAA spotted the drone immediately and tracked him down. On December 5th, he pleaded guilty to knowingly violating national defense airspace. He was sentenced to six months of probation and a five-hundred-dollar fine. Join us later for happy hour in the community. We also have the live Q&A on Monday, and the Post-Flight show in the premium community, also on Monday. We'll see you then.https://dronexl.co/2025/12/14/drone-lifesaving-man-flood/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/12/man-flying-drone-mlb-all-star-game/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/15/ndaa-2026-local-police-take-down-your-drone/https://newsletter.skyebrowse.com/w/WmcZTrQzhMvDEnx1AEhqHQ/DBnBhE3BieCe02QZtYhivQ/X763PNWUdpoIM2dDLjPmFFUA

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. DJI is ending support for some of its Matrice drones and payloads, an DJI Matrice 30 helps rescue a missing elderly man in Oklahoma, a suspect in Missouri reportedly fired shots at a police drone during a chase, and we'll look at a new super fast FPV drone! Let's get to it.First up, DJI has announced that on January 30, 2026, it will officially end all support for six of its legacy enterprise products. This is part of the company's routine product lifecycle management, but it's a big deal for anyone still relying on these platforms. After that date, there will be no more technical support, no official repairs, and no more firmware or compatibility troubleshooting. The products being retired are the Matrice M200 V2, the M210 V2, and the M210 RTK V2. These were and still are the workhorses for many inspection, public safety, and surveying teams. Also on the list are the Zenmuse XT and XT2 thermal cameras, and the Lightbridge 2 transmission system is also being retired. DJI is recommending that users upgrade to newer models to take advantage of improved tech and support.Next up, we have a real-world drones-for-good story! A DJI drone was instrumental in rescuing a 90-year-old man who had been lost for nearly 12 hours in freezing temperatures in Atoka County, Oklahoma. After a massive search involving ground crews and even the National Guard, the Wagoner County Emergency Management team was called in with their drone. Volunteer pilot Eric Lane launched a DJI Matrice 30, and within just fifteen minutes, he spotted a clear heat signature in the woods using the drone's thermal camera.And in our third story this week, an incident in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, highlights both the value and the growing risks of using drones in law enforcement. According to KCTV, police were responding to reports of a man trying to get into locked cars. In an effort to find the person, they launched a surveillance drone, another DJI M30T. The drone quickly located a man walking through a driveway and testing car door handles.When the suspect realized he was being watched from above, he allegedly pulled out a firearm and fired two shots at the drone. Thankfully, the drone was not hit and continued its mission. The drone's live feed allowed officers on the ground to track the suspect as he ran through backyards, eventually leading to his arrest. A K9 unit later recovered a stolen 9mm pistol that the suspect had reportedly dropped. Finally, the FPV speed record has been broken yet again, and this time by a significant margin. The team at Drone Pro Hub has built and flown a custom FPV drone to a verified top speed of 374 miles per hour, or 603.47 kilometers per hour. To put that in perspective, that's nearly half the speed of sound, or Mach 0.49. This new record smashes the one set just a few weeks ago by Luke Maximo Bell's Peregreen 3, which had reached 585 kilometers per hour.The real breakthrough came after analyzing flight data, which revealed that the drone's body was creating too much aerodynamic drag. By redesigning the shape, slimming the nose, and smoothing the body, they managed to cut drag by about 18 percent. That's when they started hitting speeds over 540 kilometers per hour. While a 374-mph drone might not have many practical uses for most of us, the lessons learned about aerodynamics, vibration, and power systems at these speeds could absolutely lead to more stable and efficient drones for everyone. It's a fantastic story of engineering and perseverance.We’ll see you on Post Flight, our Premium community show where we share our uncensored opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube! Have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2025/11/30/fpv-drone-603-km-h-speed-record/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/02/suspect-shoots-police-drone-lee-summit-chase/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/02/dji-drone-help-find-missing-elderly-man-cold/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: A UK police drone crash injures a child, a drone helps rescue a missing 85-year-old man in Wisconsin, and a viral drone show proposal lights up the Dallas skyline. Let's get to it.First up, a serious incident out of the United Kingdom, where a police drone crashed and injured a child. According to multiple sources, on August 2nd, police in Kent were responding to an alleged assault in Sheerness. An officer deployed a DJI Matrice 30T, but during the flight, the drone reportedly struck an overhead power line. It then fell and struck a child, causing severe hand injuries that required them to be taken to a hospital for treatment. The confirmation of the crash and injury didn’t occur until a freedom of information request was submitted. There currently aren’t any updates on the status of the child struck by the drone, and while we don’t normally cover stories out of the United States, we wanted to cover this one to remind everyone that safety must come first in any operation. Next up, a drones-for-good story! In Juneau County, Wisconsin, deputies used a drone to find a missing 85-year-old man. The sheriff's office received a call shortly after 5 p.m. about a man who had wandered into a dense wooded area and was possibly injured. Multiple agencies, including the fire department and the Department of Natural Resources, joined the search. As daylight started to fade and temperatures dropped, the situation became more urgent.Shortly before 7 p.m., deputies launched a drone over the search area. Using its camera, the drone team spotted the man stuck in thick mud and unable to free himself. Ground crews could have spent hours searching that difficult terrain on foot, but the drone provided an immediate bird's-eye view. Rescuers were able to reach him quickly and bring him to safety. He was taken to a medical center for evaluation but is expected to be fine. While the report didn't specify the exact drone model, it's likely it was equipped with a thermal camera, which is a game-changer in search and rescue. And finally this week, a story that went viral and shows a much more creative use for drones. A man in Dallas used a massive drone light show to propose to his girlfriend. Cybersecurity engineer Travon Duncan planned the elaborate proposal for his girlfriend, Erica McDowell, who is a content creator. The video, which you’ve probably seen on social media, shows hundreds of drones lighting up the Dallas skyline. They spelled out "Will you marry me?" and created animations of hearts, a ring box, and an infinity symbol.To pull this off, Duncan said he had to get a permit to block off nearby streets, which is a great reminder for all of us that you can't just fly over moving cars, even for a grand romantic gesture. He said the proposal was a "major investment," and I can only imagine! It’s not every day you see someone take over the airspace of a major city for a proposal. The couple’s friends and family were on a rooftop to watch the whole thing unfold. It’s a pretty amazing use of drone show technology, and I have to say, he really raised the bar for proposals everywhere!Be sure to check out our Black Friday deals and we’ll see you on Post Flight, our Premium community show where we share our uncensored opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube! Have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2025/11/19/police-crashed-dji-drone-into-child/https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2025/11/19/a-dallas-drone-proposalhttps://dronexl.co/2025/11/19/drone-wisconsin-deputies-missing-85-old-man/