Episodes

3d ago

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

Dec 12

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week, DJI gets FCC approval for a new Avata 360, NASA is testing new drone navigation software in Death Valley for future Mars missions, and Texas clarifies that using drones for fishing is illegal under federal law. Let's get to it. DJI just managed to get another product through the FCC certification process, the rumored Avata 360. The FCC filing shows two model numbers, which usually hints at different bundles or battery options. This approval comes right as the clock is ticking on a potential US ban, so DJI is clearly pushing to get this out the door. It also comes on the heels of the AntiGravity A1 launch this week, meaning the A1 is now available for purchase! Early leaks point to some really impressive specs for the Avata360. We’re talking dual 1/1.1-inch sensors, native 8K 360-degree video at 50 frames per second. It also looks like it will do super-smooth 4K FPV video at 120 frames per second. The filing also mentions a 38.67 watt-hour battery, which may give it a longer flight time than the Avata 2. It will also likely feature O4 transmission and improved obstacle sensing.Next, a really cool story from NASA. The agency has been testing drones in Death Valley to prepare for future flights on Mars. If you remember, the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars was a huge success, but it ran into problems when flying over smooth, featureless terrain like sand dunes. Its navigation system relied on tracking visual features on the ground, and when there were none, it got confused. So, to solve this for future missions, a team from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory went to the hottest, driest place on Earth to test new navigation software.The project is called Extended Robust Aerial Autonomy, and the goal is to create drones that can fly farther and adapt to unpredictable terrain without a human in the loop. The team brought three research drones to Death Valley and flew them in temperatures over 113 degrees Fahrenheit, or 45 degrees Celsius. They tested how different camera filters helped the drones track the ground and how new landing algorithms performed in cluttered areas. This research is so important that the National Park Service granted them only the third research drone permit ever issued for Death Valley. The team is also working on other cool projects, like a robot dog called LASSIE M that can "feel" the ground to adjust its walk, and a huge, winged aircraft called the Mars Electric Reusable Flyer.Last up, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has issued guidance clarifying that using a drone for fishing is illegal. Now, this isn't a new Texas law. Instead, they are clarifying how a long-standing federal law, the Airborne Hunting Act, applies to drones. The law is officially known as Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, section 19.11, and it prohibits using an aircraft to take or attempt to take wildlife.How does this apply to drone fishing? Well, the federal regulations define "aircraft" as any device used for flight in the air, which definitely includes our drones. The definition of "wildlife" includes fish, and the term "take" means to pursue, hunt, capture, or even *attempt* to do so. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, using a drone to carry and drop your bait counts as "aiding in the act of fishing," which is prohibited under the Act. This has been a popular technique for surf and bank fishermen to get their lines out past the breakers, but it's officially off-limits. That’s all for this week, and be sure to check out Post Flight, our Premium community show where we share our uncensored opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube.https://dronedj.com/2025/11/28/dji-avata-360-drone-fcc/https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20251208ahttps://dronexl.co/2025/12/08/nasa-drones-death-valley-mars-flights/

Dec 5

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/

Nov 28

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: some GOP senators are pushing back against a potential DJI ban, UAS Nexus is launching a marketplace to solve the Blue UAS component shortage, Inspired Flight and Ascend Engineering are expanding their partnership to boost software for American-made drones, and an M30T Shoot down in Ohio. Let's get to it. First up, the push to ban DJI in the U.S. is facing some unexpected resistance from within the Republican party. According to a report from Politico, a provision to restrict DJI, which was included in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act, was left out of the Senate's version. Senators from agricultural and energy states are raising major concerns. Senator John Boozman of Arkansas pointed out, “They are the primary drone maker in the United States at a reasonable price. This technology is being used more and more… That’s the crux of the problem.”This all comes as a critical deadline approaches on December 23rd. Under last year's NDAA, a federal security agency is supposed to determine if DJI poses a national security risk. If no agency conducts that audit by the deadline, DJI automatically gets added to the FCC’s Covered List, which would ban new products from entering the U.S. market. The problem is, no agency has stepped up to actually do the audit. Next up, a Salt Lake City engineering firm called UAS Nexus is launching a new venture to tackle a huge problem: the Blue UAS supply chain. The company just launched the Drone Syndicate Store, which is a curated marketplace for NDAA and Blue UAS-compliant components. This is a big deal because while everyone talks about building American drones, finding all the individual, compliant parts, from motors to radios, is a massive headache for manufacturers. Next, Inspired Flight Technologies, or IFT, is expanding its partnership with a software firm called Ascend Engineering. IFT is a U.S. manufacturer of NDAA-compliant and Blue UAS-listed drones, and this partnership is all about beefing up their software capabilities. Ascend Engineering specializes in UAV software, and they’ve been working with IFT for two years on their Inspired Ground Control, or IGC, platform. IGC is the central hub for mission planning, in-flight management, and payload integration.Together, they’ve already pushed out several updates to the IGC software, improved the NTRIP framework for better connectivity, and added advanced payload features. According to IFT, this partnership accelerates their "software-enabled hardware strategy." This is so important because a drone is more than just its hardware. The software that runs it has to be secure, intuitive, and powerful. By focusing on building out their own software suite with a dedicated partner, IFT is working to create a complete, mission-ready system that is fully made in America. Last up, an M30T was shot down this week in Ohio. While flying, he experienced what he thought was a fly away, and called the police to notify them that the drone was flying away. Shortly after, the police returned his call to say someone reported finding a drone. The pilot met up with the reporting party, who said “I shot it down”. 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! https://dronexl.co/2025/11/26/gop-senators-break-with-dji-hawks-december-ban/https://www.inspiredflight.com/news/ift-partnership-ascend-engineering.phphttps://dronexl.co/2025/11/20/uas-nexus-drone-syndicate-solve-blue-uas-supply-chaos/#google_vignettehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/commercialdronepilot/permalink/1751858248823888/

Nov 21

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/

Nov 14

Watch Post Flight on the Community 👉 https://bit.ly/pilot-institute-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: DJI Releases and Rumors. The Syracuse Police drone program is stalled yet again, and a new spray drone made by an American company!

Nov 7

Watch Post Flight on Community 👉 https://bit.ly/pilot-institute-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: DJI launches the new Zenmuse L3 LiDAR, a Utah drone maker gets an early win in a trade secrets lawsuit, Autel Releases new products, and an experimental drone crash sparks a wildfire in Colorado. Let's get to it. DJI has launched the Zenmuse L3. The L3 boasts a detection range of up to 950 meters, or over 3,100 feet; more than double the 450-meter range of the previous L2 payload. It achieves this with a new 1535nm wavelength LiDAR, and it does it even on objects with just 10% reflectivity. The system also features dual 100-megapixel 4/3 CMOS RGB sensors—a five-fold increase over the L2’s 20-megapixel sensor. And with a 3cm ground sampling distance at 300 meters, that’s 984 feet, you’ll get ultra detailed maps and models.DJI is claiming a vertical accuracy of 3 centimeters at 120 meters of flight altitude and 10 centimeters at 500 meters. The laser beam divergence is just 0.25 milliradians, making the spot size about one-fifth that of the L2, which is perfect for detecting small objects like power lines. It also supports up to 16 returns per laser pulse, a huge jump from the L2's five returns, which will dramatically improve terrain mapping in dense forests. This whole system weighs 1.6 kilograms, or 3.5 pounds, and is compatible with the Matrice 300, 350, and the new 400. A federal judge in Utah has handed an early victory to Vector Defense, a drone company co-founded by George Matus, the former Chief Technology Officer of Red Cat, which owns Teal Drones, filed a lawsuit against Matus and Vector Defense, claiming he stole trade secrets and sabotaged their business before leaving to start his own company. Red Cat was seeking a temporary restraining order to stop Vector from manufacturing drones or competing in the industry for the next year.However, the judge denied the request, stating that Red Cat "failed to provide evidence" to support its claims and that its assertions were merely "speculative." Matus founded Teal Drones while still in high school, sold it to Red Cat in 2021, and then left in 2024 to co-found Vector Defense. Red Cat alleged that Matus used his position to give his new company an unfair head start. Matus countered that Vector's drones, like their single-use FPV "Hammer" drone, don't even compete with Red Cat's products.Autel robotics has quietly released several new products. The Autel Explorer, a small drone/RC car hybrid designed for GPS denied environments indoors, The Evo III with a mechanical shutter, the Evo Pioneer 150 which is a ground robot with a 200kg payload, the Evo Nest 2, a docking solution for the Eco III, and the Skyfend Interceptor. These announcements come with very limited details. None of these products are currently on Autel’s site.An experimental, remotely piloted aircraft with a 6-foot wingspan crashed in a rural area near Calhan, Colorado, sparking an 83-acre wildfire. According to the Tri-County Volunteer Fire Department, the crash itself started the fire. But it was the drone's lithium batteries that "significantly intensified the blaze," making it much harder to fight.https://www.courthousenews.com/utah-drone-maker-takes-early-win-in-former-employers-trade-secrets-theft-claims/https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jscap_uas-integrating-infrastructure-ugcPost-7390344113906143232-gpaE?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAAAJSd6cBnGyJ-pAI0UP04C1xL-w9OM69WQI&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_linkhttps://dronexl.co/2025/11/04/dji-zenmuse-l3-lidar-doubles-detection-range/https://dronexl.co/2025/11/01/remotely-piloted-aircraft-crash-colorado-wildfire/

Oct 31

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/

Oct 24

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/

Oct 17

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/

Oct 10

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/

Oct 3

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/

Sep 26

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/

Sep 19

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.

Sep 12

https://hub.pilotinstitute.com/pilot-institute-mug Welcome 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

Sep 5

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/

Aug 29

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/

Aug 22

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/

Aug 15

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

Aug 8

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 Pro The 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/

Aug 1

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/

Jul 25

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/

Jul 18

Join our community 👉 https://bit.ly/pilot-institute-community First 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/

Jul 11

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

Jul 4

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/

Jun 20

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

Jun 13

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/AzEAmvRzydypPdS48 First 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/

Jun 12

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, We have 4 stories for you: Executive Order rumors for Drones, Ohio bill to allow Shooting drones Down, Wing and FlyTrex partner, and a successful rescue with a drone. First up, you've probably heard some rumors that President Trump is expected to sign executive orders around drones. First step. close your eyes, breath, and relax. With that said, the orders, which may or may not be signed on Friday, would reportedly include updates about Part 108, Section 2209 from the 2016 Reauthorization Act, Section 1709 from the 2024 NDAA, and potentially include a Department of Commerce final ruling. And none of these things are actually a surprise.Part 108 is the reported name for the beyond visual line of sight ruling that we expect to be coming later this year. Not sure what an executive order would do other than telling the FAA to speed things up. That's a good thing.And finally, the one we know the least about, the Department of Commerce final ruling. We’re not entirely sure what this rule will cover, if it will be an NPRM following the ANPRM from a few months ago, if it will cover DJI, or just drones in general, and if it will be a final ruling.As soon as we know more, we’ll be posting shorts, with full videos to come.Next up, this week, we've got some eyebrow-raising news out of Ohio. State Representatives Angie King and Ty Mathews are pushing for a federal 'Defense Against Drones Act of 2025.' Get this: the proposed bill, H.R. 1907, would allow homeowners to legally use a shotgun to disable a drone flying within 200 feet above their property. Yes, 200 feet – that’s roughly two-thirds the height of a cell tower, a very common altitude for us.Why the push? The lawmakers cite growing concerns over privacy, property rights, and public safety. Representative King pointed to incidents in her district where drones reportedly caused alarm, threatened livestock, and raised cybersecurity fears due to foreign-manufactured components. She said, "The growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has led to serious concerns over privacy, property rights, and public safety, particularly when drones operate at low altitudes over residential and agricultural areas." So, this is their proposed fix for those local issues.For drone pilots, this is obviously a HUGE deal. Next up, Wing and Flytrex are teaming up. These two are usually competitors, so seeing them collaborate is a big deal for our drone industry! They're working together to share an automated air traffic and collision avoidance system. Think of it as an Unmanned Traffic Management, or UTM, platform specifically for their drone fleets.This system is designed to let both Wing, which is owned by Alphabet, and Flytrex, an Israel-based startup with a growing U.S. presence, exchange real-time flight plans and navigation data. The goal here is to make sure their drones can operate safely in the same airspace over Dallas without colliding. The technology will automatically adjust flight paths to prevent drones from being in the same spot at the same altitude at the same time. Flytrex has already completed 200,000 deliveries, and Wing is way up there with 450,000, so they both bring a ton of experience to the table.Shout out to Seattle Mountain Rescue, Great use of the drone to save lives! https://dronexl.co/2025/06/03/wing-flytrex-drone-air-traffic-system-dallas/https://dronexl.co/2025/06/03/drones-aid-in-dramatic-mount-si-teen-rescue/https://dronexl.co/2025/05/31/trump-new-orders-ban-chinese-dji-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/05/28/ohio-lawmakers-drone-defense-act/

May 30

Watch Post Flight on our Community site 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-community First up this week, today marks 6 years of drone news, uninterrupted! A big thanks to YOU for making this possible! And yes, this is our brand new set for the news update. In the last 6 years, we've gotten over 3,400,000 views on our news update videos and enrolled over 132,000 people in our Part 107 Made Easy course which represents almost 1/3 of all remote pilots, 400,000 students in total, and 750,000 course enrollments. Not to mention our exclusive Pilot Institute Community, with over 80,000 pilots. A big thanks to everyone for making this possible. We've also got many more courses and videos coming soon! Next up this week NASA is pushing the boundaries of exploration with its Dragonfly mission. This isn't your average quadcopter; we're talking about a car-sized rotorcraft designed to fly on Titan, Saturn's largest moon! This ambitious mission is scheduled to launch in 2028 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with an estimated arrival at Titan in 2034. Dragonfly's primary target is the Selk Crater, a fascinating 50-mile-wide impact site. Scientists believe this crater might have once held a pool of liquid water, potentially for hundreds or even thousands of years, which could have mixed with Titan's rich organic compounds. Now, to be clear, as Zibi Turtle, Dragonfly’s principal investigator, put it, “Dragonfly isn’t a mission to detect life—it’s a mission to investigate the chemistry that came before biology.” So, why does this matter to us drone pilots here on Earth? Well, the technological leaps required for Dragonfly could be HUGE for our drone industry! To operate a complex quadcopter in Titan's extreme environment – with its dense atmosphere, low gravity, and insane cold – NASA must develop breakthroughs in autonomy, navigation, and battery tech. Imagine that tech trickling down to the drones we fly! I’m really excited to see how this mission pushes UAV innovation forward. Next up, According to a report from DroneXL, we might be seeing a DJI Mini 5 Pro, an Avata 3, something called a Neo 2 FPV drone, and even an Osmo Nano. Now, these are strictly RUMORS at this stage, and the report didn't include concrete details or specific leaked specifications, so they are still under wraps. For a Mini 5 Pro, many are hoping DJI could push the envelope further in the sub-250 gram category. Mini 5 rumors include a 1” sensors, LiDAR obstacles avoidance, and O4+. The Mini 5 also hit the FCC database recently. For the Avata 3, building on the success of its predecessors, we'd anticipate upgrades to the camera system for crisper FPV footage. We might also see DJI's O4+ transmission for better range and stability, and of course, any improvements to flight duration and durability would be fantastic. The 'Neo 2 FPV' is a bit more mysterious – could this be a new specialized FPV offering? And an Osmo Nano sounds intriguing, possibly a super compact gimbal for on-the-go stabilization. Again, this is PURE speculation, but if even some of these products materialize with DJI's usual innovation, it could be an exciting lineup for our drone industry. And over on Post flight this week, we’ll talk about more news that didn’t make the cut here including: John Deere Acquiring Sentra Drones, The FAA approving Amazon to deliver Lithium products, and a DJI M600 that was used to film the ongoing Kīlauea.

May 23

Watch Post Flight on our Community site 👉 https://bit.ly/premium-drone-communityWelcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you: A swimmer rescued by a fisherman’s drone, Kyle Nordfors awarded at the Global Search and Rescue Excellence Awards, and Pierce Aerospace partners with MITRE for remote ID research. And first up this week, a real-world drones-for-good story that really shows you the versatility of these machines! Out in Pensacola, Florida, on May 15th, shark fisherman Andrew Smith found himself in a true life-or-death situation. He’d only been at a new fishing spot for about ten minutes when a girl ran up, screaming for help – another girl was drowning, caught in a dangerous rip current. Now, Andrew has a seizure disorder, which meant he couldn't safely swim out to her himself. He saw the girl getting pulled further away, already struggling for about five minutes, and knew time was absolutely critical.Andrew typically uses his drone for fishing, specifically to position bait, because his medical condition makes using kayaks unsafe. He attached a nearby flotation device to his drone. His first attempt, he told CBS12, was incredibly nerve-wracking: “I was shaking pretty badly... I almost cried.” In the stress of the moment, he released the device too early, and it missed. But he didn't give up. A bystander quickly provided a second flotation device. This time, Andrew flew the drone out slowly and deliberately, carefully lowering it to the struggling girl. He saw her reach for it, released the device, and she grabbed on, able to stay afloat! It reportedly took first responders another five minutes to arrive on scene. Local authorities, including police, EMS, and lifeguards, apparently told Andrew that if his second attempt had failed, "she wouldn’t have made it." Andrew, If you’re watching this and you want to learn more about drones, send us an email and we’ll get you signed up for a free course of your choosing. Next up, Captain Kyle Nordfors, who’s a UAS pilot with the Weber County Sheriff’s Office in Utah, snagged the Unsung Hero Award. And let me tell you, what he’s doing with drones in Search and Rescue is nothing short of revolutionary. He’s using drones equipped with thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras to transform searches that used to take hours, or even days, into operations that can be wrapped up in minutes. We're talking about covering vast areas, sometimes several square miles, in really rugged terrain with elevation changes exceeding 5,000 feet! Shout out to our good friend Kyle, keep up the good work! Third, Pierce Aerospace and MITRE have announced they're officially joining forces. They've signed what’s called a memorandum of understanding – basically a formal agreement – to advance UAS and remote identification for more complex missions. This is a pretty big deal because, as you know, Remote ID is a critical piece of the puzzle for integrating drones safely and securely into our national airspace. Without robust Remote ID, moving forward with more advanced operations gets a LOT trickier.https://www.pierceaerospace.net/blogs/news/pierce-aerospace-and-mitre-partner-to-advance-remote-id-research-and-developmenthttps://dronexl.co/2025/05/19/nordfors-global-search-rescue-excellence-awards/https://dronexl.co/2025/05/20/drone-rescue-girl-drowning/

May 9

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, DJI teases the Mavic 4 Pro, and we have a release date! Second, a heartwarming story out of Michigan where a thermal drone played a key role in saving a 74-year-old woman. Third, we've got more DJI news with a leaked launch window for the Mini 5 Pro. And finally, a drone reportedly crashed while attempting to smuggle contraband into a South Carolina prison. First up this week, DJI is at it again, officially teasing the upcoming Mavic 4 Pro! They dropped a "Spin Your World" teaser and, in a bit of a surprise move for DJI, actually showed the drone itself in the teaser. This is probably because, let's be honest, the leaks have been coming for months now. The official launch is slated for May 13th, so mark your calendars! Next up, we have a fantastic real-world drones-for-good story coming out of Michigan! A 74-year-old woman who experienced a vehicle fire got lost in the woods without her phone last month. She sought shelter under a tree and endured 27 degrees temperatures, along with rain and winds, less than 450 feet from where her vehicle burned. It’s unclear when searching began, but the woman was located alive, and too frozen to move, 3 days after going missing by a Mason County Sheriff’s thermal drone. Great use of the drone to save a life! And in our third story this week, more news from the DJI rumor mill! It looks like the DJI Mini 5 Pro might be on the horizon, with a potential launch window now pointing towards September 2025. This information comes via trusted X leaker HakaSushi (hah-kah-SOO-shee), who apparently confirmed an earlier rumor from Jasper Ellens at DroneXL. So, while it's still a ways off, the anticipation is definitely building. The Mini series, as you know, has been incredibly popular. This is especially true for those of us who want a capable drone that stays under that 250-gram weight limit, avoiding a lot of registration hassles in many places. Speculation on improvements includes changes to the sensor size, enhanced obstacle avoidance, better wind resistance, or even longer flight times. Let us know in the comments what features YOU'D like to see in a Mini 5 Pro! And finally this week, your “Don’t be that guy” segment. Reports indicate that a drone crashed while allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband, specifically methamphetamines, into a prison in South Carolina. Details about the specific type of drone or the quantity of contraband involved haven't been widely released yet, and the investigation is likely ongoing. Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated incident. We've covered stories like this before. Correctional facilities around the world are increasingly battling attempts to use drones to deliver drugs, cell phones, weapons, and other illegal items over prison walls. It's a serious security concern, and it highlights the 'cat and mouse' game being played between those trying to exploit the technology for criminal purposes and the authorities working to stop them. Don’t be that guy, and for anyone watching that is thinking about doing this: These facilities have Drone detection systems. They will find you and they will catch you, so just don’t. Alright, that’s all for this week. We have the live Q and A on Monday and in post-flight on Monday in the premium community, so we'll see you then.

May 2

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, DJI officially ends the Phantom line, SiFly releases the Q250 and Q12, more leaks surface about the potential DJI Mavic 4, and researchers develop a 'flying squirrel' drone with foldable wings. first up this week, it's the end of an era for one of the most iconic drone series ever. DJI has officially announced the retirement of its Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Advanced drones. It set the standard for prosumer drones for years. It's a bit sad to see the Phantom line go, but technology marches on. We've seen DJI focus heavily on the Mavic, Air, and Mini series for consumers and prosumers, and the Matrice line for enterprise. So, while the Phantom might be taking its final flight into the sunset, its legacy in shaping our drone industry is undeniable. Pour one out for the Phantom!Next up, SiFly has released the Q12, a medium-sized, long-endurance aircraft. The Q12 offers a two-hour continuous hover, three-hour forward flight time, and 90-mile range while carrying a 10lb payload. SiFly also released the Q250, a heavy-lift drone with a 200lb payload and a 100-minute endurance. Both of these look like pretty cool drones with maybe the best flight times we've seen from a multi-rotor. Also, both drones are NDAA compliant, making them a possible replacement for those entities that require compliant aircraft. Specifics on battery, connection link, and available payloads aren't currently available. We'll keep you updated if we see more about the SiFly Q250 or the Q12!Now for another DJI story, the rumor mill is churning again, this time about the potential DJI Mavic 4. According to Jasper Ellens, the Mavic 4 is becoming, in his words, "the world's most leaked drone." Recent reports suggest leaked promotional images, potential pricing details, and even photos of the retail boxes have surfaced online. Now, take this all with a grain of salt, as these are just leaks. One particularly interesting tidbit is the mention of a possible new controller, the RC Pro 2, which might feature a vertical screen. A vertical screen could be interesting for how information is displayed, maybe better for certain types of flight data, or even social media integration, who knows? Along with the leaks, there was a list of supposedly cancelled features, including no Pro Res, no electronic ND filters at launch, and no RC Track, which, for those who may not remember, is the rumored tracking beacon.And last up this week, we have a cool research story out of South Korea. Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology, or POSTECH, have developed a drone inspired by flying squirrels! This isn't your typical quadcopter. It features foldable wings designed to give it significantly more agility, especially when it comes to braking or making sharp turns mid-air. You know how quadcopters can feel a bit floaty sometimes when stopping? The idea here is that these foldable wings can deploy rapidly to act like air brakes, allowing for much quicker deceleration than propellers alone can manage. This mimics how a flying squirrel uses its membranes to glide and maneuver. Or the ornithopter in Dune... While it's still in the research phase, this kind of bio-inspired design is fascinating. It pushes the boundaries beyond standard drone configurations and could potentially lead to drones that can navigate complex environments much more effectively. https://dronexl.co/2025/04/29/flying-squirrel-drone-foldable-wings/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/26/dji-mavic-4-canceled-features-rc-pro-2/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/27/drones-drop-super-clams-florida-indian-river/https://dronexl.co/2025/04/29/dji-phantom-4-takes-final-flight/

Apr 25

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, a controversial Texas bill aims to ban certain drones for public safety use. Second, Florida considers a bill allowing "reasonable force" against drones over private property. Third, Oregon passes stricter penalties for drone interference with emergency responders. And finally, SkyeBrowse and Paladin partner for real-time 3D modeling in DFR programs. And first up this week, let's talk about Texas House Bill 41. This proposed legislation aims to ban certain drones, primarily those manufactured in China, claiming it's to protect Texas from foreign technology risks. However, this bill is facing MAJOR pushback, especially from the public safety community in Texas. At a recent hearing, firefighters, police, and search and rescue professionals testified AGAINST the bill because it risks removing critical tools they rely on daily. Furthermore, there's the practical side. US drone manufacturers currently can't produce the needed drones at scale or cost effectively to replace the existing fleets immediately. HB41 could force agencies to scrap perfectly good, effective equipment within five years, potentially wasting millions of taxpayer dollars on more expensive, less capable, and less reliable alternatives. We've already seen examples where drones that would be banned under HB41 saved lives or helped solve major crimes in Texas. This bill feels less about security and more like protectionism that could seriously hamper public safety efforts. It’s passed committee but needs to clear the House Calendars Committee for a full vote. If you're in Texas, the Drone Advocacy Alliance has resources, and contacting the Calendars Committee directly is crucial.Next up, if you're flying in Florida, you'll want to pay close attention to Senate Bill 1422. This bill is advancing through the state legislature and could allow homeowners to use "reasonable force" to stop drones they believe are conducting surveillance over their property below 500 feet. Now, this builds on Florida's existing Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act, and it seems fueled by privacy concerns, like reports of insurance companies using drones for home inspections. We all value privacy, but this bill raises some serious red flags.The Oregon House unanimously passed House Bill 3426, which significantly bumps up the penalties if you *intentionally* interfere with firefighters, law enforcement, or search and rescue using a drone, it's now potentially a Class C felony. That could mean up to 5 years in prison and a $125,000 fine! Even *unintentional* interference is now a Class B misdemeanor, carrying up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine. That's a pretty steep penalty for potentially not knowing better.Typically between 100 and 500 feet, making any unauthorized drone in the area a serious collision hazard. Grounding air support, even for a short time, can have devastating consequences during a fire or rescue operation.Tools like geofencing can help, but ultimately, responsible flying and checking for TFRs before every flight is critical. This bill still needs Senate approval, but its unanimous House passage shows strong support. It's a serious reminder: DON'T fly near emergencies. Period. As always, please don't be that guy.

Apr 18

First up, Senate Bill 1249 in Congress proposes to change how navigable airspace is defined, and would give the first 200 feet above the ground to states and private property owners. This bill also gives mandatory standoff distances from structures, including 200' laterally and 50 feet over the top of structures. Sadly, this is not a new idea. 5 years, we spent a significant amount of time fighting something similar proposed by the Uniform Law Commission (or ULC) proposed the same before being shut down. This is obviously a terrible idea and is proposed by a US Senator Mike Lee from Utah, who has a history of proposing bills that would severely limit UAS operations. Please reach out to your senators and representatives, as this affects ALL UAS operators, including drones, model airplanes, FPV, and helicopters. Next up this week, some news for recreational flyers who fly at the Academy of Model Aeronautics, or AMA, club sites. The AMA announced they've secured a National Authorization that allows members flying at designated club sites within Class G airspace to operate above the standard 400-foot Above Ground Level, or AGL, limit for routine flying. Depending on the specific site's location and assessment within Class G, the new authorized altitude limit could be up to 700 feet AGL, or even 1,200 feet AGL. Third up, DJI has expanded its enterprise payload lineup with two new accessories aimed at public safety and inspection users. They've launched the Zenmuse S1 Spotlight and the Zenmuse V1 Speaker. The S1 Spotlight is designed for the Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK platforms. It's a high-intensity light source with an effective illumination range of up to 150 meters, or about 492 feet. It features adjustable brightness levels and can synchronize its angle with the gimbal's pitch movements, keeping the light focused where the camera is looking, which is pretty neat. Then there's the Zenmuse V1 Speaker, which is compatible with the Matrice 300 and 350 series drones. This isn't your average Bluetooth speaker; it boasts a maximum volume of 120 decibels and an effective range of about 100 meters, or 328 feet, at a more typical 75 decibels. It supports text-to-speech conversion, audio storage, and real-time playback, making it useful for broadcasting instructions or warnings during emergencies. These kinds of accessories really enhance the utility of these enterprise platforms for first responders and inspection teams. And finally this week, ParaZero, known for their drone safety systems, has launched the SafeAir M4 parachute recovery system, specifically designed for the DJI Matrice 4 series drones. ParaZero's Press release says the SafeAir M4 meets the requirements of the ASTM F3322-22 standard for parachutes used in Operations Over People, or OOP. https://dronexl.co/2025/04/16/dji-launches-zenmuse-s1-spotlight-and-zenmuse-v1-speaker-for-enterprise-drones/ https://dronexl.co/2025/04/15/parazero-launches-safeair-m4-drone-parachute-system/ https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1249/text/is?format=txt&overview=closed https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amagov/2025/04/15/flying-sites-in-class-g-airspace-granted-higher-altitudes/?_gl=1*1uaan0o*_gcl_au*NzU5NzI5MTc0LjE3NDQ5MDM2MzA.&_ga=2.207238160.221137029.1744903630-1851979334.1744903630

Apr 11

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have 4 stories for you this week. Zipline expands its drone delivery service into Texas through a partnership with Walmart, NASA is developing a new system designed to predict drone hazards before they happen, Pierce Aerospace has deployed drone detectors to the US Border, and BRINC raises $75m. First up this week, Zipline is bringing its drone delivery service to the Dallas area, starting in Mesquite, Texas. This expansion comes through a partnership with retail giant Walmart. Customers in the service area can now sign up to get orders delivered in about 30 minutes using Zipline's latest drone model, the P2 Zip.The drone can carry payloads up to eight pounds within a 10-mile radius. Zipline boasts about their precision, claiming "dinner plate-level" accuracy, meaning they can land a package on a space as small as a doorstep or a small table. The P2 Zip uses both lift and cruise propellers and has a fixed-wing design, which helps it fly quietly and handle gusts of wind up to 45 miles per hour, even in the rain.The delivery process is interesting: the P2 Zip hovers around 300 feet up, then lowers a smaller container, called the 'delivery zip,' on a tether. This smaller unit uses fan-like thrusters to maneuver precisely into place before gently setting the package down. Both parts use cameras, sensors, and Nvidia chips to navigate and avoid obstacles.Next up, NASA is working on making drone flights safer with an advanced software system designed to predict potential airborne hazards *before* they actually occur. It's called the In-Time Aviation Safety Management System, or IASMS for short. The main idea behind IASMS is real-time risk assessment. Instead of just reacting when something goes wrong, like a loss of navigation or communication, the system aims to anticipate these kinds of threats and alert drone operators ahead of time.Michael Vincent from NASA’s Langley Research Center put it simply, saying the system ideally works unnoticed in the background, only intervening right before an unusual situation might arise. NASA has been putting IASMS through its paces. Back on March 5th, they ran extensive simulations at the Ames Research Center. These focused on complex scenarios like hurricane relief missions involving multiple drones doing things like beyond-visual-line-of-sight supply drops and inspections.Next up, Pierce Aerospace just announced a partnership with a company called Skylark Labs, bringing some next-level drone detection tech to the US-Mexico border and beyond. Basically, they've put Pierce's YR1 Remote ID Sensor and other drone detection sensors on Skylark's 100-foot Scout Tower, alongside this tech they are calling "Superintelligence AI."What makes this setup special is that the AI actually learns in real-time from the data it collects in the field, rather than relying on pre-programmed stuff that might be outdated. The system can detect, track, and identify drones and other potential threats, giving border security and law enforcement a much better picture of what's happening both in the air and on the ground. Last up, Seattle-based drone manufacturer BRINC secured $75m in new funding and announced a strategic alliance with Motorola Solutions. The alliance integrates BRINC drones with Motorola's APX radios, VESTA 911 call management systems, Computer Aided Dispatch, and Real-Time Crime Center Software. This means that drones could get dispatched automatically.Join us later for happy hour in the community. We are also BACK for the live Q&A on Monday after a 3-week hiatus due to the move and travel. Post-flight is also back on Monday in the premium community as well. So we'll see you then.https://dronexl.co/2025/04/06/nasa-drone-safety-hazard-detection/https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/drone-delivery-startup-zipline-expands-to-texas-with-walmart.htmlhttp://pierceaerospace.net/

Mar 28

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, DJI takes the Department of Defense to court over its "Chinese Military Company" label. Second, the popular DJI Mini 4 Pro gets a huge update enabling third-party app support. And third, drones play a crucial role in rescuing two lost teenagers in Colorado. First up this week, DJI is pushing back legally against the U.S. Department of Defense. On March 14th, DJI filed a motion in federal court challenging the DoD's designation of the company as a “Chinese Military Company,” or CMC. This label comes under Section 1260H of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, which targets companies supposedly linked to China's military. DJI argues this designation, first applied in October 2022 and reaffirmed this past January that it is arbitrary, lacks substantial evidence, and harms its business significantly. The company points to terminated contracts and state-level restrictions in places like Florida and Arkansas that limit or ban the use of their drones by public agencies. DJI is asking the court to declare the DoD’s actions unlawful and remove them from the CMC list. They claim the DoD ignored a detailed delisting petition submitted last July and failed to provide public justification for the listing as required by recent amendments. DJI contests the DoD's claims about state ownership, stating that its founder and early investors hold the vast majority of stock and voting rights, with state-owned entities having minimal shares. They also dispute the idea that having a National Enterprise Technology Center status links them to the military, noting companies like Volkswagen also hold this civilian-focused status. Next up, there's some exciting news for DJI Mini 4 Pro owners. DJI has released a major update to its Mobile SDK, that's the Software Development Kit, specifically version 5. This update now includes support for the Mini 4 Pro, which is a pretty big deal. What this means is that third-party developers can now create apps that work directly with your Mini 4 Pro. We're talking about popular apps like Litchi, DroneDeploy, and Drone Harmony potentially offering features like advanced flight automation, custom waypoint missions, and better mapping capabilities. This really unlocks some pro-level functionality for a drone that weighs under 250 grams. Now, there's one important catch you need to know. To use these third-party apps via the MSDK, you *must* be using the DJI RC-N2 controller – that’s the one that uses your smartphone as the screen. Unfortunately, the DJI RC 2 controller, the one with the built-in screen, doesn't have MSDK support enabled for the Mini 4 Pro at this time. DJI hasn't said if or when that might change. This update also added MSDK support for the professional Matrice 4D cinematography drone and the Matrice 4TD industrial drone. Next up this week, a great story showing drones in action saving lives. Two teenagers got lost while hiking near Carpenter Peak in Colorado's Roxborough State Park last Saturday evening. They did the right thing: they called 911 and stayed put. Douglas County Search and Rescue, along with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, responded around 8:30 p.m. As ground crews started hiking in, the DCSAR drone team lead, Darren Keralla, launched a drone. Despite windy conditions, the drone quickly located the teens, who were flashing a light while sheltering under trees. Using the drone's GPS data (lat/long), rescuers could pinpoint their exact location, streamlining the effort. It’s another fantastic example of how drones are becoming invaluable tools for search and rescue operations. https://kdvr.com/news/local/2-lost-teenagers-rescued-with-drone-aid-at-roxborough-state-park/https://dronedj.com/2025/03/21/dji-mini-4-pro-msdk/https://dronexl.co/2025/03/21/dji-court-chinese-military-company-label/

Mar 21

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week. First, the DJI Mavic 4 Pro's launch date, specs, and pricing have been leaked. Second, a research team developed a battery that lets drones fly in extreme cold. Third, a missing woman in Wisconsin was found quickly, thanks to a drone. And finally, President Trump nominates a new FAA Administrator. And first up this week, we have exciting leaked information about the DJI Mavic 4 Pro. According to sources, the drone is set to launch on Thursday, April 24th, 2025. Expect an official teaser from DJI around April 17th. This is pretty much in line with previous leaks, giving us confidence in this date.The Mavic 4 Pro will boast three cameras with focal lengths of 28mm, 70mm, and 168mm. That's 2.5x and 6x which is slightly different from the current 3x/7x configuration. It will reportedly record in 6K, with a larger sensor than the Mavic 3, promising even better image quality. The gimbal is getting a major redesign, with 360-degree multidirectional movement. An unexpected feature... The Mavic 4 Pro will reportedly feature an electronic ND filter system so no more carrying ND filters around. If that is true, I will be impressed!DJI is claiming a flight time of 52 minutes. As far as charging: three batteries in only 90 minutes, aligning with the leaked 240W charger specs. And it looks like a new controller is coming – the DJI RC Pro 2, featuring a 7-inch tilting touchscreen.Price-wise, the leaks suggest the Mavic 4 Pro with the DJI RC2 will be $2,250. The Fly More Combo with the RC2 is priced at $3,200. And the top-tier 512GB Creator Combo, including the new DJI RC Pro 2 Controller, will cost you $4,400. Next up, a research team from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics has made a breakthrough in battery technology. They've successfully flown a hexacopter drone in temperatures as low as -32.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or -36 degrees Celsius. This is a big deal because standard lithium-ion batteries struggle in extreme cold, often losing 30% to 50% of their capacity.This new battery, however, retains over 90% of its nominal capacity at -40 degrees Fahrenheit, with endurance loss under 10%. Beyond drones, this tech could also benefit electric vehicles and remote power stations.And in our third story, a real-world drones-for-good story! In Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, a 59-year-old woman was quickly located by a drone after ground searches failed. She had been outdoors for about three hours and was unable to stand. Rescuers reached her within one minute of detection, just before a storm rolled in. The interesting part here is that the Wisconsin Rapids Police Department didn't own the drone. They relied on Wings of Hope, a non-profit organization. This highlights the financial challenges many smaller departments face in acquiring this life-saving technology. As we see affordable drones becoming harder to get because of regulation, this might prevent small departments from getting ANY drones at all.Finally, this week, the White House nominated Bryan Bedford, CEO of Republic Airways, to head the Federal Aviation Administration. Bedford, a pilot with over 30 years of experience, faces significant challenges if confirmed. These include decisions on Boeing 737 MAX production, approval of new 737 variants, and addressing a shortage of approximately 3,500 air traffic controllers.https://dronexl.co/2025/03/19/dji-mavic-4-pro-launch-date-features-prices/https://dronexl.co/2025/03/17/chinas-breakthrough-battery-powers-drone/https://dronexl.co/2025/03/17/drone-missing-woman-wisconsin-rapids/https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=408316#:~:text=Joint%20statement%20of%20Transportation%20and,Administrator%20of%20the%20Federal%20Aviation

Mar 14

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you; Ascent AeroSystems releases the Helius, Blue UAS and Framework Changes, a Big SkyeBrowse Update, and Skydio sends Tracking Mailers to Police Department. First up, Ascent Aerosystems has released the HELIUS!This is a 249, coaxial system that mimics the design of the much larger Spirit. According to Ascent’s website, this is an all weather, NDAA Compliant, aircraft with features like 4G LTE connectivity, 4K gimbaled camera, 45 MPH top speed, and 30+ minute endurance! The HELIUS is available for preorder and is priced at $4,499.Preorder can be placed through either Ascent AeroSystems OR Robinson Helicopter Company dealers, with deliveries occurring in Q4 of this year.The Blue List has had some significant changes! Several drones and manufacturers have been removed and a few have been added. Removed drones include: The AgEagle Ebee, Ascent Aerosystems Spirit, Blue Halo IE-V2, HoveryTech Spectre, Inspired Flight IF1200A and IF800, Parrot Anafi UAS GOV and MIL, Vantage Viper, and the Wingtra One Gen II. These aircraft are no longer on the Blue UAS List, which is a bit concerning.It’s unclear WHY these aircraft were removed, but raises some serious questions, such as: Do these aircraft have data security issues? What happens to all the departments who have been forced to purchase aircraft that are Blue UAS and have now been removed? We’re not sure. On the other side, a few drones were added, the FlightWave Edge130, HoverFly Technologies Spectre (Possibly a rebrand of the Hovery Tech), and the Zone5 Paladin. Along with these, Pierce Aerospace B1 also was added to the Blue List, though the parts side rather than the aircraft side of the list.We’ll keep you up to date if we see more! Next up, Skydio appears to have sent marketing materials with tracking ability to Police Departments. As reported by DroneXL, a Sergeant from a large California police department revealed that promotional materials from Skydio appeared to have embedded tracking and a 4/5G SIM card.This was found after the device was disassembled by the department’s forensic analysis lab.The marketing material in question comes from a company called “MARC Media”, who confirmed that each device integrates a screen, pause and play buttons, navigation, and a “Call to action button”. The device has a 9 month battery life and tracks things like interactions, use of the call to action button, and even the location of the device.Skydio came under fire for this due to their stance as being the “secure alternative” and citing risks of “data collection” by other manufacturers. The Sergeant stated “In addition to [privacy and security] concerns I found it ethically concerning because Skydio has been a strong proponent of data security and data safety but then did the thing they accused other UAS manufacturers of doing,”Not a great look for Skydio. Last up, Skyebrowse has another big update! There are several things to talk about here, starting with Pocket AI.This is a function that turns an image into a 3D model using AI. It’s free for everyone, so give it a try and potentially win a year of Skyebrowse Lite! Skyebrowse also released model merging and Workspace images. Model merging allows you to link other models to connect multiple scenes within a workspace, again, available for everyone! Workspace images function similarly, and allow public safety to attach photos to the 3D model so that anyone who sees the images can also see the photos. https://dronexl.co/2025/03/10/skydio-tracking-mailers-security-concerns/https://www.diu.mil/blue-uas/frameworkhttps://dronexl.co/2025/03/06/major-shakeup-blue-suas-list/#google_vignettehttps://ascentaerosystems.com/introducing-helius/

Mar 7

A sad first story, the industry pioneer and public safety visionary Romeo Durscher has sadly passed away.Romeo was a pioneer of drones for public safety, with the mantra "Drones for good".He worked for DJI, as their Director of Public Safety Integration, where he led and assisted departments getting started with drones.In 2018, the Camp Fire in California destroyed an entire town.Romeo led 15 drone teams to create high-definition maps of over 17,000 acres in days, saying “After Santa Rosa, I thought I’d seen it all. Then came Paradise… It’s beyond what one could imagine.”This was just one of many ways Romeo helped to cultivate drones is public safety.Romeo then moved from DJI to Auterion, pushing interchangeably to ensure public safety could use the best tool for their mission.Earlier this year, Romeo was given the Law Enforcement Drone Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also named one of the 25 most influential people in the drone industry and given the Golden Medal from the Estonian Chamber of Commerce.Haye, from DroneXL, put it best: "Romeo Durscher’s passing leaves a void, but his vision soars on. The drone industry stands at a crossroads—poised for growth, yet challenged by regulation and ethics. Romeo showed us the way: technology must serve purpose, not profit alone."Next up, a Texas bill would allow drones to be shot down if flown over private property.There are several things wrong with this bill, starting with 18 USC 32.This law protects civil aircraft, both in the air and on the ground."Whoever willfully—(1)sets fire to, damages, destroys, disables, or wrecks any aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States or any civil aircraft used, operated, or employed in interstate, overseas, or foreign air commerce......shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years or both."We also know how bad people are at identifying aircraft, with several of the NJ "drones" actually being airliners.And not to mention, what goes up must come down.If you're in Texas, please reach out to your state legislature and let them know this is a BAD idea.Next up, Mavic 4 Leaks!DroneXL and Jasper Ellens is reporting a new rumor that the Mavic 4 may be able to roll its gimbal up to 180 degreens in both directions. You heard that right, ROLL. This would mean you could take native vertical with all lenses and even upside down video.This would make quite an interesting function that we haven't seen on small drones.Well have to wait and see!We'll see your for the Monday live next week, no Friday live, it's finally time to move into our new building!https://dronexl.co/2025/03/05/dji-mavic-4-pro-vertical-and-beyond/https://dronexl.co/2025/03/05/romeo-durscher-drone-visionary-good/https://thetexan.news/issues/second-amendment/texas-bill-would-allow-property-owners-to-shoot-down-trespassing-drones/article_7a86e40e-f2f0-11ef-8321-33c28a01e369.html

Feb 28

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you; DJI launches new dock and drone, Connecticut’s “emergency” bill to ban Chinese drones, your last chance to comment on the Department of Commerce ANPRM, and LEDA calls out AUVSI. First up, DJI launched the new Dock 3 and Matrice 4D & 4TD!This is the first DJI dock designed for use on a vehicle, allowing the drone to launch directly from a mobile platform.The Dock 3 can operate and charge in extreme temperatures up to 122°F and down to -22°F. It’s IP56-rated, and the Matrice 4D comes with anti-icing propellers.Speaking of the Matrice 4D, it’s IP55 rated and offers 54 minutes of flight time or 47 minutes of hover time. Both the 4D and 4TD comes with a wide-angle camera, a 3X medium tele camera, a 7X long tele camera, and a laser range finder.The Thermal offers a near IR light and a 640X512 infrared thermal camera in addition to the other cameras.In conjunction with the release, AVSS, the Canadian parachute manufacturer, released a parachute for the Matrice 4D. While it is not yet on the FAA Declaration of Compliance list yet, the press release mentioned it will be FAA approved for operations over people. The parachute will be available in Q2 of this year.DJI just seems to be pumping them out this year!Next up, Connecticut’s emergency bill on banning Chinese Drones.This bill has currently passed both chambers of the state’s legislature and prohibits state agencies and municipalities from purchasing “Covered” drones starting in October of 2026 and a ban on operating in 2028.The legislation also restricts drone flights within 250 feet of critical electric and other utility infrastructure.If you’re in Connecticut, please reach out to your representatives ASAP!Last up, there are only a few days left to make your voice heard!The Department of Commerce ANPRM’s comment date ends on March 4th.Don’t let folks in suits who have never flown drones write the narrative on what our UAS actually do.Please watch this video and comment!Speaking of getting your voices heard, the Law Enforcement Drone Association, or LEDA for short, expressed their disheartening at an opinion article written by AUVSI president Michael Robbins.Jon Beal, the President and CEO of LEDA mentions the oped written on drone blog DroneLife is "overt gaslighting regarding legislation related to the use of Drones from China."Beal explains that LEDA is a platform-agnostic organization whose stance "has always been to let member agencies and pilots decide what platform works best for them and their communities at large".He also explains that he has watches, which his own eyes, AUVSI representatives testify in support of banning Chinese drones for public safety agencies in various states.Beal goes on to question Robbin's understanding of how these bans affect agencies, forcing many of them to shut down their programs completely. As a result, agencies no longer have the ability to save lives and mitigate risk, including for the public at large. Beal also cites Robbin's lack of evidence in his statement that "security vulnerabilities are well-documented with the national security community". In response, Beal welcomes the stated clause in Section 1709 of the 2024 NDAA, which mandates a study of DJI and Autel drones for data security.Beal concludes by stating that "almost every one of our 3200 members is angered by the legislation happening in their states and our country borne from greed and in an attempt to limit their ability to save lives".https://www.flyingmag.com/connecticut-emergency-bill-would-ban-chinese-russian-drones/https://dronexl.co/2025/02/25/dji-m4td-dock-3-imminent-release/https://youtu.be/AYOcLhKpGDQhttps://www.ledauas.org/_files/ugd/78f471_7a7178eabda94a49b7bbacbbaba19986.pdf

Feb 20

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you; A Drone Crash into Uranium Mine, GA bill to ban Chinese Drones, ND Senate rejects Chinese drone ban, Sumas Police Rescue, and New DJI Products! First up, don’t be this guy. An alleged drone collision with mine equipment at the Pinyon Plain uranium mine here in AZ caused the mine to temporarily cease operations. While the size and type of the drone are unknown at this time, it supposedly struck a safety wire used to transport personnel into the 1,400’ deep mine according to the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. After crashing into the equipment, the suspect, Bobby Mason, allegedly fled in a Ford F-150 leading to a series of incidents including two hit-and-runs near and inside of Grand Canyon National Park. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has charged Mason with offenses including unlawful operation of an unmanned aircraft, Aggravated DUI, criminal damage, hit and run, reckless driving, and harassment. So, Don’t be this guy. Next up, A Georgia bill would require Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security to create an approved drone list for public safety and government. The bill would give agencies a 3-year compliance window to acquire new aircraft that are on the approved list. If you live in Georgia, please let your legislators know what you think about House Bill 205. On the opposite side of the fence is North Dakota. North Dakota’s Senate rejected a portion of a bill that would act as a replacement program for state-owned and operated Chinese drones. State Senator Kyle Davison led the motion to strip this text from the bill, citing the significant cost difference between Chinese and American-made drones. According to Senate Testimony, the M30 currently used by state agencies costs ~$7500 while NDAA-compliant alternatives cost between $20,000 and $50,000. The Senate preserved an $11,000,000 allocation to support BVLOS Operations in the same bill. A Drone story for good this week, coming from some Pilot Institute students in northern Washington State! Multiple agencies responded to a report of an elderly woman who'd gone missing during the night. After several hours of searching, the Sumas Police Department arrived on scene and an M30T was launched, locating the missing person in under 3 minutes. The woman had fallen down a steep slope near her residence and was hypothermic. Luckily, she was able to be rescued and was transported to the hospital. Shout out to Sumas Police Department, Great work, and thanks for what you guys do! Last up, DJI has released TWO new gimbals this week! This week we got a new Osmo Mobile 7, with active track 7.0, hand motion control, 10-hour run time, a built-in tripod, and magnetic mounting for accessories. The Osmo Mobile 7 entry level comes at $89, with the 7P model costing $149. DJI also released the RS4 Mini, and we actually got our hands on one to test out. It’s got a 13-hour run time, a 4.4lb payload, an active track module, and native vertical shooting. Check out our full review here <Point> Join us later today for our happy hour in the community, Live Q&A on Monday, and Post Flight Monday in the community! We’ll see you then! https://dronexl.co/2025/02/18/drone-strike-grand-canyon-mine/#google_vignette https://dronexl.co/2025/02/17/georgia-ban-chinese-drones-security/ https://dronexl.co/2025/02/18/north-dakota-senate-rejects-chinese-drone-replacement/ https://dronexl.co/2025/02/18/dji-smartphone-stabilizers-tracking/ https://www.facebook.com/wcfd14/

Feb 18

First up, this week marks 300 weeks of Drone News… Thanks for tuning in and making this possible! So far we’ve got 390,000 students with over 115,000 in our Part 107 course, 48 drone courses, we’ve shipped over 50,000 stickers, Done FAA WINGs credits, and TRUST Certificates. And this is just the beginning! Soon we’ll be moved into our new building where we’ll be able to start offering even more cool things!Now onto the news! Next up, Wingcopter released LiDAR for its Wingcoper 198. According to the press release at GeoWeek the Wingcopter 198 can survey over 37 miles of linear infrastructure in a single flight, while carrying a 10lb payload. This system can achieve a point cloud density of 570 points per square meter, 10mm sensor accuracy, and 5mm precision. In approximately 42 minute flight, this system can scan 2,560 acres. Pretty cool new tech! Third, a Baltimore man was arrested after allegedly flying a drone over the M&T Bank Stadium earlier this year. The NFL paused the game in the third quarter when a drone, allegedly belonging to Alex Perez Suarez, was spotted flying approximately 400 feet over the stadium.The drone allegedly took 7 pictures before flying away from the stadium. Alex is now facing 3 federal charges for flying in restricted airspace, operation of an unregistered drone, operation of an aircraft without an airman certificate, and willful violation of National Defense Airspace. Please don’t be that guy… Next up, The FAA has authorized the Pyka Pelican 2 to operate in the US! The Pyka is a large, fixed wing spray drone designed for crop dusting.The Pelican 2 has a 300 liter capacity, hot swappable batteries, LiDAR and RADAR, and comes in at $550,000. According to Pyka, the Pelican is the largest drone that has been authorized to operate in the US.Pretty cool, but I’m not sure we’ll be getting our hands on one of these guys any time soon!Next, Skyebrowse announced a major change to indoor map processing.According to the press release, the new processing method uses AI to verify that individual rooms are processed correctly.This verification allows for additional speed, clarity, and accuracy.If you're unfamiliar with Skyebrowse, they're a 3D mapping software that uses video instead of traditional photos to make 3D Models.Their lowest tier plan is free, so if you're interested in 3D modeling, this is a great place to start and make some models!

Jan 3

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you; Department of Commerce Advanced Notice NPRM, More drone show troubles, and more DJI Flip leaks. Story Links: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-30209/securing-the-information-and-communications-technology-and-services-supply-chain-unmanned-aircraft https://www.wkrg.com/news/nye-drone-show-canceled-on-folly-beach-after-drones-fall-from-sky-at-least-1-injured/ https://dronexl.co/2024/12/28/dji-flip-drone-leak-compact-design-advanced-ai-features/

Dec 27, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you: Drone Light Show injures kid in Orlando, Israeli drone company wins big DOD drone contract, and navigating TFRs in New York and New Jersey. First story this week is a bit of a sad one. A child was injured at an Orlando drone show last week after a drone hit him in the chest during a show near Lake Eola Park. The 7-year old boy was taken to the hospital and it was later reported that he required emergency cardiac surgery due to damage to a heart valve. Approximately 15 minutes into the performance, drones started falling out of the sky, according to a video and witness statements. The show was put on by SkyElement, a very reputable company that has a long-standing of safe operation. SkyElement puts out dozens of shows around the country yearly, and even holds 11 Guiness world records, including flying a show with 5000 drones a month ago during Thanksgiving. It's unclear exactly what happened, but it would be out of touch for me to speculate at the moment. We will follow up when the NTSB concludes its investigation and releases its findings. We wish the young boy a prompt recovery. Second story this week, XTEND, an Israeli defense tech company, has secured an $8.8 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense. The contract is to deliver advanced AI-powered drones called PSIO sUAS. These tactical drones, capable of operating indoors and outdoors, combine artificial intelligence with real-time precision strike capabilities. The drones are designed for rapid deployment in urban and open-field settings, and reduce risks for soldiers while enhancing operational flexibility. Manufactured in the U.S., these drones align with defense production standards and are set for delivery in early 2025, following extensive testing. XTEND’s systems are already in use globally, including by the Israel Defense Forces, showcasing their value in modern warfare. For our last story, I want to discuss the recent temporary flight restrictions that were put in place in New Jersey and New York. Most of those are 1 nautical mile in radius and around sensitive infrastructures, such as substations, railroad depots, or even nuclear power plants. Part 107 operators who have a valid statement of work and show a need to be in the restricted airspace are eligible to request SGI waivers. SGI stands the Special Governmental Interest and is typically used by public safety agencies, but is also available to "regular" part 107 operators. According to the FAA website, "To apply for a waiver through the SGI process, you must be an existing Part 107 remote pilot with a current certificate OR a public agency with an existing Certificate of Waiver or Authorization or COA." I will put a link in the description for those who are interested in applying (https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/emergency_situations) Last note before we go, we have the winner of the Community photo contest for December! Congratulations to Bill Heiser won with this photo titled "Highway to the Pass". And that's it for this week and even this year. I want to thank you all for tuning in every single week. We are getting close to 300 consecutive weeks of news update, and we couldn't do this without all of you. I and the entire team at Pilot Institute wish everybody a Happy New Year. I hope it will be full of growth for your company if that's what you do, but more importantly I hope it is filled with many hours of flying. Please continue to be safe and vigilant, and remember to be a mentor to those who got their first drone under the tree.

Nov 1, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you; Skydio sanctioned by China, Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators vs University of Michigan lawsuit, More info on the DJI Lawsuit,DJI New Goggles Leaks.

Oct 25, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you; DJI Takes legal action against the DOD, CNN Drone crashes into crowd injuring three, and BRINC releases the Guardian. Join our community site: https://pilotinstitute.com/community/

Oct 4, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you; GAO Report on Foreign Made Drones, officials tell Fairfax County to stop using DJI, Axon acquires Dedrone, and new record drone show. First up, the GAO has released a report on the Department of Interior’s stance on foreign drones. Currently, the DOI does not allow foreign drones to be used except for emergency situations such as search and rescue and wild fires. The GAO studied the effects of the policies after the DOI asked them to, covering the 4 most active departments; bureau of land management (BLM), Fire and Wildlife service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Findings from the GAO are predictable; the majority of drones are now nearing their end of life and replacing them with compliant drones is much more expensive. Due to the reduction in fleet size, bureaus haven’t been able to expand their use of drones and some no longer have enough drones even for emergencies. Even for bureaus that have purchased approved drones, the drones aren’t be delivered until 6 months or more later. The GAO gave the example that in April of 2024, the DOI had purchased 98 drones for fiscal year 2024 and only 46 had been delivered. In another example, the National Park Service purchased drones for wild fire management in March and were not expected to have the drones in hand until October, missing nearly all of the 2024 fire season. The GAO goes on to discuss that compliant drones are not as capable in carrying payloads nor are as reliable. Due to these problems, not only have emergency flights decreased but non-emergency flights for research, surveys, training, and post-storm recoveries have become nearly non-existent. Next up, federal law makers John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi from the House of Representatives have urged Fairfax County to stop using DJI. In a letter to the county Board of Supervisors the representatives stated “The PRC-made UAS platforms and censors currently used by Fairfax County collect high-resolution imagery of facilities and individuals at risk, putting them at risk of being collected by the CCP,” This is the first time we’ve seen representatives attempting to influence a particular public safety department on what drones to use or not use. Fairfax county sits just south west of Washington DC along the Potomac river. At this time, we don’t know how the county will respond but we’ll keep you updated if we see more. Third, Axon has finished the acquisition of Dedrone. Dedrone is a counter UAS system that uses RF detection, RADAR, cameras and for authorized users can include hammers, drone take over, and kinetic means to stop a rogue drone. An important note is that the DOD are the only ones currently who are allowed to utilize these tools to stop a drone. We’ll keep you updated if we see more from Dedrone and Axon! Last up, Sky Elements broke the record this week for the most drones launching pyrotechnics. The city of Mansfield TX partnered with Sky Elements to break the word record of most drones launching pyrotechnics. Sky Elements used 1164 drones to break the record in a free drone show for residents. Cool use of the drones and we’re sure we’ll continue to see bigger and bigger drone shows! That’s all for this week, we’ll see you later in the community for Happy Hour and on Monday for our Q&A! https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-24-106924.pdf https://dronelife.com/2024/10/01/lawmakers-urge-fairfax-county-to-end-use-of-dji-drones-due-to-national-security-concerns/ https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/mansfield-texas-drone-show-guinness-world-record-sky-elements-display/287-a03f5178-feea-43ca-9e06-7e5a5ae2a099

Sep 27, 2024

Sep 20, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you, New DJI Action 5, Air 3S hits FCC Database, Pilot Institute Community, a Drone finds missing Louisiana girl, and a press release on drone incursions into wild fire aircraft operations. First up, DJI has released the new Action 5! The action 5 comes with a new 1/1.3” sensor (the same size as the Mini 4 Pro), 10-bit D-Log M, HLG, horizon steady, subject tracking, a barometer/hydrometer, 47GB of internal storage, magnetic mounting, 4 hour battery life, 113 degree max operating temperature, and connection with the DJI Mic 2s! Whew, lots cool specs, we’ll be getting on to check out and post some content on! Next, the Air 3S has hit the FCC database! We’ve seen quite a few leaks about the Air 3S, including some images with an RC-N3 series controller, what appears to be a larger sensor in a dual camera setup, and potentially larger batteries. Rumors have also included that batteries may be compatible with the current Air 3. We’ve seen some decent images of the Air 3, we’ll have to wait and see if DJI publishes an announcement any time soon! Third up, a big Pilot Institute update. This week we launched the Premium Community with the goal to help part 107 pilots use their certificate to get paid work. In premium you'll find tons of interviews and workshops, we'll be releasing exclusive content every month. And, if you're a fan of News Update, we have an extended version every week called Post Flight. Each episode we discuss News Update stories in more detail and give our personal opinion on the facts. Visit Pilotinstitute.com/community to check it all out! Third up, a drone in Louisiana located a missing child this week. A 10 year old Louisiana girl was reported missing early in the day on Sunday. Searchers were unable to locate the girl, and a company from Arkansas, Drone Management Services, stepped in to assist. Using what appears to be a Mavic 3 Thermal, Co-Owner Josh Kolber located the girl sleeping on the ground. Great use of the drone Josh! Last up, the National Interagency Fire Center has published data this week about 21 incidents where drones have operated near wildfires. In 10 of these events, firefighting aircraft operations were suspended. Generally, firefighting aircraft operate within a TFR, meaning other aircraft including traditional aircraft are not permitted in that area. Be sure to check the TFRs before you take off, especially in wildfire prone areas. Alright, that’s all we’ve got! Greg will be back on Monday, so he’ll see you then for the live Q&A!

Sep 13, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you: Drone ban updates, Green Day concert paused for drone flight, FLIR and AirData partner, 3 men in a stolen vehicle were found using a drone, and SkyeBrowse updates everyone to Lite Processing! First up, The house has voted to pass the Countering CCP Drones Act. This is a setback that was expected but it changes little. Representative Stefanik stated during her speech “Over the last seven years, the US government has publicly confirmed time and time again that DJI drones are being used to collect information on US critical infrastructure and pose significant risks to US national security,” Not sure where the evidence is, but we’d love to see it. The Countering CCP drones act was also passed with the House NDAA, so the bill has already passed before. Both bills still must still go through the Senate prior to landing on the President’s desk. It doesn’t matter what vertical you’re in, now is a great time to weigh in on this issue, and educate your senators and representatives. If you’re having trouble with where to start, head over to the DAA website, which is linked below. Next up, Green Day rushed off stage this week after security spotted a drone in the stadium. Detroit Police confirmed the interruption to the show was due to a drone and that the operator was located and detained. Currently, it’s unclear what drone was flying or how close it was to the band. An important note was that this did not qualify for a stadium TFR, and no TFR was in place. This brings up an interesting situation where a Part 107 pilot could legally operate over the stadium with a category 1 or 2 drone. We’ll keep you updated when we see more. Third, FLIR and AirData UAV have partnered to provide SIRAS flight tracking. If you’re unfamiliar with the FLIR SIRAS, it’s a quadcopter with a 640x512 FLIR Hadron series sensor designed for industry and public safety. The integration with AirData uses SIRAS’s offline log-export and isn’t connected to the internet. For users of the SIRAS, AirData is a great tool and one that we use for tracking our aircraft’s flights, battery cycles, and determining what when wrong if things do. Fourth, a shout out to some students from Gaston County Police. Gaston County police used a drone this week to assist in recovering a stolen vehicle and arresting 3 men who fled the stolen vehicle after a car chase. The drone was utilized after officers lost sight of the vehicle when it drove into a soybean field. A Gaston County Police Officer was part of the drone unit, and launched to determine where the vehicle went. Once the police officer found the vehicle, they began to track the suspects, locating them in the field attempting to evade police. All 3 suspects were taken into custody without incident. Great use of the drone! Next, SkyeBrowse has updated everyone on the Freemium plan to Lite processing! This will increase the quality of all models from folks with free accounts. If you're unfamiliar with SkyeBrowse, the program uses video from nearly anything to make 3D models. You can sign up for free and start making models immediately. Models can be accessed on any device and can be easily marked up for measurement and shared as needed. And to wrap up, check out this clip for something coming next week… https://dronexl.co/2024/09/10/us-house-votes-to-ban-new-dji-drones/ https://dronexl.co/2024/09/05/green-day-interrupted-mid-song-by-drone-threat-at-detroit-concert/ https://www.flir.com/suas/ https://airdata.com/about https://www.instagram.com/p/C_jIAlFTnbf/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&img_index=1

Aug 30, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you; Updated Countering CCP Drones language, representatives call for Anzu investigation, FAA proposes over 300,000 in fines, two drones-for-good stories about rescue, and Best Buy strikes again with a DJI leak. Story Links: https://dronexl.co/2024/08/27/lawmakers-dji-drone-loophole-anzu-robotics/ https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-proposed-341413-civil-penalties-against-drone-operators https://dronexl.co/2024/08/26/dji-neo-drone-spotted-at-best-buy/ https://dronexl.co/2024/08/26/faa-drone-violations-penalties/ https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4792/text?s=1&r=1

Aug 23, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you, More DJI Leaks, DroneUp layoffs, and failed drone smuggling in South Carolina. First up, a bunch more DJI leaks have come out this week including the Air 3S and more Neo Leaks! New images of the Air 3S show what appears to be a much larger gimbal on an Air 3 frame. Leaked images also confirm the name of the new drone as the Air 3S. Images also show specs including a Sony CMOS sensor, 14EV dynamic range, and onboard panorama composition of 13,000x6500 pixels. The pictures are getting better so we might be getting closer to release! The Neo has also had a recent leak by an Australian online store. The store shared specs, some of which we’ve seen before. Key features include 135g, hand takeoff and landing, 4K video, smart track, direction track, motion control, remote audio recording, and goggles compatibility. Control methods also include voice control, phone control, or RC control. For a complete list of specs, visit DroneXL’s article linked below! Next up, DroneUp is scaling back operations and is closing 18 delivery hubs. DroneUp ended hubs in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Tampa, resulting in 70 job losses or about 17% of DroneUp’s workforce. Deliveries in the future will be limited to 15 locations in the Dallas area. You can see DroneUp’s response to DroneXL’s request for comment by saying: “Layoffs are an unfortunate part of a business that is literally defining its own industry. Like so many innovators before us, the decision to automate often leads to similar circumstances but we acknowledge that this is a difficult time, especially for those with whom we've parted ways. While we are deeply grateful for their service, DroneUp remains committed to a strategy that supports our commercial partners and their customers. The lessons we have learned in the last several years has informed a strategy to reshape the last-mile of delivery with DroneUp's Ecosystem platform that is economically feasible for sellers and scalable for buyers. It remains our ambition to grow DroneUp, nationwide. Doing so would rely on a bigger workforce in roles that will be defined by what regulators permit, and what partners and their customers need.” We’ll keep you updated when we see more. Last up, deputies in South Carolina confiscated large drones being used to drop contraband into the Ridgeland Correctional Institute. While responding to known take off locations nearby, deputies found the two men flying the drone and attempted to stop them. The men ran and escaped into nearby woods. When searched, the vehicle contained marijuana, tobacco, a cellphone, AirPods, and a large drone. Don’t be that guy, and don’t fly over prisons. Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live! https://dronexl.co/2024/08/21/details-dji-air-3s-drone/ https://dronexl.co/2024/08/19/dji-neo-drone-listing-imminent-release/ https://dronexl.co/2024/08/17/large-drone-contraband-seized-failed-prison-drop/ https://dronexl.co/2024/08/16/mayday-for-droneup-delivery-plans-lose-altitude/

Aug 16, 2024

Join our Community site! COMMUNITY.PILOTINSTITUTE.COM

Aug 9, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you, Man sacrifices drone to save lost people, Autel Evo Lite Enterprise, and Drones inspect KLM Aircraft. First up, 7 people were rescued after their boat started sinking in Utah Lake. Police were notified of a sinking boat, but were unable to locate them. While staging rescue crews at the marina, a local man flying his drone for fun overheard and offered to help. Stephan Ceciu was flying for fun initially, but assisted in the search, locating the sinking boat and sending their location to officials. The 7 people were successfully rescued and the boat was towed back to the marina. It’s unclear how far the drone was flown away from the operator or what kind of drone it was. However, did not have enough battery to return to home and landed in the lake. Great job Stephan and we’re sorry about your drone! Next up, Autel has released the Evo Lite Enterprise Series! The new series weigh 866g, and include thermal and visual payload options. The Lite Enterprise has a 40 minute flight time, 4K video, and 12km range. The Lite Thermal has a 640x512 resolution thermal camera, 16X digital zoom, and a temperature range of 0C to 550C. So far, no pricing has been released but we’ll keep you posted when if we see more! Last up, a new partnership between Dutch Drone Delta and KLM will use drones to inspect KLM’s aircraft. The new program will use DJI Matrice aircraft with AI enabled software to perform inspections and report damage to the pilots or other users. Images of the operation appear to show a Matrice 300 or 350 with a P1, LiDAR, and other payloads inspecting an Airbus A330. This is a pretty cool use for drones that will benefit air carriers by reducing downtime for inspections! Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live! https://shop.autelrobotics.com/collections/autel-evo-lite-series https://kutv.com/news/local/man-sacrifices-drone-in-effort-to-help-find-sinking-boat-with-7-passengers-in-utah-lake https://dronexl.co/2024/08/06/autel-robotics-evo-lite-enterprise-series/ https://dronexl.co/2024/08/07/drones-aircraft-inspections-schiphol-airport/

Aug 2, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you, Countering CCP Drones Act Update, First Category 2 Drone, a brand new DJI drone model and the FAA authorizes commercial BVLOS flights without a visual observer. First up, a new senate amendment to the 2025 NDAA hopes to add the Countering CCP Drones Act. If enacted, the countering CCP language would revoke all FCC approvals for DJI and Autel products, effectively banning new mo dels and grounding current fleets. The NDAA still has to be voted on by the Senate, but the addition of the Countering CCP language would align the House of Representatives NDAA bill and the Senate bill on the issue. Now is a great time to reach out to your representatives and senators as we near the election to let them know this language would devastate our industry and reduce Public Safety's ability to effectively save lives. We’ll update you as this progresses. Next up, the first Category 2 Drone has hit the DOC List! The DJI Matrice 3D and 3DT are now approved for operations over people under categories 2 and 3 using the AVSS parachute system! If you’re unfamiliar with the Matrice 3D, it’s DJI’s Dock 2 aircraft. Both of the Matrice 3D and 3DT are variable categories between cat 2 and cat 3 depending on the winds. More approvals should begin to hit the DOC list as AVSS tests more parachutes! Next, there are some DJI leaks for a new drone! The DJI Neo hit the FCC database this week, showing a 2S, 1435mAh battery. According to DroneXL, DJI follows a “30% Rule” in battery to drone weight, suggesting the drone will weigh about 170g. Leaked pictures also show a possible prototype similar to a DJI Mini-series drone. Currently, there are no leaked specs for the drone and we can't verify the leaked images are indeed of this model. We'll keep you updated when we see more! Last up, the FAA has finally authorized the first commercial drone operation beyond visual line of sight without using a visual observer. The approval goes to Zipline and Wing Aviation. I'm guessing this is an approval without a waiver under part 135 since other operators have been able to do this under part 107 waivers. The FAA stated that companies are sharing planned flight routes with other authorized airspace users by using Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems. We are still expecting to see a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) later this year that would normalize BVLOS operations for drones. Finally, a quick Community update. We have our July Drone photo contest winner! This month's winner is Derek Paulsen, with his photo of a "Beautiful Mountain Lake Outside Glacier National Park". Congratulations to Derek, who will receive a custom made pilot institute trophy and a $250 gift card. We'll have another contest in August, so stay tuned for those details. That's it for now, have a great weekend, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live! https://dronexl.co/2024/07/26/senate-amendment-countering-ccp-drones-act-ndaa/ https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/26/dji-neo-drone/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/26/faa-avss-first-category-2-drone-flight-over-people/ https://www.avss.co/drone-parachutes/drone-parachute-recovery-system-for-dji-m3td-or-m3d-for-dji-dock-2/ https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-authorizes-first-commercial-use-of-bvlos-drone-operations/

Jul 26, 2024

The first story this week is not the best one, a man was arrested for flying a drone over the SpaceX launch facility in Cameron County, Tx. The man was identified as 32 yr. old, Reynold Daniel Chavez, admitted he was flying his drone to see the rockets and said he didn’t know the airspace was restricted. At this stage, we’re unsure what legal ramifications Chavez will face. But he was charged with “operation of an unmanned aircraft over a critical infrastructure facility.” The incident highlights the need for all UAS pilots to know the rules and regulations as well as the airspace they fly in. Whether flying under part 107 or recreationally, flying safely helps protect the industry we love. We’ll share updates on this story as more information comes in. Alright, in our next story some more exciting news. We have some new leaked photos and even a video of two new drones. First, what looks like a new DJI Air. It was first speculated to be an DJI Air4 and then later an DJI Air3s. Either way, these new leaks appear to show a much larger gimbal and dual cameras. Could we be getting a 1 inch sensor? The original DJI Air3 came out almost exactly one year ago, on July 25th 2023. And, it’s a great drone we still fly today, so we’re excited to see what kind of upgrades we’ll get with a newer model. This time, several pictures showing a possible Mavic 4 prototype. What is clear is the very visible Hasselblad name branding and a design that looks similar to the current Mavic 3 series. The leaks seem to show a larger gimbal with a 3 camera setup, which could indicate bigger image sensors. You can also see several sensors on the top and bottom of the drone, another possible upgrade could be to obstacle avoidance or tracking features. Again, we’ll have to wait and see. But the possibilities are exciting! Next up, an accusation involving drones at the Olympics. A drone was seen flying over the New Zealand women’s soccer team during practice. The New Zealand Olympic Committee stated, “Team support members immediately reported the incident to police, leading to the drone operator, who has been identified as a support staff member of the wider Canadian Women's football team, to be detained,” A formal investigation has been launched to review the event. The Canadian Olympic Committee responded with a statement saying, “The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair-play and we are shocked and disappointed. We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee,” We’ll have to wait to see what information is uncovered from this story, but we will report back with any updates. Lastly, as mentioned, Greg is at the EAA airshow with a lot of team. This year we have booths 209,210 and in Hangar B booth 2141. No live on Community today and no live on Monday. But, Greg will be back for next week’s News Update we’ll see you then! https://dronexl.co/2024/07/24/man-arrested-drone-spacex-texas/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/22/dji-mavic-4-prototype-drone/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/22/dji-air-3s-drone-video/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/22/dji-air-3s-drone-video/

Jul 19, 2024

First up is your “Don’t be that guy” segment… A video was posted this week of a drone pilot flying over the Blue Angels near Pensacola Beach, FL. The drone appeared to be in the flight path of the jets, though slightly higher. The footage has since been deleted off of social media. Please do not be that guy and do not interfere with other air traffic. We’ll keep you updated as we see how this story progresses. Next up, the FAA finally released a FRIA map! This new interactive map functions similarly to the UAS Facilities map, but displays FRIAs instead of airspace! The map includes information about each FRIA including the site name, Affiliated CBO, approval & expiration date, and address. This is a great site along with FRIAmap.com for recreational flyers to find FRIAs! Last up, a burglary suspect was taken into custody after a drone observed them breaking into multiple vehicles. A DFR drone returning from a mission was used to survey a parking lot at a busy area when the operator noted a man acting suspiciously. After watching the man for a short time, the police operator observed the man use a screw driver to break into a vehicle, where he spent several minutes before breaking into another vehicle. Police units responded and were directed to the vehicle the man was in, where he was arrested. This is an interesting, secondary use of a DFR drone. Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live! We'll be in booths 209/210, and 2141 Meet the team, get swag, see the airplane, and try out our new VR systems for airplane training! https://dronexl.co/2024/07/17/reckless-drone-pilot-endangers-blue-angels/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/12/faa-map-drone-remote-id-fria-areas/ https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8f274117010f4eb1a50f64c1719be12b https://www.friamap.com/ https://ktla.com/news/local-news/police-drone-in-southern-california-busts-burglary-suspect-in-the-act/

Jul 12, 2024

First up is an update to the Chinese drone ban discussion. The Senate version of the 2025 NDAA was released this week, without the Countering CCP Drones Act language in the bill. This is a great win, but we can’t let up. The NDAA is an act that must pass every year and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson said that Congress plans to put together a China-focused bill later this year. Please continue to educate and talk to your Senators and Representatives. Let them know that this and other legislation that would ban Chinese drones is not okay. To see how you can get involved, visit the DAA’s website! Next up, a drone show in Washington State lost 55 drones due to a malfunction. Starlight Drone Shows was scheduled to perform a drone show over Angle Lake, WA on the 4th of July. Despite initial GPS locks, 55 drones out of 200 lost GPS and landed in the lake. None of the drones flew away or went into the Geofence, showing that programming worked as expected. The remainder of the show was cancelled and 145 other drones were successfully recovered. Starlight was in charge of the Sun N Fun show that we attended in April in Lakeland Florida with over 500 drones, which went flawlessly for 2 nights during the show. We’ll keep you updated if we see more about what caused the GPS loss. Third up, Freefly has released Astro Prime! The new Astro Prime has a 28-minute flight time with a Sony LR1, a new battery system guaranteed to 500 cycles, and a pro controller. Payloads include a Sony LR1 as a main camera with additional payloads including Wiris cameras, Sony Alpha 7R-IV, Green Valley Lidar, Sentra Multispectral cameras, Internal labs LiDAR, Hovermap LiDAR, Rock Robotic LiDAR, Micasense multispectral cameras, and more. The Astro Prime is also NDAA Compliant and Blue UAS, made in Woodinville, WA. Pricing for the Astro Prime is $27,000 for the aircraft only while a kit including batteries, controller, and aircraft is $32,250. Pretty cool aircraft from Freefly! Last up, Watts's Innovations appears to have shut down and is "Shifting to new horizons". It's unclear what the new horizons are, but we wish the folks over at Watt's Innovations the very best! Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live! https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/press-releases/sasc-completes-markup-of-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2025 https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy25_ndaa_bill_text.pdf https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/ https://www.flyingmag.com/drones/questions-remain-after-july-fourth-drone-show-falls-apart/ https://dronexl.co/2024/07/08/freefly-astro-prime-drone/ https://store.freeflysystems.com/collections/astro https://wattsinnovations.com/

Jul 5, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week. An assaulted drone pilot wins in court, SkyeBrowse's latest update, and our yearly PSA about flying drones near wildfires! Let's get to it. Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week. An assaulted drone pilot wins in court, SkyeBrowse's latest update, and our yearly PSA about flying drones near wildfires! Let's get to it. A drone pilot won a court case after being assaulted during a property shoot in Tucson, Arizona. Zach Zywiak, a real estate photographer, was attacked by a neighbor while operating his drone. The court ruled in Zywiak's favor, dismissing the neighbor's claims and focusing on the physical assault. The person who attacked him claimed that Zywiak harrassed him first, but the judge had a hard time believing that someone who was hired to film a million dollar listing would go out of their way to assault a neighbor. Following the incident, Zywiak said he implemented new safety measures, including wearing a drone operator vest and using a 360-degree camera. Next up, SkyeBrowse has announced major upgrades to its 3D modeling platform, significantly enhancing speed and quality. The updates include a 40% boost in loading speeds and improved interior mapping capabilities. With SkyeBrowse, you can quickly process complex interior spaces from short videos rather than hundreds of photos. The platform now supports better 8K, 4K, and 2K textures, depending on the subscription tier. If you're not familiar, SkyeBrowse is used by multiple verticals, including law enforcement, real estate, and emergency services, by making 3D modeling more efficient and accessible. And now it's time for our yearly PSA regarding flying drones near wildfires. The shortest was to say this is: don't be that guy. But more seriously, if you fly your drone near firefighting operations, they will stop their operation, potentially leading to more acres burnt, houses burning down, or even lives lost. Illegal drones disrupted firefighting efforts during a brush fire in Del Mar Heights, California on June 25. These operators forced the delay of three water drops, potentially worsening the fire. Authorities identified an individual lawnching drones during the operation, but it is unclear if charges will be filed. The fire burned 23 acres, forced evacuations, and was only 50% contained by the next morning. Another similar story was reported out of Oregon at the Upper Applegate Fire in Jackson County 3 days earlier. Again. Don't be that guy. And yes, I know, DJI released an e-bike. I love mountain biking but this is not something we will cover on this channel...unless it starts flying. What would you like DJI to make next? An air fryer? An electric laundry basket? Perhaps a speed boat? Let us know in the comments. And that's it. Hope you had a happy 4th of July, no live on Community today, have a good weekend and we'll see you on Monday for the live!

Jun 28, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 3 stories for you, DJI Air 3S Leaks, Chairs of Homeland Security calls for declassification of national security risks for Chinese drones, and a man arrested for shooting at a drone. First up, DJI Air 3S Leaks! More leaked images show the possible Air 3S or Air 4 with the same exact body style as the Air 3. The leaked image also appears to retain the dual camera setup and the obstacle avoidance. It’s unclear what upgrades may be added to the new drone, but speculations include a larger sensor size, longer flight time, and potentially more smart features. We’ll have to wait for more leaks or an announcement from DJI! https://dronexl.co/2024/06/25/dji-air-3s-leak/ Next up, the chairs of Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce Committees have called on the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Energy to declassify security risks posed by Chinese drones. Mark Green and Cathy Rodgers, House Representatives, requested the declassification of security threats found by the government. Their letter includes the publication of found issues to law enforcement agencies, the federal government, and the American public for a better understanding of possible security threats found in the drones. The two Committee Chairs requested a briefing no later than July 2nd, 2024. We’ll keep you updated as this unfolds. https://homeland.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2024-06-18-Green-Rodgers-to-CISA-DOE-re-PRC-Made-Drones.pdf Finally, a man was arrested this week in New York after shooting down his neighbor’s drone. Joseph Dishaw was arrested for menacing and criminal possession of a weapon after state troopers responded to a report of a drone being shot down. Dishaw allegedly became angry when his neighbor flew his drone over his property and shot down the drone using a shotgun. It’s unclear if there will be any federal charges for shooting at the aircraft. We’ll keep you updated if we see more.

Jun 21, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 5 stories for you, DJI Ban Updates, Drone Stalker Arrested, a drones for good story, Flite Fest and a correction to last week's segment!

Jun 14, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 6 stories for you this week: DJI Ends Sync, AVSS Parachute for Mavic 3 Enterprise, GAO report on remote ID, University of Michigan sued for airspace rules, DJI Air 4 Leaks, and Public Safety responds to Stefanik proposed bills. First up, let's talk a pretty big story that happened at the end of last week after we published news update: DJI has ended their “Sync Flight Data” function as of this week. If you’re unfamiliar with it, this feature allows flight records to be synced to the DJI cloud and imported into other apps such as AirData UAV or Aloft Air Control. AirData and Air Control have posted information on workarounds, with AirData utilizing their app to synch data from the drone, and Aloft allowing for manual uploads of flight logs. This move by DJI is only applicable in the United States and is likely a response to repeated accusation that the data is made available to the Chinese government. With the end of the program, law makers will now need to find new excuses to try to ban DJI. For more info, check out the links below. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report this week about the implementation of remote ID. The GAO found that while RID is now mandatory, the FAA has not spent time educating law enforcement on the technology, with many departments reporting they knew nothing about it. The study also looked at law enforcement access to RID and aircraft registration, and the GAO noted that there is not currently an interface allowing law enforcement to access registration information. The report also mentions network remote ID technologies as a necessary solution to help law enforcement to "access real-time information needed to track and investigate unauthorized drone activity." . The report also stated that “Stakeholders representing a commercial drone group said that there is a general lack of willingness by industry to develop network-based Remote ID”. The GAO issued 3 recommendations to the FAA; develop resources to assist state, tribal, and local LE to use remote ID; develop a plan and timeline for a remote ID interface; identify a path forward for how to provide real-time, networked data about the location and status of drones. Note that Network Remote ID is a topic of discussion in the new FAA Reauthorization Act. We’ll keep you updated if we see more. Fourth up, we have a lawsuit from the Michigan Coalition of Drone Operators against the University of Michigan. The lawsuit claims that the University has rules attempting to govern airspace above the campus and that these rules violate state and federal laws. We’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out but good on the Michigan Coalition for fighting for drone operators and their unencumbered access to the airspace. Hopefully this sends a message to other organizations trying to illegally restrict airspace access, sadly lots of universities are in this bag. Air 4 Leaks??? Lastly, 3 first responders associations have joined hands and published opposition to the DFR Act and the Countering CCP Drones Act. Drone Responders, the Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA), and the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) have issued a joint press release in opposition to Representative Stefanik's proposals.

Jun 7, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have four stories for you this week: NDAA Markup, Commercial UAV Workshops, WingtraCloud, and two new courses from Pilot Institute! Now is the time to make our voices heard in the US Senate. The Senate Armed Services Committee is considering its version of the National Defense Authorization Act. The House’s NDAA bill includes the Countering CCP Drones Act, which would ban DJI Drones. It’s also important to ensure the Drones for First Responders Act or the Countering CCP Drones Act isn’t included in the bill’s language. As a reminder, the Countering CCP Drones Act plans to ban Chinese drones by revoking to preventing new FCC approvals, which would affect EVERYONE, including public safety agencies. The DFR Act would ban Chinese drones in 5 years after creating an incremental tariff, which would affect everyone, including public safety agencies that would lose financial aid after 5 years and have to pay for expensive drones without subsidies. The Senate will vote on their version of the act next week, between June 11th and June 13th, so the time to act is NOW. Please visit the DAA’s website to contact your senator! https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/ Next up, Commercial UAV Expo is around the corner! I’ll be on a panel with Desiree Ekstein, Jared, Janacek, Vic Moss, Kenji Sugahara, and Amy T Wiegand discussing Regulations and Compliance, BVLOS, Airspace Management, Remote I, Operations Over People and Vehicles, and more. The talk is on Tuesday, September 3rd from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM and I hope to see you there! https://www.expouav.com/session/now-beyond-2024-essentials-for-every-drone-pilot/ Last up, Wingtra released WingtraCLOUD this week! WingtraCLOUD is a new software solution for flight planning, site-based file organization, 3D Planning, and coordinate systems. The primary goal of the new software is to streamline surveyors' workflows and enable more data capture. It doesn’t look like WingtraCLOUD currently integrates an image processing system but integrations are available according to Wingtra’s website. We’ll keep you updated if we see more! https://wingtra.com/wingtracloud/ Lastly, two new courses: LiDAR and Search and Rescue. Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live!

May 31, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Anzu Raptor passes security checks, NV Mosquito busting drone, and SkyeBrowse’s new partnership with RSET. First, Anzu Robotics has successfully completed White Knight Lab’s penetration test. Penetration testing of the Anzu Raptor included static and dynamic traffic analysis, Data transmission security, and removal of references to Chinese domains. These tests reinforce that the Raptor is a secure platform, and that all of the drone’s data remains on US-based Aloft Servers. https://dronexl.co/2024/05/28/anzu-raptor-security-penetration-test/ Next up, Nevada is using drones to combat mosquitos. The operation will dispense a granular product in remote areas where mosquitos are prevalent to target the mosquito larvae. The un-named product is traditionally dropped via helicopter away from residential areas, businesses, and buildings. There’s no word on the particular drone that will be used for this mission, only that it measures 9 feet by 9 feet and can carry 100lbs of the anti-mosquito payload. We’ll keep you updated if we see more interesting uses of drones! https://dronexl.co/2024/05/29/mosquito-busting-drone-northern-nevada/ Last up, SkyeBrowse has partnered with RSET. If you are unfamiliar, RSET uses virtual reality to assist in training public safety and military customers. RSET will now accept Skyebrowse models for Disaster response training, Active shooter drills, and firefighting exercises. This is a pretty awesome use of 3D models! https://dronexl.co/2024/05/29/skyebrowse-rset-3d-training-simulations/ Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live!

May 24, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Drones for First Responders Act Introduced, Drone Pilots Can’t Map in NC, and DJI Air 4 Rumors. https://droneadvocacyalliance.com First up, a follow up on the misleadingly named Drone For First Responder act from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York. As we mentioned last news update, the bill introduced last week would increase taxes on drones imported from China by 5% per year, up to 50% + $100. This means pricing recreational pilots out of the hobby. And pretty much ending the ability for FPV pilots to build their own drones... Why? Let's see. If a cheap toy drone costs $130 today, it will cost 50% more in 4 years, plus $100. So you'll pay $300. The alternative? A US drone that doesn't exist from a company that we don't know about, because no American manufacturers are currently building this kind of drone. A Mavic 3 Pro that costs $2200 today would cost $3400 in 4 years. Of course until a year later where you wouldn't be able to buy it because it will be banned from import. In 5 years, the bill would BAN drones that contain a Flight Controller, Radio, Data Transmission Device, Camera, Gimbal, software, network connectivity hardware, or data storage manufactured in China. This would effectively ban all DJI, Autel but also EXO, Holy Stone, Ruko, EMAX, BetaFPV, and more premade drones. So what about the FPV pilots that I mentioned before? Well, drones that utilize systems manufactured in China, such as Team Black Sheep, T Motor, iFlight, and even Spektrum would also be banned. It gets better, and of course I'm sarcastic. Funds from these new tariffs would be used to fund First Responders purchasing new drones. 60% of the funds collected would go to first responders, 20% to farmers and 20% to critical infrastructure pilots. But in 5 years, all the funds end. Meaning first responders, farmers and critical infrastructure pilots will be left on their own to buy drones that have been over-inflated, without any grants. This would decimate the entire hobby. Many thought the FAA was interested in killing the hobby. They were never interested in that but it certainly seems like Stefanik's office is, along with the supporter of the bill, including AUVSI. We’ve included a link to the DAA, where you can reach out to your representative and let them know this is not okay. https://dspalliance.org/the-u-s-drone-industry-is-under-attack-again/ https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/ Next up, an appeals court said that the North Carolina Surveyors Board didn’t violate a drone pilot’s rights by telling them to stop advertising and offering aerial mapping services. If you haven’t heard of this story, A drone pilot in NC received a cease and desist letter from the state’s surveying board for engaging in “ mapping, surveying and photogrammetry; stating accuracy; providing location and dimension data; and producing orthomosaic maps, quantities, and topographic information.”. The current court decision effectively bans mapping in NC for those who aren’t a surveyor. Michael Jones of 360 Virtual Drone Services plans to further appeal the decision. Let us know what you think about this in the comments. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/drone-pilot-cant-offer-mapping-215413201.html Finally, we have some DJI Air 4 Rumors. Leaked images show possible Air 4 batteries and rumors include some specs. Specs include 1” sensors, Mechanical shutters, Variable Aperture, two cameras, and O4. Interestingly the leaks seems to suggest the drone may come with the ability to map, which would likely cater to entry-level drone pilots looking to get their feet wet without spending $3500 on a Mavic 3 Enterprise. We’ll have to wait and see if these rumors are true! https://dronexl.co/2024/05/18/dji-air-4-rumors-what-we-know-so-far/ Have a great week, remember, no Live on Monday this week.

May 3, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: FAA Reauthorization, DJI Mini 4K, and Robinson Helicopters purchased Ascent AeroSystems. First up, congress appears close to FAA reauthorization. The reauthorization is over 1,000 pages, with topics including BVLOS drone operations, fine increases for consumer violations, legislation over near collisions, quality control for large aircraft manufacturers, and FAA staffing. Congress now will need to vote in favor of the bill before it heads to the President’s desk. During this time, we need to stay up to date on possible regulations going through Congress that may get lumped into the bill. The DAA has a new campaign opposing a section of the FAA Reauthorization that would prohibit the DOT from using any money for drones made in China along with the expected-to-be-introduced Drones for First Responders Act. Check out the DAA Link below to make your voice heard and we'll keep you updated when we see more. https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/ Next up is the DJI Mini 4K. The drone is currently available for sale on DJI’s Amazon site, with no mention on DJI’s official website. The Mini 4K supports recording up to 4K 30fps, and 2.7K up to 60 fps. Other specs remain similar to the old Mini 2 series, with a 31-minute flight time, 3 axis gimbal, smart features like quickshots, panoramic shots, and RTH. The Mini 4K comes in at $299 for the drone and controller, and the Fly-more combo with extra batteries at $449. This offers a more cost-effective option for those looking for a 4K drone, as compared to the Mini 3 at $419 for the drone and controller, and $589 for the fly more combo. Let us know what you think about this new DJI release! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/29/dji-mini-4k-drone/ Last up, Robinson Helicopter has acquired Ascent AeroSystems. If you’re unfamiliar with Ascent, they make the Spirit Drone which is a coaxial tube-like drone primarily used by the military and some industries. The Spirit has a max takeoff weight of 13.5 lbs, an IP56 Rating, and a maximum flight time with a payload of 38 minutes. Ascent also makes the NX30, with a 15lb payload, 65-minute endurance, and 35-mile range. Robinson CEO David Smith hopes to ramp up production of Ascent’s drones to hundreds a month. We’ll keep you updated if we see more from Robinson and Ascent! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/24/robinson-helicopter-drone-maker-ascent-aerosystems/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend!

Apr 26, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: New Drone Act in Congress, Aloft adds SGI, the DAC recommends Changes for Stadium TFRs, and the new DJI Agras! First up, is the soon-to-be proposed "Drones for First Responders Act". Not to be confused with DFR: Drones AS first Responder, which is actually something useful. This bill is introduced by Elise Stefanik, NY republican, who was being the proposed full DJI ban we discussed a few weeks ago. So you know we're in good capable hands here. The new act aims to transition public safety operations away from Chinese-made drones by increasing tariffs, providing grants to purchase US-made drones, set a limit on when imported drones must not contain Chinese parts (2030), and provides grants to US manufacturers. There's no word though on if US manufacturers will be able to produce the same amount of drones and what will happen if production is limited. The act claims that drones manufactured in China have a risk of potential data vulnerability. So I'm gonna ask the same question I've been asking for the last few years: if they are a threat, why are we allowing them to be used for the next 6 years under this proposal? Keep in mind, this is NOT a bill nor a legislative proposal yet and is subject to change. We don't have a bill text at this time, but we'll let you know when we see one. https://dronelife.com/2024/04/21/new-legislation-balances-national-security-concerns-with-support-for-u-s-drone-industry-drones-for-first-responders-act/ Second up, Aloft has added automated SGI waiver requests into Air Control! In case you don’t know what an SGI waiver is, it stands for Special Government Interest. SGI waivers allow for public safety and other UAS operators to fly in emergency operations that may require entering a no-fly zone or flying beyond visual line of sight. To get an SGI waiver, a department or operator had to call the FAA’s SOSC. Aloft Air Control is now approved to provide these waivers as needed. This should help all those public safety agencies and those who operate as volunteers. https://www.aloft.ai/blog/aloft-introduces-automated-sgi-waivers-in-aloft-air-control-streamlining-access-to-restricted-airspaces/ Next up, the DAC is recommending changes to stadium TFRs! Stadium TFRs close over 125,000 square miles of airspace annually and impact thousands of legitimate UAS operations. The DAC’s recommendation includes a drone-specific TFR that would be limited to the fence line of the stadium, reducing the restriction by 99% to just 11 square miles. Pretty cool for those operators who fly in cities! https://www.einpresswire.com/article/704774366/drone-advisory-council-announces-recommendation-to-modernize-airspace-restrictions-at-sporting-events Last up, DJI is continuing to release new drones! The Agras T25 and the Agras T50 were released this week. Along with these new Agras, DJI released Smart Farm, which allows for plot management and daily operations. The new T50 comes with Active Phased Array RADAR, a four-sprinkler Kit, and 9-minute fast charging batteries. The T50 has a maximum payload of 50kg of spreading payload or 40kg of spray payload and can spray 50 acres per hour. We’ll keep you updated if we see more from DJI! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/22/dji-agras-t50-agricultural-drone/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week on Monday for the live!

Apr 5, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Drone Shop Owner arrested for prison drops, Baltimore bridge collapse, possible Avata release next week? First up, next week appears to have two DJI releases! The first release appears to be a possible gimbal which is set to release on the 9th. Leaks on the new gimbal suggest an RS4 Pro and suggest battery compatibility and new accessories. Unlike the possible RS4 Pro, the next release has several leaks. Set to release on the 11th appears to be a new DJI Avata! Leaked specs and pricing from DroneXL suggest a 1/1.3” CMOS sensor, D-Log, O4, and 23 minute battery life. Pricing has also been leaked, with the drone only coming in at $410 and the fly more combo at $960. We’ll keep you updated if we see anything else about either of these releases! https://dronexl.co/2024/04/03/dji-avata-2-leaks-specs-prices-features/ https://dronexl.co/2024/03/28/dji-rs-4-pro-gimbal-leaked-photo/ Next up, the bridge collapse in Baltimore is a No Drone Zone. If you’re unfamiliar, a container ship hit a bridge pylon on the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore resulting in the bridge collapsing. To reduce possible airspace congestion, a TFR has been issued for the area surrounding the bridge. Authorities including as the NTSB are using drones and helicopters as part of the investigation, with the NTSB releasing videos and images of the collapse. The FBI has issued a statement saying: “The FBI's message is simple: All drones are to stay away from the site of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. This is to ensure the safety of all first responders and crews in the area as well as to not interfere with their work," said William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office. "You will be charged federally if you fly a drone in a restricted area. It is harmful to the recovery operations, and it is illegal” Don’t be that guy… https://dronexl.co/2024/03/31/fbi-no-drone-zone-baltimore-bridge-collapse/ Last up this week, a drone shop owner in Georgia was arrested for using drones to smuggle contraband into Prison. Georgia Department of Corrections arrested business owner Robert Schwartz from Thunder Drones on charges including contraband drops and inmate communications. Police said during the investigation they stopped over 170 prison drops, seized more than 50 drones, 51 lbs of ecstasy, 22 firearms, and 273 cellphones. The investigation began in November of 2022 and has led to 146 arrests. We’ll keep you updated if we see anything else about this story. https://dronexl.co/2024/03/29/drone-shop-arrested-georgia-prison-contraband/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week on Monday for the live!

Mar 29, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: DJI Dock 2 Release, Hylio gets approval for drone swarms, and DroneUp announces new delivery system. First up is DJI’s new Dock 2. The Dock 2 is a smaller more compact version of the DJI dock, with similar capabilities. The Dock 2 is 75% smaller and 68% lighter than the Dock 1, and comes with two available aircraft. DJI also released the Matrice 3D and 3DT with the Dock 2, allowing for nearly any mission to be completed using the Dock system. The Matrice 3D is set up much like the Mavic 3 Enterprise, with a 4/3 CMOS wide camera and a 1/2” CMOS tele camera. The Matrice 3DT mimics the Mavic 3 Enterprise Thermal, with a 1/1.32” CMOS wide camera, a 1/2” CMOS tele camera, and a 640x512 Thermal camera. Batteries on both aircraft are advertised to last for 50 minutes and for 400 charge cycles. DJI also advertised that the control of the docks was through US Based AWS servers for maximum security. Let us know in the comments what you think about this new dock! https://enterprise.dji.com/dock-2?site=enterprise&from=nav https://dronexl.co/2024/03/26/dji-unveils-dock-2-automated-drone-ops/ Next up, Hylio has gotten approval to operate drone swarms! Hylio makes several spray drones from small 2.5 gallon up to 18 gallon drones. Prices range from $18,000 to $56,000 respectively, with additional accessories further increasing the price. Hylio’s latest FAA approval allows them to operate several drones larger than 55lbs simultaneously. It’s unclear the specifics of the waiver/authorization but this is a pretty huge breakthrough for those working in agriculture. https://dronexl.co/2024/03/26/faa-green-light-agricultural-drone-swarms/ Last up is DroneUp. DroneUp this week released a locker system, called the DBX, that will replace the operations centers currently in use. The DBX acts as a location that a company can use to send packages out of, with a capacity of up to 50 packages per hour. A drone then delivers the package to the customer and returns to a different location to either charge or to get a battery swap. This allows a network of drones to operate from a “Hub” and pick up packages at stores and other locations to deliver to customers. What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments! https://www.droneup.com/introducing-the-droneup-ecosystem https://dronexl.co/2024/03/26/droneup-autonomous-drone-delivery/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week on Monday for the live!

Mar 22, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: DJI Releases, AUVSI’s stance on Drone Bans, and an update on the man who flew over an NFL game in Maryland. First up, DJI has a few rumors out for future releases! The first is scheduled to come out on March 26th and is titled “Easy Operation, Superior Results”. Leaks suggest this is most likely the DJI Dock 2, the Matrice 3D, and 3DT drones. The Dock 2 and the new Matrice series drones popped up on the FCC database in February, but we haven’t seen any updates since then. Rumors put the new dock at about $10,000 but don’t discuss the price of the drones. Leaked specs include 50 minute flight times for Matrice 3D series, wind resistances up to 12 m/s (27 mph), and a maximum take off weight of 1610g. Pretty cool for enterprise customers and public safety! https://dronexl.co/2024/03/19/dji-dock-2-matrice-3d-drones-launch/ Our next story is about possible hidden agendas by AUVSI. https://dronexl.co/2024/03/19/auvsi-real-stance-on-dji-drone-ban/ Last up this week is an update on the drone flyover of an NFL game earlier this year. Matthew Hebert flew a drone over and around the stadium causing a delay during the first quarter of the game. Police quickly located Hebert, who claimed ignorance of the TFR and relied on the drone’s remote control app for guidance. Hebert cooperated fully with the investigation and was sentenced to one year of probation and a $500 fine. https://dronexl.co/2024/03/17/drone-afc-championship-probation-fine-pennsylvania-man/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week on Monday for the live!

Mar 15, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: Remote ID enforcement begins, Bill to control airspace in Illinois Senate, St Louis Drone Bill update, and DJI Avata 2 Leaks. First up the FAA’s deferred enforcement of remote ID ends this Saturday. This means that remote ID is now required to operate any drone that is registered or needs to be registered. If your drone doesn’t have remote ID, you can equip it using a broadcast module or you can fly it at a FRIA. FRIA information is available in the UAS Facility maps or on Aloft Air aware. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-extends-remote-id-enforcement-date-six-months Next up is an update on the St Louis drone bill that would regulate airspace… The bill has passed the city’s legislature and is now on the Mayor’s desk. Like we previously covered, this bill limits commercial operators and attempts to control airspace, including airspace around emergency vehicles, schools, publicly owned buildings, and events. If these laws are violated, a pilot faces fines and the confiscation of the drone. This is a perfect example of a municipality over reacting to a proposed drone operation. We’ll keep you updated if this becomes law. https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/upload/legislative/boardbills/committee-substitute-amended/BB199CSAA%20Combined%20Final%205.pdf Third this week is an Illinois bill that would also control the airspace. This bill would allocate the lowest 150’ to of airspace to be controlled by municipalities, who could create their own rules around “public” airspace. If you’re in IL, please reach out to Senators Julie Morrison and Linda Holmes to let them know this bill goes against the FAA’s sole jurisdiction of the airspace. It’s also interesting to note that this bill doesn’t specifically attempt to restrict UAS, but instead would apply to all aircraft. Another one we’ll keep you updated on! https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=2849&GAID=17&SessionID=112&LegID=151674 Ending on a better note, ther's leaks for the DJI Avata 2… Leaded pictures show the Avata 2, which appears to be a streamlined and a bit thinner version of the original Avata. With the leaked drone images come another set of DJI goggles with forward facing cameras, possibly to allow for an AR Experience. Leaked specs for the Avata suggest a 1/1.3” CMOS Sensor, 155 degree FOV, f/2.8, and 4K 60/100/120. Rumors say the drone will be about 480 grams and will fly for 27 minutes in normal/sport mode and 12-15 minutes in manual mode. We’ll have to see what comes of these leaks! https://dronexl.co/2024/03/10/dji-avata-2-goggles-3-specifications/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week on Monday for the live!

Mar 8, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: DJI Data breach, FAA Authorization extended, AirData creates public portal for government transparency, and Ohio DOT to use drones for traffic surveillance. First up this week is supposed DJI data breach that turned out to be a complex scam. The “Mogilevich” group claimed online to have hacked DJI and had a one-terabyte database of information including prototypes and blueprints of new products. At least one person or group paid for the non-existent database at a price of $85,000. The scammers then posted their scam online saying “Now the real question is? Why confess all this when we could just run away? This was done to illustrate the process of our scam, We don't think of ourselves as hackers but rather as criminal geniuses, if you can call us that.” To be clear, DJI has not been hacked, the “hack” was instead a scam to convince people to pay for the non-existent data. We’ll keep you updated if we see anything else about this. https://dronexl.co/2024/03/04/hacker-mogilevich-scam-drone-maker-dji/ Second this week, the FAA has gotten another extension in funding until May 10th, 2024. This is the third extension since the 2018 Reauthorization Act ran out in September of 2023. The US House Of Representatives passed a bill to reauthorize the FAA for the next 5 years back in July of 2023, but the US Senate has yet to come to any agreement on FAA Reauthorization. We’ll have to wait and see if this is another “Kicking the can down the road” fix or if we’ll get a 5 year reauthorization. https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/03/05/faa-reauthorization-extended-yet-again-2/ Next this week, AirData has released their “Public Portal”. The Public Portal is an integrated product for public safety agencies to publish where drone operations occurred within a city or municipality. The publishing of these flights allows law enforcement agencies to be transparent about their operations after the operations have occurred. Flights are filtered automatically to protect confidentiality and a department can tailor what data is released to their needs. According to AirData, a number of major police departments have assisted with the design and development of the Public Portal including Chula Vista PD, Las Vegas Metro PD, and Sacramento PD. For more information, check out AirData’s website. Last up, the Ohio Department of Transportation will be using what appears to be a Censys Sentaero for traffic surveillance along US 33. Along with the purchase of the Sentaero, the DOT has gotten approval for a BVLOS waiver and an OOP waiver, allowing the drone to be operated over people and traffic beyond line of sight. Specific safety mitigations are not listed in article nor were they available on the Ohio DOT’s website. It’s unclear when the traffic surveillance operations will begin, but the drone will also be used for a number of other operations including GIS operations, mapping, emergency management, and construction monitoring. Another innovative use of UAS! https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/ohio/odot-to-launch-drone-on-us-route-33/530-1485ea6d-e289-403f-86ed-dc418c306fd8 https://drive.ohio.gov/programs/aam/uas Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week on Monday for the live!

Mar 1, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Man sentenced after shooting down drone, SkyeBrowse Lite, and the AMA has gotten approval for temporary FRIAs. First up this week is an update on a story we’ve been covering since 2021... Back in 2021, a sheriff’s drone looking for burglary suspects was shot down by a man who claimed the drone was “Harassing him”. The $30,000 Matrice 300 crashed onto a nearby building and caught on fire. The fire was quickly contained and no permanent damage occurred to the structure. Wendell Goney was identified as a person on interest and was contacted by police shortly after the crash. Goney claimed the drone was harassing him and admitted to shooting the drone with a .22 rifle. Deputies then arrested Goney for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. This week, a US District judge gave the 29 time felon a 4 year prison sentence for the incident. We’ll have to see if this sets a precedent for other courts to follow in drone shoot downs. https://dronexl.co/2024/02/23/florida-man-sentenced-four-years-shooting-down-sheriffs-drone/ Next up this week is our friends over at SkyeBrowse! SkyeBrowse released “Lite” this week, adding a monthly plan between free and enterprise! SkyeBrowse lite adds higher accuracy down to 2 inches and priority processing speeds for $49 a month. If you’re unfamiliar with SkyeBrowse, it’s an online processing software that uses videos to create 3D models. Videos can be from nearly any source and don’t require GPS information. If you don’t want or need to pay for models, SkyeBrowse still has their Freemium plan, which allows you to pay to unlock tools when you need them! https://www.skyebrowse.com/blog/2023/12/12/introducing-skyebrowse-lite Last up this week is the AMA, who has gotten approval from the FAA for temporary FRIAs. The approval is only applicable AMA events though we’ll likely see similar approvals for the FTCA, FPVFC and Stem+C soon. NOTAMs will be required for these events, which won’t help out the FAA’s NOTAM system unless it gets a major overhaul. We’ll keep you updated when we see more. https://amablog.modelaircraft.org/amagov/2024/02/27/faa-grant-national-authorization-for-ama-sanctioned-events/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week!

Feb 16, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: New bill to ban DJI for all users, Philly Drone Life goes back to court, WingtraOne gets LiDAR, and Air Aware gets FRIA locations! Please help fight the drone ban here: https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/?vvsrc=%2Fcampaigns%2F111611%2Frespond First up this week is a new bill from the US House Of Representatives called the “Countering CCP Drones Act” or H.R. 2864. The bill would revoke all FCC authorizations for existing and future DJI drones. For those who don’t know, the FCC issues approvals for anything that transmits radio frequencies. The revocation of DJI’s approvals would mean no drones could transmit radio frequencies. This would affect ALL users of DJI drones, including those who fly for recreation or fly for non-critical infrastructure. Please reach out to your representative and let them know this is unacceptable and will destroy the UAS industry. We’ll keep you updated if we see any developments on this. https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/?vvsrc=%2Fcampaigns%2F111611%2Frespond Second up this week is trouble for Philly Drone Life, a YouTuber known for being fined by the FAA for flying dangerously. A complaint filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania states the YouTuber, Michael DiCiurcio, has been “warned, counseled, and educated” 3 times by the FAA. The complaint goes on to state that DiCiurcio continues to knowingly violate regulations and lists 26 incident flights between December 29th, 2019 and August 4th, 2020 and the violations for each flight. The complaint assigns a value of $1,501 per violation of each Federal Aviation Regulation, totaling $182,004 in fines. Violations included acting as an airman without an airman certificate, careless and reckless operations, operating without a strobe light at night, operating beyond visual line of sight, operating over a human beings, and operating within controlled airspace without airspace approval. The court seeks the total fine amount along with a permanent injunction on operating drones not in full compliance with Part 107 or 44809. This would mean that if DiCiurcio were to violate Part 107 or 44809, a warrant could be issued for his arrest. We’ll keep you updated if we see any more about this case. https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/united-states-files-lawsuit-against-philadelphia-resident-alleging-violations-faa Third this week is Wingtra, who has released a LiDAR unit for the WingtraOne Gen II. This unit has a vertical accuracy of 3cm from 200’ and the capability to map up to 890 acres in a single flight, this is a game changer for those mapping and LiDAR firms who do large areas. The LiDAR payload comes in at about $6000 according to the head of sales at Wingtra. Pretty cool new payload, I wonder if Jared will be getting one… https://dronexl.co/2024/02/12/aerial-mapping-wingtra-lidar-drone/ Last up this week is Air Aware! You guys asked, and we heard your requests! We were able to get FRIA Maps added into the app so you can see where to fly with your older drones or your foamy without RID! We’re excited to continue to add features to Air Aware, so be sure to leave a comment if you have some suggestions! https://www.aloft.ai/blog/new-in-air-aware-b4ufly-fria-data-layers/

Feb 9, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: Remote ID for the DJI minis, an armed suspect escaped police after shooting down a drone, a man faces felony charges after flying over NFL game, and the Super Bowl is a No-Drone-Zone. First up this week is an update on Remote ID for the Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro, and Mini 4 Pro. Last week we covered that DJI’s latest firmware update that removed remote ID when using the small batteries. This firmware update applies to ONLY the Mini 3 and the Mini 4 Pro at this time, if you have the Mini 3 Pro, the drone will transmit RID with both batteries. For the other two drones (The Mini 3 and the Mini 4 Pro) we reached out to DJI. After meeting with DJI we found out that each drone is considered two models, one with each battery. The large battery will transmit remote ID, while the other battery does not. Only the drone and larger battery is approved by the FAA. We’ll be publishing a full video on this topic soon and we’ll place a card here when it’s time! https://dronexl.co/2024/02/02/dji-clarifies-mini-drones-rid-compliance/ Next up this week is kind of a scary one out of California. Police with a warrant were conducting surveillance with a drone in Shasta County on a man wanted for multiple felonies including assault with a deadly weapon. During the operation, the wanted man shot the drone down. A SWAT team was deployed along with California highway patrol, but the man escaped and remains at large. The incident is a great example of how drones put cameras in harms way instead of people. https://dronexl.co/2024/02/02/suspect-shooting-law-enforcement-drone/ Third up this week is likely one you’ve seen, a man is facing felony charges after illegally operating a drone at a NFL game in Maryland. Matthew Hebert allegedly flew his drone over the M&T Bank stadium during a TFR on January 28th, 2024. The NFL suspended the game due to the drone while Maryland State Police and the FBI located the drone pilot. The pilot advised police he relied exclusively on DJI’s built in geofencing to tell him where he could and couldn’t fly and that because no DJI restrictions were in place, he assumed he could fly. The drone was unregistered and Hebert does not possess a remote pilot certificate. If convicted, the maximum sentence is three years in federal prison for operating as an airman without an airman certificate and operating an unregistered drone. Another charge of willfully violating US National Defense Airspace would add another possible year to the charge. We’ll keep you updated if we see anything else about this. https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/pennsylvania-man-facing-federal-felony-charges-illegally-operating-drone-during-national?fbclid=IwAR240Cf8I9ZA5rX4dOaBMUisUFlfgFqEVd93Y9ONw5uwUm7wMMChuyn4Uac On the same topic, the Super Bowl is this weekend… if you’re in Las Vegas, there is a 30 NM TFR around the game… The FBI WILL be visiting pilots who bust this TFR… Don’t bust it! Las Vegas has a number of drone detection stations around the city, don’t think that you won’t get caught… Don’t be that guy, check the TFRs before you fly! https://dronexl.co/2024/02/05/las-vegas-no-drone-zone-super-bowl-faa/ Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week!

Feb 2, 2024

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week: A Secret Announcement, AUVSI jumps on anti-Chinese drone bandwagon, NASA’s Ingenuity ends mission with 72 flights, Autel releases the Alpha, and Mini 3 and 4 RID update. AUVSI appears to be alienating a large number of the folks they claim to represent. AUVSI released a video this week calling for US Lawmakers to “take measured actions to strengthen the U.S. drone industry”. If you’ve followed us before, you know we’d love to use US made drones, but there are none available for the same cost with the same capabilities as DJI or Autel. AUVSI’s stance particularly affects Public Safety, who has recently seen restrictions on country of origin in a number of states including Florida, Arkansas, Indiana, Mississippi, California, Nevada, Texas, and the 2024 NDAA. We’ve also seen a recent bill from Oklahoma to ban the use of Chinese drones for public safety. So far, the industry’s response hasn’t been in favor of what AUVSI and other American drone manufacturers are pushing, with many companies including us pulling out of AUVSI’s conference. There hasn’t been a better time than now to re-evaluate who is advocating for you and your hobby/profession and where you may be donating. If we can make a recommendation, the Drone Service Providers Alliance is a great group to join. We commonly talk with Vic, Kenji, and Dave Messina about advocacy including fighting local bills that restrict us from flying and those that restrict our Public Safety agencies from using the best tools available to save lives. Next up this week is an update to NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter. Ingenuity suffered a “Hard landing” on January 18th, which damaged one or more of the rotor blades, making it no longer capable of flight. NASA’s goal for Ingenuity was 5 total flights on Mars, instead 72 flights for a total flight time of over 2 hours were completed, with over 10 miles covered It seems Ingenuity’s mission was a success and hopefully we’ll see another version of the helicopter headed to the red planet soon! Last up this week is the Autel Alpha release! The Alpha appears to be a medium sized industry/public safety drone with a wide camera, zoom camera, laser range finder, and two thermal cameras with up to 56X hybrid thermal zoom. The alpha is much bigger than the Max series and boasts a ton of features, including hot-swappable batteries, mesh networking, 4K 35X optical zoom, IP55 weather rating, and obstacle avoidance. Looks like a pretty cool new aircraft, hopefully we’ll be able to get our hands on one to test! Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/auvsi_auvsi-is-calling-on-us-lawmakers-to-take-activity-7156338684651327488-TGQC/# https://dspalliance.org/ https://dronexl.co/2024/01/25/autel-introduces-alpha-drone/ https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/nasas-ingenuity-mars-copter-ends-a-remarkable-run

Jan 26, 2024

The first bill we’re going to cover is the Oklahoma, which would restrict state entries from purchasing or operating drones built or assembled by a covered foreign entity. Waivers of HB3068 are available through the state’s Office of Management and Enterprise Services. Waivers can be granted for criminal investigations, counter UAS, and “difficult circumstances”. Under this bill, state entities would be restricted starting May 1st, 2027. Next up is Missouri, where we saw the drone surveillance scheme last week. The state’s response is House Bill 1204, which would ban surveillance by drone. This one doesn’t seem to be nearly as bad as the St. Louis bill we saw last week but we have some questions… What does surveillance mean? What constitutes observation - nearly viewing through the camera of a drone? The answers to the observation question could completely restrict commercial UAS operations if observing through a camera as a by-product of a shot is not allowed. We’ll keep you updated with what we see out of this one. Third up is Utah, which seems to be trying to control airspace. The bill is sponsored by Ryan D. Wilcox, references recreational flying and “14 CFR section 101”… Go home Ryan, you’re drunk… Recreational operations are now 49 USC 44809, and have been since 2018… The bill would restrict operations over electric lines for public transport, over critical infrastructure, and would limit Part 107 waivers issued by the Waiver officer, specifically waivers for operations over 400’ AGL. If you’re in Utah, please reach out to Mr Wilcox and let him know this is unacceptable. Fourth this week is the CISA and FBI’s Guidance on Cyber security for Chinese manufacturers UAS. The document does not take a side, and instead provides facts regarding possible cyber threats, going as far as to state “Identify and select the UAS platforms that best meet the operational and security requirements of the organization.” The fact sheet provides federal guidance and recommendations on how to mitigate possible cybersecurity threats, specifically from Chinese manufactured UAS. The document also includes references and other resources for those of you who may want to look into this further, and we’ll leave a link below so you can read it for yourself. In all reality, many of the rules and guidance in this document can be applied to most things you do online. Alright! We’re through the government craziness for now! Last up this week is the ACSL Soten, A Japanese NDAA compliant drone that has now been released to the US! The Soten has a number of payloads including visible camera, IR+visual, and a multispectral camera. The drone uses 94Wh Li-Ion battery pack for a maximum flight time of 29 minutes. Soten also has a vision system and an infra red sensing system for obstacle avoidance, maximum range of 4km, and a number of available accessories including a smart controller! We’ve reached out to ACSL to see if we can get one to test out! Alright, that’s it, have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week! https://product.acsl.co.jp/en/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ACSL_SOTEN_pamphlet_EN.pdf https://www.okhouse.gov/posts/news-20230117_1 https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/HB0142.html https://house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills141/biltxt/intro/HB1204I.htm https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-01/Cybersecurity%20Guidance%20Chinese-Manufactured%20UAS.pdf

Jan 19, 2024

First up this week is St Louis Bill BB199, which has some concerning text for recreational UAS operators… Line 19, 20, and 21 state “Any person who operates a drone or any UA in the City of St. Louis shall have a valid Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA and shall be in compliance with all standards set forth under the FAA’s Small UAs Rule (Part 107).” There is no exemption for recreational or 44809 operations… The bill has other concerning text for any UAS operators, with restrictions on operating drones within 1500’ of other aircraft (Including City of St. Louis Drones), No fly zones to be established by the city, required stand back distances from public safety vehicles, and publicly owned buildings.The rule is of course not applicable to any city department or city agency. We’ll leave a link in the description to the bill’s text. And speaking of St Louis, here is an update on the plan to use drones for surveillance. After push back from the city, the company isn’t backing down and instead sent the city a letter threatening a lawsuit if permits for operators were required. Instead they will offer a free trial at a different time and location. They are also asking for operators to join him and fly. All you have to do is pay $99 and they'll let you fly with them! Currently, a gofundme for the plan sits at just $20 out of a goal of $10,000. And if you think there's a link between the two St Louis stories, there certainly could be. When we say: don't ruin it for the rest of us, this certainly applies here. Next up this week is Wing, who has unveiled a new drone with double the payload capacity of their current flagship drone! The new drone has a 5lb payload capacity, while maintaining the 12 mile round trip range. Wing says the new drone will be deployed within the next 12 months to all sites where Wing operates.The company also said that about 70% of deliveries are completed using one drone, while 30% use multiple drones to deliver, this would reduce the required number of trips to deliver the same goods. Fourth up this week is the DJI Mics 2! DJI has released the new Mics 2 with an 8GB internal storage, 14 hours of internal recording, 820’ range, Ai Noise Canceling, 32 bit float recording, All in one stage case, and compatibility with USB-C, Lightning, and 3.5mm TRS analog output.The cost of the new mics comes in at 349 for two mics and a transmitter, a mic and transmitter for 219, or 99 per mic. Check out our video on the new mics! And the final story this week is another DJI release, this time from DJI Enterprise. DJI released “Modify”, which appears to be a mesh-editing tool that pairs with DJI Terra to provide modification to 3D models. On release, Modify is only compatible with DJI Terra models. Models can then be exported as .ply and .obj for third party or online sharing. The yearly cost of Modify is $1580 plus taxes and you can a 6 month free trial. And here’s a quick pilot institute update, our new course app is now ready! We’re released our new app for offline viewing of the courses available on both android and apple devices! Head over and download it to start watching! https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/17/24040030/wing-delivery-larger-drone-payload-capacity-alphabet https://dronexl.co/2024/01/17/dji-mic-2-new-era-pro-audio-recording/ https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/upload/legislative/boardbills/introduced/BB199%20Combined1.pdf https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/aldermen/representation/profile.cfm?id=1561

Jan 12, 2024

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 5 stories for you this week; Autel Alpha hits FCC database, DIJ FlyCart 30 released outside of China, KY bill could limit drone operations, Walmart partners with Wing, and a filmmaker’s plan to curb crime using drones. First up this week is the Autel Alpha, which hit FCC databases! It’s been a long time since we discussed the Alpha rumors and many folks have likely forgotten about the drone. Alpha specs supposedly include IP55, 45-minute flight times, 50MP cameras, 25X Zoom camera, 640x512 Thermal, laser range finder, multiple payload options, autonomous missions, multi-aircraft operations, and 360 degree obstacle avoidance. We’ll keep you updated if we see anything else! Second up this week is the FlyCart 30, DJI's delivery drone! The FlyCart 30 has been released outside of China! If you aren't familiar with the FlyCart 30, the heavy lift drone has a capacity of 30kg with the dual battery setup and 40kg with the single battery set up. Safety features include IP55, active radar, binocular vision, obstacle avoidance, dual batteries, a parachute, weight/center of gravity detection, and swing stability. The FlyCart uses the DJI Pilot 2 App, the RC Plus, and O3 for a 9.9-mile range. The drone uses a 38,000 mAh battery which is rated to 1500 charge cycles. We'll see if anyone currently doing drone delivery picks this up for testing! Next up this week is a Kentucky bill that could limit the use of drones. Kentucky house Bill 45 would prohibit use of an unmanned aircraft system for surveillance, which the bill goes on to define as “1. With respect to an owner, tenant, occupant, invitee, or licensee of privately owned real property, the observation of such persons with sufficient visual clarity to be able to obtain information about their identity, habits, conduct, movements, or location; or 2. With respect to privately owned real property, the observation of such property’s physical improvements with sufficient visual clarity to be able to determine unique identifying features or its occupancy by one or more persons” The bill goes on to say; "For purposes of this section, a person is presumed to have a reasonable expectation of privacy on his or her privately owned real property if he or she is not observable by persons located at ground level in a place where they have a legal right to be, regardless of whether he or she is observable from the air with the use of an unmanned aircraft system.” Fourth this week is Walmart who is expanding deliveries in the Dallas area. Walmart has partnered with Wing and Zipline to expand their deliveries in Dallas beyond the current 60,000 people coverage. By the end of 2024, they hope to cover 1.8 million people using both Wing and Zipline’s Part 135 certificates with BVLOS waivers. So far, Walmart has completed over 20,000 successful deliveries from two stores. Last up this week is a bit of a weird one; a business owner from Washington DC, hopes to curb crime by live-streaming a drone’s camera over a neighborhood. The idea is that drones equipped with loudspeakers, cameras, and spotlights would fly over this neighborhood and live stream the camera to residents. The program would have a two-week test period, after which the neighborhood would be able to book the service for $60 - $125 per hour. What do you think about this use of drones - Let us know in the comments! https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/neighbors-local-leaders-react-to-proposed-south-city-drone-patrols/ https://dronexl.co/2024/01/02/walmart-drone-delivery-lewisville/ https://dronexl.co/2023/04/30/autel-alpha-drone/ https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/24rs/hb45.html

Jan 5, 2024

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week, drone hits Robinson R44, 2024 NDAA signed with American Security Drone Act, and a Drone Rescue, lets get to it! https://droneadvocacyalliance.com First up this week is one you’ve probably seen… A Robinson R44 Helicopter, operated by Leading Edge Helicopter Tours hit a drone at approximately 180 feet near KDAB. It’s unclear what phase of flight the helicopter was in, but it was able to land without any injuries. The incident occurred above the Daytona Beach Flea Market, in Daytona Beach, Florida while the UAS operator was flying a mission for a construction company. All current information points to the UAS operator having the valid permissions to operate at that altitude in that area. The replacement of the R44’s rotor blade is estimated to cost approximately $60,000. Both the NTSB and FAA were notified and we’re going to hold off on assumptions at this time, we’ll wait for the NTSB report to be released. Next up this week is the 2024 NDAA, which had the American Security Drone Act added as an amendment. If you’re unfamiliar with the ASDA, it aims to address cybersecurity concerns for drones used by federal agencies. The law defines aircraft as “Covered” and means they were made/produced in China. The ASDA does NOT ban DJI or Autel drones for recreational or commercial use. The ASDA does limit the use of drones that are made by a “Covered Foreign Entity”, but an exemption is in place if “as procured or as modified after procurement but before operational use, can no longer transfer to, or download data from, a covered foreign entity and otherwise poses no national security cybersecurity risks as determined by the exempting official.” This means drones with secure data modes, such as Enterprise DJIs, may be allowed to be operated by federal agencies and purchased using federal grants…. But… Later in the law is a two year buffer, meaning for the next two years no federal agency may fly a covered aircraft, procure a covered unmanned aircraft, or spend federal grant money on the operation of a covered aircraft. There is NO limitation in the ASDA limiting public safety from spending non-federal money on these covered aircraft. If you want to get involved in opposing the ASDA as it currently stands, head over to the DAA and let your representative know. Last up this week is a drone for good story out of Weber County, Utah. A foreign exchange student, Kai Zhuang, was reported missing by his parents in China, after they supposedly received a picture of him indicating he had been abducted and ransom was demanded. Despite initial fears, there was no concrete evidence suggesting a forceful removal of Kai from his home. Using an M30T, the Weber County SAR team located Kai hiding in the mountains of Utah in a tent while fearing for his family’s safety. It’s unclear what actually caused the incident, but we’ll keep you updated if we see more. Alright, that’s it! Happy new year and we’ll see you Monday for the Live event! https://dronexl.co/2024/01/01/rescue-missing-student-dji-drone/ https://dspalliance.org/what-the-2023-national-defense-authorization-act-means-to-the-uas-industry/

Dec 29, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, New Year's edition! Let's take a look at everything that's happened this year including drones for good, the don't be that guy compilation, drone regulation, Pilot Institute updates and of course new drones, starting with the Autel EVO Max.... We also reported on some Drones For Good stories this year, starting with a teen who saved people in their car. And of course, the FAA was front and center on many of our updates this year, but also some states, like Tennessee banning non-NDAA drones. Let's not forget about everyone's favorite segment: Don't be that guy! Starting with the guy who flew over the Bengals game in 2022. There were also a few surprises with Airmap shutting down their LAANC service, Amazon having a lot of issues keeping employees on board, and Skydio quitting the consumer drone business. But on the bright side, we accomplished a lot at Pilot Institute. We partnered with Influential Drones, Unmanned Tactical Group, and Axon Air to help provide even more training to our customers. We received a BVLOS waiver and submitted many more. We joined hand with the Drone Advocacy Alliance to help push back on non-sensical anti-drone regulation. We partnered with Aloft to provide the Air Aware to recreational pilots in preparation of the expected retirement of the current B4UFLY app. Then we travelled the country to various tradeshows: the Texas Robotic Summit in Burnitt TX, Sun N Fun in Lakeland Florida, AUVSI in Denver, FliteFest in Ohio, EAA Air Venture in Oshkosh WI, Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, two back to back events in Colorado with the Colorado Round Up and the Colorado AirShow, and AZ Drone Fest in Phoenix AZ. We published 14 new courses, including 8 new drones courses such as the Skydio 2 and X2, DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise, Air 3, Mini 4, Inspire 3, the Evo Max 4T, and the Part 107 Waiver course. We end the year having trained 88,000 remote Pilots to date, 295,000 students totaling 506,000 course enrollments, 7.3 million lectures completed throughout our courses (that's 1 lecture every 4 seconds), 30,000 free registration stickers, 37,000 members in our Facebook groups, 128,000 subs on the various social media channels, and 6,800 WINGS credits issued on the FAASafety website. Needless to say, none of this would have been possible without all of you. A big THANK YOU for your continuous support, my team and I certainly appreciate it. We aren't slowing down, we are already working on some very cool projects for 2024 and we hope to release the first one later this month! Happy New Year, fly safe, and see you next year!

Dec 22, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 5 stories for you this week, Air Aware Released, Legislators urge Pentagon to deny export licenses for DJI, PrecisionHawk shuts down operation, the FAA Reauthorization act and an important update to DJI Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro.

Dec 15, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 4 stories for you this week, Amazon loses Head of Safety and Flight operations, FAA and NASA conduct UTM Field Test, Skyebrowse introduces pay-per-model, and the FPVFC releases a FRIA map. Your first story this week is Amazon, who keeps losing people. Sean Cassidy, the head of Safety, flight operations, and regulatory affairs has reportedly left the company. Cassidy, a former Alaska Airlines Pilot, joined Amazon in 2015 to assist Prime Air through the process of obtaining FAA approvals. Amazon received their Part 135 certificate in August of 2020, and deliveries began this year. Over the last year, amazon has had a number of lay-offs including one in January and has lost a number of key players. Amazon hasn’t released any statement or status on their deliveries in the past few months, but we’ll keep you updated if we see any updates. Next up this week is the FAA and NASA, who have conducted a UTM field test. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of unmanned traffic management, it’s a system that allows a UAS operator to reserve a portion of the airspace for a particular time. These “reservations” would assist with deconfliction between UAS traveling at or below 400’ in uncontrolled airspace. The test included flights of varying complexity levels, verifying standards, evaluating UTM systems, testing FAA integration with USS, and testing the real world application of all these systems working with ones another. Data collected from the UTM field test is expected to be used by policymakers to enable low-altitude operations, particularly those that will operate beyond line of sight. If you’d like to read the full report, we’ll add a link in the description! Third up this week is Skyebrowse, who is now offering a pay-per model version of their software! Models start at just $3 per model and vary based on the size of the video file. Pay per models will allow you to unlock features, such as download or measurements, that are not available in the “freemium” subscription plan. This works with older models, and we were able to use a model from 2021 and access these tools! Alright, and last up this week is a map of FRIAs! Due to the UAS Facility maps not containing information about FRIA, Alex Suarez has created a map that contains the locations of approved FRIAs. The map is color coded to differentiate between the 4 CBOs, and for FPVFC, FTCA, and STEMC FRIAs, has precise boundaries. Great job Alex! Alright, that’s all we’ve got, have a great week and we’ll see you on Monday for the live! Last week, I was on vacation and @wolfpack4694 asked the team if they would do a video talking about how mean I am. The thing is, I’m really not mean, so they had to make stuff up, and let’s just say they had a little too much fun with it. Take a look, enjoy! https://www.skyebrowse.com/blog/2023/12/12/introducing-pay-per-model https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/traffic_management/UFT-Final-Report.pdf https://www.faa.gov/uas/research_development/traffic_management/field_test https://dronexl.co/2023/12/07/faa-nasa-utm-field-test/ https://dronexl.co/2023/12/12/prime-air-shakeup-cassidy-amazon-exit/ https://www.friamap.com/

Dec 1, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 4 stories for you this week, Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro finally added to DOC list, Percepto gets drone swarm waiver, defibrillator drones are faster than ambulances, and the City of Plano is looking at zoning for AAM and UAS. First up this week is the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro, which have finally been added to the remote ID DOC list! This means you no longer need any RID modules for the Air 3 and Mini 4 pro IF you had one you were using. If you’ve been waiting for the Air 3 and Mini 4 to be approved before purchasing, now’s the time! Here’s hoping the FAA and DJI are more efficient about getting these drones approved when the drone comes out! Next up this week is Percepto, who has received a waiver allowing them to operate up to 30 drones with a single operator, beyond visual line of sight. The waiver is designed for drone-in-a-box systems to be used to inspect infrastructure and pipelines. Currently, the waiver doesn’t appear on the Part 107 Waivers issued so we can’t see the specifics of the waiver, but this is a pretty cool development allowing what many would consider the holy-grail of drone waivers. We’ll keep you update if we see any updates on this waiver! Third up this week is a study out of Sweden, which tested 55 drones over 11 months responding to cardiac emergencies. Over the 11 month study, drones responded to 72 emergencies, of those 55 delivered the AED. The study found that drones had a quicker response time from dispatch to arrival, with drones arriving first 37 out of 55 times, and 2 cases of shocks being delivered prior to the ambulance arriving. Super interesting study, we’ll have to see if drones are the next thing used by emergency services to deliver supplies such as AEDs! Last up this week is the City of Plano, which is looking at changing particular zoning rules that will affect AAM and UAS operations. This comes in response to DroneUp operating out of a local Walmart without any formal permit from the city. There’s no word on what the actual zoning changes would be or how they would affect AAM or UAS operations, but another meeting is scheduled for February 26th, 2024. Major John B Muns said during a meeting “ “We had the opportunity as a council to meet in person to see the operations in two different areas, one in Frisco and one in Plano, unfortunately, it was a couple of days before Thanksgiving, so we had a lozt of us gone,” “We still need some of that information, so we're respectfully hoping that we can table this item until we can get some real data that can be analyzed and explained to us… If we could get that information and come back with a much better understanding of what you're asking for.” We’ll keep you updated with what we see out of Plano. That’s it! Have a great weekend! https://dronexl.co/2023/11/28/plano-city-council-drone-delivery/ https://uasdoc.faa.gov/listDocs https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/phantom_4_pro/20231123/Phantom_4_Pro_V2.0_Release_Notes_EN.pdf https://dronexl.co/2023/11/28/defibrillator-drones-outpace-ambulances/ https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-approves-inspection-drone-swarms/

Nov 24, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 4 stories for you this week, Ravens vs Bengals game halted due to drone, FAA Safety Login changes, rumors of a new DJI Agras T60, Skyebrowse releases 2D mapping, and our Black Friday sale is in full swing! I am certainly thankful for all of you who come here every week and watch this segment and engage in the comments. What started as a way to help our students stay informed with the industry changes has grown to a video that many of you tell me about when we meet at in-person events. I love the discussion that ensues in the comments and while many of you say it’s your favorite part of Friday mornings, my favorite part is to read the comments and interact with you all. First up this week is another drone over a major sporting event… A major league football game was halted due to a drone flying over the stadium this week, busting the stadium TFR. And while I would commonly say don’t be that guy (I’ll still say it), there are deeper issues that need to be brought up here... First, there isn’t enough notification for these TFRs… If you watched our live event you’ve heard my opinion on this: There is a single NOTAM issued for ALL stadium TFRs. This means that the stadium TFR doesn’t show on any of your favorite apps such as B4UFLY or Aloft Air Control. And no, that’s not a problem from the LAANC providers. In all reality, this is my and my team’s full time job but I personally don’t follow major sporting events. I don’t know when the games are and the TFRs aren’t charted, so we could potentially bust one of these TFRs because I don’t follow these major sporting events. Over the years I have been questioning the intent of this stadium TFR, especially when it only covers certain events. A concert from a popular artist would fill up as many if not more seats than a qualifying sporting event, and yet would not qualify for a TFR... why be selective? I’ll say it out loud: is the TFR protecting broadcasting rights of the NFL, MLB, and Nascar or is it actually designed for safety purposes? The second issue at play here is that we need better education for drone pilots at the point of sale. The FAA requires that manufacturers include a brochure with each drone sold in the US. Problem is, the rule is not enforced. Could this person who flew over the game have been better informed? Probably. Next up this week is an update to the FAA Safety Login process for non-governmental employees. The FAA is going away from using a username and password and is transitioning to a multi factor authentication service. The process is pretty easy and takes about 5 minutes to change info over. After setting up the new log in system, you’ll still need to use your old credentials to get in until Nov. 30th, 2023. FAA Safety doesn’t appear to have changed at all, but we’ll have to see once the changes are rolled out later this month! Your third story this week is a new and larger Agras! A shared image by DJI leaker Igor Bogdanov shows a new Agras to be released on Thursday - yesterday as you’re watching this! The rumored Agras T60 will have a 60-liter liquid spray capacity. Other specs are sparse, but the T40 had a 50kg dry payload, so it’s reasonable to expect the T60 will increase this. The T60 is also likely to have onboard RTK, Camera, and light similar to the T40! Your final story this week is Skyebrowse, who released free 2D mapping. As with other Skyebrowse products, their mapping and modeling software uses video instead of pictures to create models. You may already be familiar with Skyebrowse’s 3D mapping, which includes an app to fly the drone, 2D and 3D model processing in about 5 minutes, and model sharing. https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/manufacturers_toolkit https://dronexl.co/2023/11/20/dji-agras-t60-agriculture-drone/ https://www.faasafety.gov/login/

Nov 17, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week, Phase One releases 128 MP survey camera, Aloft expanding to AAM, new waivers course and our Black Friday sale is now live! Phase One has released the P5 Survey Payload, coming in at 700 grams. The P5 has an electronic global shutter capable of capturing four frames per second at 128MP. The P5 also comes with a 1G ethernet connection port, 14 pin JST-ZE, and MAVLink/Auterion connections. Two lens options are available, with a 35mm and an 80mm lens. With the 35mm lens, the ground sampling distance at 394 feet (120m) is 1.16cm, or 0.45 inches. Using this information and working backwards through a GSD calculator, we estimate this means with the 80mm lens, from 120m would be 0.51cm. Pretty awesome new camera for those in the surveying field! Next up this week is Aloft, who is combining low altitude monitoring of UAS and AAM. The Project, called the North Texas Airspace Awareness Project, hopes to basically create a dashboard of low altitude aircraft operations specifically around UAS and AAM. This dashboard will allow local municipalities to publish and disseminate localized safety advisories for certain types of users such as governmental users, commercial, and recreational. Additionally, this will allow a direct connection between operators of both AAM and UAS and the local governments to share information such as local rules. If you’re unfamiliar with Aloft, they are the largest UAS Service Supplier of LAANC and the current maintainer of the FAA’s B4UFLY. Aloft provides 80% of all UAS airspace authorizations in the US. We’ll keep you updated if we see more about this project. Last up this week is our Black Friday Sale, which is now live! All of our catalog of courses is currently on sale for up to 50% off! This is our largest sale of the year and as usual, all of our courses are on sale for the lowest price of the year! We also JUST released a new paid course for drones on how to apply for waivers! The course includes information on the process, supporting documents, what the FAA wants to know, where to submit, and what to do after you get your waiver! That’s it! Have a great week and we’ll see you on Monday for the live event! https://dronexl.co/2023/11/15/phase-one-p5-survey-payload-drone-camera/ https://www.nctcog.org/getmedia/63742e52-4c0e-40c2-97c8-3ec7bb63a28c/North-Texas-Airspace-Awareness-Pilot-Program.pdf https://www.aloft.ai/blog/aloft-selected-for-pioneering-north-texas-airspace-awareness-project-leading-the-way-in-advanced-air-mobility/

Nov 10, 2023

First up this week is the DJI Matrice 3D and the Dock 2! The Matrice 3D is a simplified Mavic, designed for use in the Dock 2. The M3D comes with two available payloads, one nearly identical to the Mavic 3 Thermal and the other seemingly identical to the Mavic 3 Enterprise. The M3D has a 55 minutes of flight time, obstacle avoidance, working temps between -13F and 113F (-25C and 45C), and a max take off altitude of 8200 feet. The Dock 2 comes in smaller and lighter than the original dock, at 75lbs with an IP55 rating, an environmental monitoring system, security cameras and spotlights, air conditioning, and 4G/Ethernet connectivity. Currently the Dock 2 and M3D are only available in the Chinese market, with prices ranging between $9,600 for the enterprise payload to $10,700 for the Thermal. We’ll keep you updated if we see anything else or hear of any plans to bring the dock to the US! Next up this week is a man in Missouri, who allegedly tried to crash his drone into a police drone. The sheriff’s drone was watching an area during a city-wide power outage when the other drone “attacked” maneuvering to hit the sheriffs drone. The officers were able to use the IR camera on the drone to locate the operator of the rogue drone, who was then arrested for obstructing government operations and attempted property damage. According to the sheriff’s office records have also been sent to the FAA for investigation. Don’t be that guy… Last up this week is the DSPA, who has recently released their guidance on getting an operations over people waiver! This article explains how to apply for a 107.39 waiver and a 107.145 waiver with the Mini 3 Pro and the Mini 4 Pro. Waivers can be tricky and we know based on the comments in our course how many folks are interested in flying over people and moving vehicles. Check out the link below and be sure to write your own waiver — Don’t copy paste. The FAA has limited staff in the waiver office and will know if you’ve copied parts of someone else’s waiver. If you aren’t familiar with DSPA, they are an advocacy group focused on drone service providers and ensuring the FAA and other state, city, and local agencies create common sense drone laws that don’t restrict operators abilities to fly. We’re proud to support the DSPA and appreciate all the work Vic and Kenji put in to help the industry! That’s it! Have a great week and we’ll see you for our live on Monday! https://dspalliance.org/107-39-107-145-application-info/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3wCMCVZ4_o https://dronexl.co/2023/11/08/dji-releases-dji-dock-2-matrice-3dt/ https://www.newspressnow.com/news/regional_news/central_missouri/vandalia-man-arrested-for-attempting-to-attack-audrain-county-sheriff-s-office-drone/article_0648b2eb-3ee4-5ffb-8fcf-6864e7d0e4e1.html

Nov 3, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week, New bill proposes banning Chinese drones for the Federal Government, DJI Matrice 3D leaks, and Zipline’s new partnerships with Healthcare in Ohio. Make your voice heard: https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/?vvsrc=%2Fcampaigns%2F105982%2Frespond First up this week is a “new” bill that would prohibit the Federal Government from purchasing Chinese Drones, again… To be clear, this is a reintroduction of a past, failed bill. Florida Senator Rick Scott introduced the American Safety Drone Act in the Senate and now Representative Gallagher from Wisconsin is now doing the same in the House. This new bill is set to be announced this week, and would prohibit the federal government from using any tax dollars to purchase UAV equipment from China. The bill would require a federal report detailing the number of foreign commercial drones and “Covered” unmanned aircraft procured by federal departments. At the non-federal level, the bill would also bar local and state governments from purchasing Chinese drones using federal grants. Both Scott, in the past, and Gallagher now are trying to attach this to the National Defense Authorization Act, which is the only likely way for it to advance since it’s highly unlikely to move on its own. Once again we see a country of origin ban rather than a set of comprehensive standards that any drone used for government purposes must conform to. The best way to fight this is to use the DAA’s link in the description for instructions on reaching out to your representatives and oppose the National Defense Authorization Act. Next up this week are some DJI leaks, for the Matrice 3D. New pictures of the drone and new pictures of the rumored DJI Dock Mini. As we covered previously, the Matrice 3D appears to be a simplified DJI Mavic 3 Thermal with fixed arms, top-mounted SDK port and mounting, and built-in RTK. New leaks about the Mini Dock appears to shows an angled channel that the Matrice 3D would fit into in contrast to the flat landing pad of the existing DJI dock. The M3D also appears to be slightly larger than the Mavic 3 with much thicker arms and larger propellers. Pretty cool innovations coming from DJI, we’ll see if this is released any time soon! Lastly this week is an announcement from Zipline, who has partnered with a number of healthcare providers in Ohio and Michigan. Zipline announced in September that they’d gotten FAA permission to operate BVLOS without visual observers, and now they appear to be ready to use that permission. Partnerships include the Cleveland Clinic, Michigan Medicine, Intermountain Healthcare, and Ohio Health. With these new partnerships, Zipline aims to deliver prescriptions directly to a home’s front door by 2025. The Zipline P2 system cruises at 70 mph, an altitude of 300 feet and uses a small “droid” to drop packages in places where the main aircraft can’t get to. Pretty cool tech! That’s it! Have a great week and we’ll see you for our live on Monday on our airplane channel! https://dronexl.co/2023/10/31/zipline-drones-deliver-meds/ https://www.flyzipline.com/newsroom/news/announcements/faa-authorizes-zipline-to-fly-bvlos https://www.reuters.com/technology/us-house-panel-seeks-ban-federal-purchases-chinese-drones-ft-2023-11-01/ https://dronexl.co/2023/10/30/dji-matrice-3d-dock-mini/ https://dronexl.co/2023/10/31/dji-dock-mini-matrice-3d-photos/ https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/?vvsrc=%2Fcampaigns%2F105982%2Frespond

Oct 27, 2023

First up this week is the new FAA Administrator, Michael Whitaker. As we previously speculated, this confirmation process appears to have gone smoothly. Z Whitaker worked for three years as the Deputy Administrator of the FAA and Chief NextGen officer, coming to the FAA now from Hyundai’s Supernal eVTOL manufacturer. AOPA’s President Mark Baker said “I am really pleased the Senate took action to confirm Mike and look forward to working with him to help pilots and to move GA forward… He’s a capable leader, knows aviation, knows the agency, and he’s a private pilot.” We’ll look forward to see how Whitaker lead the FAA in the coming months and years! Next up this week is one for all our Texas folks out there, the ruling labeling Texas drone law (Code 423) unconstitutional, has been reversed. In March of last year (2022) a federal judge declared Texas code 423 unconstitutional under the first and 14th amendments, now after an appeal in the fifth circuit court, the decision has been reversed. The NPAA (National Press Photographers Association) says the law has been used to target journalists in situations where privacy hasn’t been an issue. The court decided the plaintiffs lacked standing for a 14th amendment claim because none of the plaintiffs had been arrested or prosecuted under Texas Code 423. In addition, the appeals judge said “And nothing in the No-Fly provisions has anything to do with speech or expression. These are flight restrictions, not speech restrictions,”, which is interesting considering the FAA is the sole party permitted to control the airspace. Brenden Schulman, former DJI VP of Legal said “In a very significant drone law update, the prior decision in Texas articulating a First Amendment right to drone journalism, and striking down a Texas statute that interfered with that right, has just been overturned by the Fifth Circuit… Depending on what the plaintiffs decide to do, this could be the first drone law case to go to the US Supreme Court.” This means that Texas Code 423 is now back on the books, and we’ll see if it’s appealed again to the Supreme Court. Alright, last up is a fun one, we have a new possible world record for the largest foam quadcopter! Engineers in the UK have created and flow what they believe is the largest quadcopter, at over 21 feet from corner to corner! The “GFQ” or Giant Foam board Quadcopter appears to use hobby foam for its structure and weighs 54lbs. Next up, the team hopes to expand the project to create a quadcopter even larger! That’s it! Have a great week and we’ll see you for our live on Monday! https://dronexl.co/2023/10/24/drone-innovation-manchester-quadcopter/ https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/GV/htm/GV.423.htm#:~:text=(a)%20A%20person%20commits%20an,is%20a%20Class%20C%20misdemeanor. https://www.courthousenews.com/fifth-circuit-rejects-media-groups-challenge-of-texas-drone-regulations/ https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/288975/

Oct 20, 2023

First up this week is Amazon, who has announce they will start delivering medicine in College Station, Texas. Prime air aims to transport medicine to homes within 60 minutes of ordering, and includes over 500 medications for the flue, asthma, and pneumonia. Amazon hopes to sameday delivery over 500 million packages a year, and recently we’ve seen a number of lay-offs suggesting their drone program was dying. We’ll have to wait and see if this is a turn around or a last-ditch effort to make the program a success. Next up this week is Aloft, who won the GENIUS NY challenge for innovation. The win provides Aloft with an additional $500,000, which will be used to expand their team in NY. Josh Ziering said “Securing this win at GENIUS NY is not just a testament to the innovation and hard work of the Aloft team but also underlines the promise and potential of our growing partnerships in the State of New York, With the support and visibility that comes with this investment, we’re poised to continue growing Aloft at an even faster pace.” If you’re somehow unfamiliar with Aloft, they’re the largest LAANC provider in the country and our preferred LAANC app. Aloft includes both fleet management, flight tracking, flight planning, incident tracking, and LAANC. If you’d like to learn more about Aloft, check out our Aloft Deep Dive! Third up this week is a company called DataBlanket, whose mission is to use AI to fight woodland fires. This start up was launched last year, and their goal is to use drones to determine where resources should be allocated to effectively fight the fire. DataBlanket uses a drone manufactured by Ascent Aero systems called the Spirit. The Spirit is a coaxial drone capable of flying in extreme conditions, temperatures, and weather including winds in excess of 40 mph, rain, and temps up to 130F. DataBlanket has taken the Spirit and equipped it with AI and a custom payload and swarming technology to map fires or conduct search and rescue missions. DataBlanket hopes to conduct pilot programs in late 2024 or early 2025, pending FAA approvals for BVLOS. Your final story this week is Pilot Institute! We just passed 80,000 people in our part 107 course, 80,000 subscribers on this channel, 169,000+ TRUST certificates, and over 27,500 free stickers shipped! Here’s a big thank you to those who follow us, your support makes this possible! We also just released the DJI Air 3 Deep Dive and the DJI Mini 4 Pro Deep Dive, with the Inspire 3 Deep Dive coming very soon! Last up, sorry about missing our scheduled live event this week. We got busy around the office putting out fires and when we finally stopped to think, it was already 4:15. Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you for the live next Monday! https://dronelife.com/2023/10/17/this-ai-enabled-system-teaches-drones-to-fight-fires-datablanket/ https://www.aloft.ai/blog/aloft-wins-500k-investment-at-the-genius-ny-drone-accelerator-pitch-competition/

Oct 13, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week, Drone pilot loses control of drone over stadium, an update on the man who shot down the police M300, and DJI releases new L2 LIDAR The first story this week is a drone that flew over a college football game, resulting in players evacuating the field. This occurred in Columbus, Ohio when Rigoberto Canaca Escoto flew a drone he purchased the day before at best buy over the stadium. Upon returning to Escoto, Columbus counter terrorism police were able to track the drone back to the pilot. Escoto admits he had no knowledge of basic UAS safety, hadn’t take TRUST, and that he lost both control of the aircraft for about 3 minutes while over the stadium and line of sight. Escoto has been charged in Franklin County, OH with: Unsafe operation of aircraft in a careless or reckless manner, Two counts of aircraft operation without a license, Inducing panic by committing an offense with reckless disregard, And disorderly conduct in a physically offensive condition. Yikes. Next up is an update on a story we talked about nearly two years ago. If you’re unfamiliar with this story, a man in Florida named Wendell Goney shot down a Lake County Sheriff’s M300 drone in 2021. According to the man, the drone was “Harassing him”, however Lake County Sheriff was investigating reports of a burglary at a nearby 10 acre wear house. The man is a 29 time convicted felon, who now faces 10 years in prison for possession of a firearm and ammunition. So don’t be either of these guys, don’t shoot drones down and don’t fly over stadiums in TFRs. Final story this week is the Zenmuse L2 LIDAR from DJI! The new L2 is compatible with both the Matrice 300 and the Matrice 350. When compared to the L1, the L2 increases detection range by 30% with a reduced spot size of 4x12 cm at 100m. The L2 has a maximum point cloud rate of 240,000 points per second and a 20MP 4/3 CMOS with a mechanical shutter. The L2 isn’t as expensive as other LIDAR units, coming in at “only” $13,560 according to DJI’s website for the basic combo. Pretty cool device, and maybe we’ll get our hands on one eventually! Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week! https://dronexl.co/2023/10/11/felon-shoots-down-sheriff-drone/ https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/ohio-state-university/pilot-arrested-after-losing-control-of-drone-over-ohio-stadium-during-buckeyes-game-records-say/ https://dronexl.co/2023/10/10/dji-zenmuse-l2/

Oct 6, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 4 stories for you this week, FAA authorization extended, DJI FlyCart 30 gets FCC approval for operation in the US, Leaked video reportedly shows a new DJI matrice, and some upcoming events!

Sep 22, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week, The Air Sentinel App, New Skydio Drone, and DJI event next week! First up this week is the Air Sentinel app, who has partnered with DroneResponders to provide remote ID information to Public Safety. If you’re unfamiliar with Air Sentinel, it’s an app that allows you to pick up remote ID broadcast information but excludes the location of the pilot. Only authorized users can access pilot location information via logging into the app, and they must prove they are public safety before being granted access to pilot location. Air Sentinel is free to download on Android at this time, and it is one of the apps we tested in this video (Point - Lets add the thumbnail of the RID test video). Next up this week is the new Skydio X10. The X10 is Skydio’s newest enterprise drone, with a FLIR Boson+ 640X512 Radiometric, a 1 inch, 50 megapixel wide camera, and a 64 megapixel zoom camera. The X10 will also have other payloads with the V100-L coming soon. The V100-L will have the same wide and zoom camera with a flashlight instead of the thermal camera. The X10 has a 40 minute maximum flight time, 4 payload bays, 5G optional connectivity, and a 7.5 mile range. Pretty interesting changes from the X2, we’re interested in getting one to test! And finally, DJI has announced an even this coming Monday, we assume to be the release of the Mini 4 Pro! The event “Mini to the Max” will release at 9 AM Eastern Time. Based on pictures, the Mini 4 has redesigned obstacle avoidance, a downward facing LED, and adjusted front legs! We’ll see if this is indeed the new Mini drone we’ve seen so many leaks about! Before we go, we’ll be at the Colorado Drone Airshow in Fort Collins Colorado in two weeks! The event is free, and we’ll be doing first flights for people who haven’t ever flown drones before! Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week!

Sep 15, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 5 stories for you this week; Remote ID Delay confirmed, Mini 4 pro pricing leaks, the FAA gives UPS and uAvionix BVLOS, TFR Violating Drone Pilot Sentenced, and the DAA announces more campaigns! Your first story will sound familiar if you saw our video earlier this week, the FAA has announced discretionary enforcement of remote ID. The FAA has officially - See link in the description - published discretionary enforcement for Remote ID until March 16th, 2024. Compliance date if you are able is STILL Sept. 16th, 2023. Discretionary enforcement ENDS on March 16th, 2024. If you’re waiting on your module, firmware, or FRIAs, you have an extra 6 months. For everyone else, you still need to comply as of the 16th of September, 2023. We’re very glad to see the FAA has responded to our previous video and letter requesting for discretionary enforcement until March. Alright, next up we have some pricing leaks for the rumored Mini 4 Pro, coming from Europe. As reported by DroneXL, the drone only will run 799, drone with the RC 2 at 999, and the fly more combo at 1129. Pricing is currently only reported as euros, but we can expect similar pricing here as drone prices in Europe tend to be just a bit more expensive than the US. Interestingly we see the DJI RC 2 package here nearly confirming that the Mini 4 will come with O4. We haven’t seen any other leaks on when the new Mini will be released, but we speculate within the next month. In the third story this week, the FAA granted UPS Flight Forward and uAvionix BVLOS waivers. UPS will be utilizing Matternet M2 drones, which have an airworthiness certificate. uAvionix will utilize Rapace drones to test their detect and avoid technology. These two companies join Phoenix Air Unmanned in operating BVLOS to capture data for the FAA. The FAA will then use this data to create standards for routine BVLOS in the future. According to the FAA at Commercial UAV Expo, we could see a BVLOS NPRM as soon as August of 2024 with a final rule in 2025. We’ll keep you updated as we see more! Next up we have sentencing for the Bengals Game TFR violation… 25 Year Old Dailon Dabney was sentenced to a year of probation and 40 hours of community service for operating his DJI Air 2S over the Bengals VS Raiders game last year. Dabney posted the video on YouTube, resulting in massive backlash from those in the UAS industry, and went as far as to taunt the FAA that they couldn’t find him. In the video, the Air 2S is flow down into the stadium, over people and the field, and inside of a stadium TFR. The sentencing comes from the Department of Justice, not from the FAA, so it’s possible the FAA has fined Dabney in addition to the sentencing. We’ve said it once and we’ll keep saying it… Don’t be that guy. Finally, we have the Drone Advocacy Alliance who has announced three more campaigns. If you’re unfamiliar with the Drone Advocacy Alliance, the group is an alliance of companies across the UAS industry that advocate against restrictions in what drones may be used by industry and public safety. The new campaigns include opposing restrictions in federal bill appropriations, restrictions in the FAA Reauthorization act, and other market restrictions in the NDAA. If you’d like to get involved or read more about these topics, we’ll put a link in the description below! That’s all for this week, we’ll be in Buena Vista Colorado on Sunday for the Colorado UAS Roundup! We hope to see you there, we’ll see you next week! https://dronexl.co/2023/09/08/faa-ups-uavionix-bvlos/ https://dronexl.co/2023/09/11/dji-mini-4-pro-european-pricing/ https://dronexl.co/2023/09/13/drone-disruption-changes-nfl-game-rules/ https://droneadvocacyalliance.com/take-action/

Sep 8, 2023

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update and this week we are live from Las Vegas. We have three stories that we want to share. The first one is information about Remote ID. The second one is the Mini 4 Pro. And lastly, we have a person that decided to do something not so great with their drone.

Sep 1, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week; Aloft integrates RID into fleet management, Phoenix Air gets nationwide BVLOS, and lastly an AI system that is faster at FPV racing than professional FPV pilots.

Aug 18, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week; DJI releases delivery drone, DJI warns against imitating apps, FAA Registration change, Pilot Institute success and some upcoming events!

Aug 4, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week; Some news from the FAA Symposium and AAM Summit, Pyka Pelican Spray gets FAA approval, and China is imposing export restrictions on some drone products.

Jul 21, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 4 stories for you this week; Reckless Drone pilot pleads guilty, we might finally have a release date for the Air 3, New FAA guidance about federal preemption, and a malfunction that caused 500 drones to fall from the sky.

Jul 7, 2023

Welcome to your weekly news update, we have 3 stories for you this week; Drone Light Show Record Set, More DJI Leaks, and a Big Upcoming Event - EAA AirVenture!

Jun 9, 2023

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week; NYC is proposing an approval process to fly drones in the city, Aloft Air control has released their API, and some drone leaks. Lets get to it!

May 26, 2023

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week; The FAA is seeking public comments on BVLOS below 400’ for data collection, DJI Air 3 Leaks, and Korean Air who is using drones to inspect their airplanes.

May 12, 2023

This week in Drone News we have three stories for you. The FAA recently released a document outlining AAM integration into airspace, a scary Iowa bill has passed the Iowa House, Aloft releases Air Boss aimed to have one person able to boss their immediate airspace for use with multiple pilots and aircraft.

Apr 21, 2023

DJI Mavic Pro Leak This week in drone news we have four stories for you: DJI Mavic 3 Pro leaked price, Yet another bill to prevent first responders from doing their jobs, organized drone crime ring busted, Upcoming events and Deep Dives! Don't forget about the LIVE AMA with Greg on Monday April 24th at 4PM MST!

Apr 21, 2023

DJI Mavic Pro Leak This week in drone news we have four stories for you: DJI Mavic 3 Pro Leaked price, Yet another bill to prevent first responders from doing their jobs, organized drone crime ring busted, Upcoming events and Deep Dives!

Apr 15, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you: Inspire 3, Check your currency (Public Service Announcement), and a device to make DJI drones NDAA compliant.

Apr 7, 2023

This week in drone news we have four stories for you: Inspire 3 and Mavic 3 Pro are around the corner, Wing’s CEO testifies before Congress and some heated discussion about Florida’s DJI ban.

Mar 31, 2023

In this week's drone news we have three stories: DJI releases new goggles and controller for Avata, there is an Autel Evo support update, and a New York drone corridor for testing.

Mar 24, 2023

This week in drone news we have four stories for you and the first one is a big one, Oregon nominates a new Aviation Director, Florida public safety pushes back against the country of origin ban, A new partnership for Pilot Institute, and 200 weeks of news!

Mar 10, 2023

This week in drone news we have four stories for you; A UK Drone Pilot was fined after flying too close to a warbird, AUVSI Green UAS program, DJI discontinues aeroscope, and a petition to raise the weight limit for remote id and registration.

Mar 3, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you; IACRA glitch means anyone who applied for certs needs to re-apply, AZ bill to make flying drones over houses a felony, and the “American Security Drone Act of 2023” bill in congress.

Feb 24, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you; Recreational LAANC enabled for night flights, Freefly Grounding, Spright gets nationwide BVLOS.

Feb 18, 2023

This week in drone news we have four stories for you; DJI SDK and New DJI Mini 2 SE, Super Bowl Drone Incursions down, the upcoming Texas drone workshop and a kuddos!

Feb 10, 2023

This week in drone news we have four stories for you; A new drone announcement from Brinc, TN law to ban non-NDAA drones from government uses, a New FAA CBO, and a potential new drone from DJI.

Feb 3, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you; the Government Accountability Office says the FAA needs to stop dragging its feet on UAS integration, New Pyka Pelican Cargo, and Flytrex gets Part 135!

Jan 27, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you; Amazon and other drone company layoffs, a follow-up on a crash between a drone and a Cessna 172, and Airbus is looking for partners on the Zephyr Project.

Jan 19, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you; did Amazon fire someone for voicing safety concerns, a new world record for the fastest drone, and drone was used to locate a stranded boater.

Jan 13, 2023

This week in drone news we have three stories for you; DJI’s CES ban, FAA Delays Section 2209 again, and Walmart/DroneUp face delivery challenges.

Jan 6, 2023

This week in drone news we have four stories for you; the new Autel Evo Max, PSI changing the cut for testing centers, FCC announces NPRM for UAS, and a Ford Patent for operations over moving vehicles.

Dec 30, 2022

It’s time to recap 52 weeks of drone news update. We want to thank our community and our students for everything this year. Looking forward to another year of education and aviation.

Dec 23, 2022

In this week’s drone news update, we’ll talk about a rescue with a drone, DroneUp Expanding Deliveries, and a reminder for the holiday season.

Dec 16, 2022

In this week’s drone news update, we’ll talk about AUVSI Drone Prepared, a chance for those in Florida to comment on the country of origin ban, the new Ebee Vision, New CBOs, and finally, what happens today…

Dec 9, 2022

In this week’s drone news update, we’ll talk about a drone pilot getting fined for flying without a TRUST cert, a new DJI drone, and An autonomous aviation company working with the FAA and large drones to battle wildfires.

Dec 2, 2022

In this week’s drone news: Matternet, a medical drone delivery platform has received type and production certification from the FAA, DJI updates their data security following all the buzz about data security with Chinese company DJI, and the FCC database, amongst other things, has shown a new DJI Mini 3. Let’s get to it!

Nov 25, 2022

This week in drone news: A story of a Pilot Institute Student who saved two people in 9 days using drones, DJI released the Mavic 3 Multispectral & the new O3+ Air Unit this week, and a FOIA Showed 101 accidents reported to the FAA. Your first story this week is a Pilot Institute Student who saved a life. Texas Game Warden Michael Hummert responded to two search and rescue calls in central Texas in less than ten days. As the only thermal drone in the county, Hummert led deputies to the first missing individual who was in a restricted DOD airspace. Just nine days later officials reached out requesting assistance in another missing persons case. Hummert working in conjunction with federal officials was again successful in ensuring the person’s safety. Huge shout out to Warden Hummert and all first responders! Thanks for what you do! Your second story this week is the new DJI air unit and the Mavic 3 Multispectral! O3+ has arrived in an air unit platform, and the video is amazing with 1080p 100fps in the goggles and 4K60 with rock steady recording in camera. We’ve got a review you can check out here where we tested the air unit in a number of torture tests! Also check out Drone XL’s article on the new air unit! Also released this week is the Mavic 3 Multispectral, signaling the true end to the Phantom line up. The M3M uses a 4/3 CMOS sensor with 4 additional sensors in the Green, Red, Red Edge, and Near IR bands to collect data for agriculture. Each additional sensor is 5MP while the main sensor is 20MP with a mechanical shutter. As with the rest of the Mavic 3 enterprise line up, the M3M has an available SDK, RTK, and uses the DJI Pilot 2 App. For those who were waiting for a Phantom 5, it looks like this is it! This is the 6th Mavic 3 from DJI, and the 4th one this year. Your third story this week is a FOIA request that showed 101 drone accident reports made to the FAA. Interesting notes are that 25 of the 101 pertain to near misses or collisions with manned aircraft, 8 were caused by fly aways, 7 by wind, 4 by low battery, and 3 were shot down. Many of the accidents were due to equipment malfunctions, however there are a few that are due to people being “That guy”. One discussed a person flying a mavic air 2 by an unlicensed operator who decided to go inside during the flight, resulting in the drone low-battery landing into a girl riding her bike resulting in lacerations to her face that required hospitalization. Remember that these were FAA reports, not NTSB reports. The NTSB reporting requirements are actually a lot lower than the FAA ones (which is only $500 in damage). The last story this week is that our Black Friday sale is going strong today. All the courses in our catalog are currently at the lowest they will be this year, and I mean that. Our Part 107 course is $107 right now, our photo/video fundamentals course is $75, the real estate course is $49, the mapping bundle is $199. See the full list on our website. That’s it! We hope you had a great turkey day, time to go back to your food coma, we will see you next week.

Nov 18, 2022

This week in drone news: The FAA has snuck network Remote ID into the norm by approving a bid for a company to download local Remote ID information and broadcast it on a nationwide network. The FAA has approved the first community-based organization (AMA). A study published by Aloft shows LAANC compliance is low, finally all the Pilot Institute courses are on sale! Go check it out!

Nov 11, 2022

This week in drone news: Researches have made a WiFi tracking drone and outline potential dangers, a DJI M30T was used just days after purchase to save a woman, Percepto has been approved for remote deploy of their drone in a box solution, this comes along with a BVLOS waiver nationwide, lastly there have been leaks and rumors regarding a DJI Mini 3 SE. What do you think the specs are going to be?

Nov 4, 2022

This week in drone news, the senseFly (now AGEagle) eBee was approved as the first class 3 drone this week, DJI releases the Mavic 3 Classic, a more simple version of the base Mavic 3, and Pilot Institute published a free course on how to 3d map with SkyeBrowse!

Oct 28, 2022

This week in drone news: SkyeBrowse released a completely free version of their videogrammetry software called Freemium. Check it out using the link below. The FAA has released a new advisory circular that is aimed toward community based organizations and recreational flyers; we put out a video on this if you want more information. More DJI leaks and updates, the Air2S is seen with the new smart controller, Mavic 3 Classic, and more.

Oct 21, 2022

This week in drone news: over eighty thousand drone identification numbers were leaked causing panic and distrust; the database was a result of an aeroscope user not DJI; the Drone was reported as spying but in fact it was just an FP&L drone doing inspections not related to the accuser; the recent Dodgers/Padres game in San Diego was interrupted by a rogue drone flying over first base; lastly, we will be attending AZDrone fest this weekend, come say hi!

Oct 14, 2022

This week in drone news we speak with Paul Brown, a PI student, about NYC ticketing him for flying a drone, next we will discuss a company that is tracking volcanos with what looks like a DJI M600, lastly, we will recap airworks, recent DJI troubles, and the Mavic 3 Classic leak.

Oct 7, 2022

This week in drone news: the first remote id app was released to the app store, Paladin released an LTE dongle that attaches to the DJI M30 and M300, there was a drone show in New Mexico during the balloon festival, and a Wing delivery drone crashed into a power line leaving people without power.

Sep 23, 2022

In this week's drone news, the infamous pilot that flew inside the stadium during the Bengals game was finally indicted, the Mavic 3 Thermal has been leaked on the FAA DOC page amongst other places, wildfire ops were halted after sightings of a drone in the airspace, and finally, less than a minute after a search drone was launched a missing man was found and brought to safety.

Sep 9, 2022

This week in drone news: Remote ID delayed for manufacturers working on compliance, DJI Leaks on Mavic 3 Classic, and Autel releases V3 aircraft and new smart controller. Check out our gear list: https://www.amazon.com/shop/pilotinstitute Free drone registration labels: https://pilotinstitute.com/free/ Our Other Channels - PIXL Drone Show: drone-related podcast, posts every Tuesday morning. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeSmbjvE0etKry8Nk2n0CQ - Pilot Institute Airplane: our airplane channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgBjGoM-yn_3bH8Qr9xkXA Our courses - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Get Pilot Institute Gear - T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Polo shirt: https://kats-custom-embroidery-llc.myshopify.com/collections/pilot-institute-gear Remote Id Delayed for manufacturers actively working on RID compliance. The new compliance date for these manufacturers is Dec. 16th, 2022. Leaks show a new Mavic 3 classic drone with a fixed aperture camera. https://dronexl.co/2022/09/03/dji-mavic-3-classic-camera-drone-photos/ https://dronexl.co/2022/09/01/dji-rumors-dji-mavic-3-classic-drone/ New Autel aircraft V3 aircraft will be compliant with Remote ID and can come with a smaller more compact Autel Smart Controller!

Sep 2, 2022

This week in drone news; DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise leaks, Rogue Drone stopped firefighting efforts in Montana, Drone tracking installed at LAX, and some new Pilot Institute Deep-dive courses! DJI Avata Deep Dive: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/dji-avata-deep-dive/ Parrot Anafi Ai Deep Dive: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/parrot-anafi-ai-deep-dive/ Matrice 300 Deep Dive: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/dji-m300-deep-dive/ An image shared by DealsDrone potentially shows the payload for the Mavic 3 Enterprise. Currently, there are no specs on the Mavic 3 Enterprise or the payload The Mavic 3 Enterprise is expected to be released or announced at DJI Airworks 2022, in just a few weeks. https://dronexl.co/2022/08/29/dji-mavic-3-enterprise-camera-leaked-photo/ A rogue drone in Montana delayed firefighting efforts. Firefighters were able to chase the drone back to the owner. “The crew member actually kind of chased the drone down the hill and was able to find some kids that helped him out, that got him to the person that was actually operating the drone. We quickly called the PD and they responded within a few minutes, and we were able to catch up with the gentleman,” says Huston. https://dronexl.co/2022/08/30/rogue-drones-mount-helena-firefighting/ In light of recent “Guy in a jetpack” sightings at LAX, TSA will be testing a new technology to track drones. See our aerial armor video - No confirmation on if this particular system will be used at LAX or not… TSA reports that there have been 38 drone sightings at LAX this year. https://dronexl.co/2022/08/26/drone-tracking-tech-tested-lax-airport/ Commercial UAV Expo: Sept 6-8 in Las Vegas, NV Colorado UAS Roundup: Sept 11-12 in Mount Princeton, CO DJI Airworks: Oct 10-12 in Las Vegas, NV DRL Drone Race: Oct 11 at the PayPal Park in San Jose, CA $15 tickets for PI Students, family, and Friends. https://offer.fevo.com/drone-racing-league-kywoakr-8083d5a?fevoUri=drone-racing-league-kywoakr-8083d5a%2F Commercial UAV Expo: Sept 6-8 in Las Vegas, NV Colorado UAS Roundup: Sept 11-12 in Mount Princeton, CO DJI Airworks: Oct 10-12 in Las Vegas, NV DRL Drone Race: Oct 11 at the PayPal Park in San Jose, CA $15 tickets for PI Students, family, and Friends. https://offer.fevo.com/drone-racing-league-kywoakr-8083d5a?fevoUri=drone-racing-league-kywoakr-8083d5a%2F

Aug 26, 2022

This week in drone news; the DJI Avata has been released after weeks of leaks, the long-flying Zephyr Drone has crashed hours short of the world record time, FCC filings suggest an EVO 2 V3, and some upcoming industry events including Commercial UAV Expo and DRL's first race of the season! Get the Avata here: https://click.dji.com/APt7wTOjepgyoDfSf0T_aA?pm=link DJI Avata is out and it’s sweet! 4K 60, 18 minute of flight time, GPS, Sport and Manual modes New goggles with Head Tracking Free Deep Dive Full Review Comparative Footage The Zephyr drone crashed shortly after our news update went out last week. The drone totaled 64 days airborne The Zephyr was just hours short of the longest flight ever, which was set in 1958. Two men flew a C172 Skyhawk for 64 days and 22 hours. https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-powered-airbus-zephyr-drone-apparently-crashed-in-arizona-2022-8 According to recent FCC filings, Autel is preparing to release up to 6 new models of the EVO 2. EVO II Pro V3: Quadcopter equipped with a 1-inch CMOS sensor that can shoot up to 6K video. EVO II Pro RTK V3: Quadcopter equipped with a 6K camera and a RTK module that has centimeter-level positioning accuracy. EVO II Pro Enterprise: Quadcopter equipped with a 6K camera and compatible with four kinds of enterprise accessories (Spotlight, Loudspeaker, Strobe, RTK Module). EVO II DUAL 640T V3: Quadcopter equipped with a 4K camera and a thermal camera. EVO II DUAL 640T RTK: Quadcopter equipped with a 4K camera, a thermal camera, and an RTK module that has centimeter-level positioning accuracy. EVO II DUAL 640T Enterprise V3: Quadcopter equipped with a 4K camera, a thermal camera, and compatible with four kinds of enterprise accessories (Spotlight, Loudspeaker, Strobe, RTK Module). This appears to be another chipset for the drones and controllers New Autel smart controller “SE” for Evo lite and Nano series Commercial UAV Expo: Sept 6-8 in Las Vegas, NV Colorado UAS Roundup: Sept 11-12 in Mount Princeton, CO DJI Airworks: Oct 10-12 in Las Vegas, NV DRL Drone Race: Oct 11 at the PayPal Park in San Jose, CA $15 tickets for PI Students, family, and Friends. https://offer.fevo.com/drone-racing-league-kywoakr-8083d5a?fevoUri=drone-racing-league-kywoakr-8083d5a%2F

Aug 19, 2022

This week in drone news, the Airbus Zephyr has completed 60 days of flying so far, DJI Avata accessories leaked by Adorama, another drone smuggling attempt, more PI content coming to the Photography and videography course, and the upcoming Commercial UAV Expo! The Zephyr drone is still flying! 82’ wingspan, 165lbs. Solar powered This is the same drone (and same flight) that flew to Belize and back. The previous record for a sustained UAS flight was 26 days… we’ve passed 60 days now. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/armys-zephyr-drone-is-still-aloft-after-50-days These leaks show the Avata accessories! Looks like parts including new props, ducts/propeller guards, and the “upper frame” are available for purchase Extra batteries, fly more combos, ND filters, and a battery hub are also available. https://dronexl.co/2022/08/16/9-dji-avata-accessories-pricing-adorama/ DJI Battery Charging Hub for Avata Intelligent Flight Battery – $59 DJI Propellers for Avata Drone – $9 DJI ND Filter Set with ND8, ND16, ND32 for DJI Avata drone – $79 DJI 2420mAh Intelligent Flight Battery for Avata Drone – $129 DJI Fly More Kit w/2x Intelligent Flight Battery & Charging Hub for Avata Drone – $279 DJI Headband for Avata Goggles 2 – $19 DJI Propeller Guard for Avata Drone – $29 DJI Upper Frame for Avata Drone – $19 DJI 1800mAh Battery for Avata Goggles 2 – $39 Another smuggling attempt via drone was stopped this week in Fort Worth, Texas. A man attempted to smuggle contraband into a prison including drugs, smartphones, and MP3 players. Flight logs from the drone show that it was flown over a number of other correctional facilities previously. https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-man-accused-of-flying-drone-over-federal-prison-to-deliver-drugs-other-contraband/ Don, Greg, and Jason (and DSPA!) will be attending Commercial UAV Expo this year! The Expo will have at least 193 exhibitors and project at least 200+ will actually fill the floor, a 50% increase over last year and a record-sized show. It is the most important commercial drone show ever held in the Americas. Our attendance is also tracking at a record level, and our full-conference registration is way ahead of last year.

Aug 12, 2022

This week in drone news; More leaks for the DJI Avata, Skyebrowse has released a new hyper-realistic modeling software, ASTM has gotten the first MOC for remote ID, the FAA's Dronezone got a new look this week, and an update on Pilot Institute's new courses! Check out Skyebrowse: https://www.skyebrowse.com/ DJI Avata leaks continue, suggesting the drone is nearing release Rumored specs include 18 minute flight time RTH 408g DJI Goggles 2 (looks like 2 different types) A motion controller 1/1.7” sensor, 4K 60 3 modes: Manual, Sport, Normal $629 to $1388 Also looks like an Avata Air Unit ($250-300) DroneXL reported a leaked published day of 8/23 https://dronexl.co/2022/08/08/dji-avata-specs-drone-photo/ The DroneZone got a new look! Functionality of the site remain the same, with additional links to mission specific rules and guidelines. Remember that the Dronezone is the ONLY place to register your drone. If it doesn’t end in .gov, you’re in the wrong spot! https://faadronezone-access.faa.gov/ Skyebrowse has released Hyper. This system generates realistic models in as little as 2 minutes This is a fully textured centimeter accurate 3D model https://www.skyebrowse.com/?ss_source=sscampaigns&ss_email_id=62f10995ac12f171652d0858

Aug 5, 2022

In this week's drone news; The RDQ vs FAA court case has been settled and remote ID will continue as planned, NASA and Zipline partner for fleet integration, an experimental eVOTL crash, and a new FAASafety course by Pilot Institute. ALC-803: https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?pf=1&preview=true&cID=803 Remote ID was upheld in the US. Court of Appeals this week. Race Day Quads sued the FAA based on the 4th amendment, procedural Mis-steps, and concerns of pilot safety. “Remote ID technology requires drones in flight to emit publicly readable radio signals reflecting certain identifying information, including their serial number, location, and performance information. Those signals can be received, and the Remote ID information read, by smart phones and similar devices using a downloadable application available to the FAA, government entities, and members of the public, including other aircraft operators.” For a full analysis, see our live stream and the article from DroneXL! https://dronexl.co/2022/07/29/faas-remote-id-for-drones-upheld-in-court/ NASA has partnered with Zipline to create a vision for autonomous fleets of drones. To achieve this, researchers are using a small number of people to operate large amounts of drones. This experience along with Zipline’s other experience with operations of many aircraft will help shape the future of fleet operations in the US. https://www.nasa.gov/aeroresearch/nasa-partners-with-zipline-to-shape-future-operations-of-autonomous-fleets The Guardian G1 is an eVTOL made by the company Aura Aerospace. In a recent test, the G1 caught fire due to a failed current regulator. “The problem is that certain components, such as commercially available high-power transistors and FETs, are not at all suited to aerospace electric applications. Only when certified power controllers are available will electric flying be able to get off the ground safely,” Thompson said. https://dronexl.co/2022/07/28/passenger-drone-evtol-catches-fire/ What is FAASafety Sarah Nilsson ALC-803 - Regulations, Laws, Airspace Ownership and FAA Enforcement Available for free on the FAA website

Jul 29, 2022

In this week's drone news; Leaks for upcoming DJI drones include the Mavic 3 Enterprise, Inspire 3, and the Avata, an update on the large UAS crash in California, lifeguards save a swimmer using a drone to drop a life jacket, and a new FAA safety course by Pilot Insitute. FAA Safety ALC-803: https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_content.aspx?pf=1&preview=true&cID=803 The DJI Avata showed up in FCC filings this week, along with DJI goggles 2 and an O3 Air unit. This appears to be a successor to the DJI FPV According to registration, the Avata has a 2420mAh battery No word on the launch date, but it’s in the FCC database! https://dronexl.co/2022/07/26/dji-avata-drone-fcc-database/ New leaked photo of the Inspire 3! The Inspire 3 is expected to have Zenmuse X9 8K 75FPS O4 Time code sync Built-in ND filters https://dronexl.co/2022/07/26/dji-inspire-3-drone-leaked-photo/ We previously reported on a possible Mavic 3 Enterprise after the April fool’s post by DJI. Now, leaked photos appear to show a Mavic 3 with a Matrice 30 payload. Rumored features include a 3-1200m Laser Range Finder 24 MP 1” CMOS sensor 3-16X optical zoom Up to 300X hybrid zoom https://dronexl.co/2022/07/23/dji-mavic-3-enterprise-thermal-leaked-photos/ We previously reported on a large UAS crash in California The pilot reported that the aircraft was on its third spraying mission of the day The pilot completed a pre-flight and updated the previous mission. The aircraft took off in autonomous mode, climbed to ~125 feet, and went into a left turn. The pilot noted no unusual behavior during the turn. The aircraft’s right wing skin separated from the aircraft taking flaps and ailerons with it. The aircraft rolled right and lost altitude crashing into the ground. The batteries caught fire after the crash but did not spread. (See pics) https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105109 Spanish lifeguards saved a 14 years old from drowning off of a beach in Valencia. The drone dropped a lifejacket into the sea which kept the swimmer afloat until other guards were able to get to the distressed swimmer. Don, Greg, and Jason (and DSPA!) will be attending Commercial UAV Expo this year! The Expo will have at least 193 exhibitors and project at least 200+ will actually fill the floor, a 50% increase over last year and a record sized show. It is the most important commercial drone show ever held in the Americas. Our attendance is also tracking at a record level, and our full-conference registration is way ahead of last year.

Jul 22, 2022

In this week's drone news; DraganFly has released a drone with a 66lb payload and a 55-minute endurance, Wing is creating a fleet of larger drones to carry different items, DJI is lobbying against the American Security Drone Act, a man was caught trying to fly contraband into a prison, and one year of Pilot Institute's Free stickers! DraganFly has introduced a cargo drone with a payload of 66lbs and a range of 19 miles. The heavy lift drone uses LTE for fully autonomous flights with an up to 55-minute endurance. In addition to package delivery, the heavy lift can be equipped with a new long-range LIDAR unit to map large areas. https://dronexl.co/2022/07/13/draganfly-heavy-lift-cargo-drone/ On the topic of larger drones, Alphabet’s Wing is expanding the size of its drones. “Just as the ideal vehicle for carrying a ton of gravel would be a dump truck rather than a sedan, the ideal aircraft to carry a bottle of medication is not the same as the best one to deliver a gallon of milk, and neither is suited to deliver a refrigerator,” Wing CEO Adam Woodworth. https://dronexl.co/2022/07/19/contraband-heavy-duty-drone-texas-prison/ DJI has hired lobbying firms in an attempt to persuade congress not to back the American Security Drone Act. This would prohibit the government from buying drones made by Chinese firms or other companies that could be a national security risk DJI is already on the Entity list and on the Chinese Military-industrial complex list. https://archive.ph/Ijb8J A Texas man was arrested in Houston after trying to use a heavy lift drone to drop a bag of contraband into a prison. The contraband included wire cutters, money, smartphones, and tobacco. Charges agains the man included two counts of improperly flying and aircraft, each carrying up to 3 years in prison. https://dronexl.co/2022/07/19/contraband-heavy-duty-drone-texas-prison/

Jul 15, 2022

In this week's news, Yuneec announces a new commercial drone. DJI Airworks is happening in person this year, August 2022. Paladin and Odessa PD have created the largest DFR network in the states. Pilot Institute is 3 years old! We will go over some of our accomplishments all thanks to our students, viewers and community. 00:00 Introduction 00:36 Yuneec Announces Business Class Drone 02:00 DJI Airworks 2022 02:41 Largest DFR Program in the Country 03:49 Pilot Institute Anniversary Yuneec announced the H850-RTK, a new hexacopter drone aimed at professional users 65 min flight time and multiple payload capabilities. Also introducing a smart controller with 7” built-in display (1000 nit) Designed to be a competitor to the Matrice 300 (but cheaper) 8 lb of payload, RTK GPS, Glonass, BeiDou, and Galileo constellations Compatible with existing Yuneec cameras such as the E90x (20MP 1” sensor), E30Zx (30x optical zoom), and the E20TVx (radiometric thermal imager) Expected to be $7500-8000 range. https://dronexl.co/2022/07/07/yuneec-h850-rtk-business-class-drone/ DJI Airworks was announced this week as a in-person event again after a few years of online-only meetings. It will be held at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas between October 10-12th. The show will feature outdoor demos, numerous workshops, and in-depth panels discussions. Tickets are available at $199 until August 8, then $299 after that. https://dronexl.co/2022/07/09/dji-airworks-2022-las-vegas/ The Odessa Police Department has teamed up with Paladin Drones to create the largest Drone as First Responder (DFR) program in the US. The drones will be used by Odessa Police and Odessa Fire Rescue personnel to gather key information prior to first responders' arrival. Paladins Knighthawk Drones will arrive on the scene prior to first responders and stream video directly to that person who needs it the most. They will fly in Class C, E, and G using a 5-drone DFR System https://paladindrones.io/odessa-police-department-announces-largest-dfr-program-in-the-us/ Check out the tour of our facility! Let’s take a look at some numbers for the past 3 years! 167k students, 252k course enrollments 47k Part 107 trained. 92% average on exam, 99.995% pass rate Almost exactly 50,000 comments left in the part 107 course alone 9.3m lectures completed, that’s almost 6 lectures per minute. 29 courses in our catalog with 3 more soon. 12,600 Free stickers bringing awareness to Registration schemes online. 73k+ TRUST Certificates (last year): 25% of all TRUST certificates ever issued! 894 Continuing education credits issued in the last 12 months 58,000 subs on YouTube and over 8.5m combined views (over 3 channels) 15k reviews with an average of 4.9/5

Jul 8, 2022

This week in Drone News: An Airbus Zephyr UAS has been flying for 17 days so far, A Mavic 3 was shot down, NAAA cautions UAS operators for crop spraying operations, and Samsung’s Airborne surveillance camera. An Airbus Zephyr S Solar powered UAV has been flying above Arizona for 17 days - So far… While not a small UAS, This goes to show how solar power could one day allow for perpetual operation of a UAV! The Zephyr S remained above the Sofa Wilderness and Yuma Test Range before flying to Belize. It’s unclear how long the aircraft will remain airborne. During the testing of the Zephyr System in 2018, the aircraft flew for 28 days. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/zephyr-high-flying-drone-has-been-up-for-17-days-as-part-of-army-test An investigation is ongoing in North Carolina, after a man’s Mavic 3 was shot down during a family gathering. The pilot was taking pictures of the sunset when they heard 4 shots, and the aircraft fell out of the sky. The operator reported the incident to both local law enforcement and the FAA. The FAA stated “A private citizen shooting at any aircraft – including unmanned aircraft – poses a significant safety hazard… Could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air,” said Elizabeth Cory (FAA). https://dronexl.co/2022/07/06/dji-mavic-3-drone-shot-north-carolina/ Samsung has created a drone to provide overwatch in dark areas. This drone is designed to provide overwatch to people traveling through areas in cities that are poorly lit or have a high crime rate. The drone captures 360 degree video and can summon police if it detects a crime has been committed, and even can track the suspects. https://www.yankodesign.com/2022/07/04/this-samsung-drone-wasnt-designed-for-consumers-it-was-designed-for-public-safety/ The National Agricultural Aviation Association released a flyer cautioning UAS operators for upcoming agricultural operations This flyer advised the following Equip UAV with Strobe Lights and Tracking Technology like and ADS-B out system Get Certified and Trained in operating a UAV Follow the law- Always give the right of way to manned aircraft Coordinate with local aircraft operators about your UAV operations Carry sufficient UAV liability insurance https://agairupdate.com/2022/04/18/naaa-cautions-unmanned-aircraft-operators-not-to-interfere-with-low-altitude-manned-agricultural-aircraft-this-growing-season/

Jul 1, 2022

This week in drone news: A new video on the DJI Avata shows an artist's concept of the drone, Influential Drones has acquired Buzz my Property, Phoenix Fire used a drone to help locate and rescue overheating hikers, an upcoming AAAC meeting will discuss pilot safety, and a new course for visual observers from Pilot Institute. VO Course: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/visual-observer-essentials/ A new video shows the potential concept of the DJI Avata It is important to note that this video is NOT made by DJI, this is an artist's representation of the Avata. There haven’t been any new leaks at this time, however, according to DJI’s roadmap for 2022, we may see the Avata as soon as July of this year! https://dronexl.co/2022/06/22/dji-avata-rendering-cinewhoop-drone/ Influential drones has announced a partnership with Buzz My Property. Buzz My Property is a real-estate drone service for Realtors, landscapers, arborists, and municipal departments. Influential drones is drone reseller and commercial drone service provider https://www.newswire.com/news/influential-drones-acquires-buzz-my-property-21751151 Phoenix fire rescued 8 people using drones and a helicopter The group was hiking camelback mountain in Phoenix and were filming a reality TV show. After running out of water, the group called 911, and phoenix fire was dispatched. They used their drone to find the groups of hikers, and then the hikers were air-lifted off the mountain. https://www.azfamily.com/2022/06/23/more-than-10-people-treated-heat-related-illness-echo-canyon-trail/ There is an upcoming AAAC meeting, on June 30th, 2022 from 10 AM to 2:30 PM ET that will discuss UAS operator safety Other topics to be covered will be the remaining items on the 2018 reauthorization act FAA’s rule-making process Operations of UAS in class E airspace - Over the top of class A.

Jun 24, 2022

This week in drone news: Zipline has gotten their PArt 135 certificate from the FAA, The FAA is soliciting public comments about Zipline's proposed drone deliveries, Wingcopter has raised 42 million to expand deliveries, Amazon's announcement a surprise for the small town where their deliveries will begin, and finally, we've released our Photography course! Enroll in the Photography Course here: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/drone-photo-video-made-easy/ The FAA on Tuesday approved Zipline to operate as an air carrier under part 135 Zipline is the first company to a its 135 cert under the FAA’s BEYOND program along with Zipline receiving their part 135 certificate, the FAA is asking for public comments on package deliveries in the Pea Ridge Arkansas area Zipline's proposed area covers 1200 square miles in NW Arkansas, with a maximum of 20 flights per day Comments will be open for 14 days, the proposal can be viewed here: https://www.faa.gov/advancedoperations/nepaanddrones/zipline-pea-ridge-environmental-assessment Send comments to: 9-FAA-Drone-Environmental@faa.gov https://www.faa.gov/uas/advanced_operations/nepa_and_drones Wingcopter has announced they raised 42 million dollars to expand drone delivery beyond medicine. The company hopes to use this money to begin deliveries of things like groceries. “At Wingcopter, we create efficient and sustainable drone solutions to save and improve lives. For this, we are hiring passionate pioneers with whom we build what has not existed before,” said Tom Plümmer, co-founder and CEO of Wingcopter. “The new funding, combined with growing revenues, puts us in an excellent position to establish our industry-leading drone delivery solution with our customers around the globe to optimize supply chains.” https://www.freightwaves.com/news/wingcopter-raises-42m-to-expand-beyond-medical-drone-deliveries Currently Zipline is making deliveries every 4 minutes (Worldwide), and is working with Walmart in the US. Amazon’s plan to launch their drone deliveries later this year in Lockeford, CA came as a surprise to many folks in the town It appears that this, as with many Amazon ventures, was kept secret in an attempt to prevent backlash. Amazon is apparently reaching out to those within 4 miles of the distribution center to determine who is interested in trying drone deliveries. Packages will be under 5lbs, and will be limited to certain goods. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2022/jun/21/amazons-drones-plan-a-surprise-to-residents/https://thehill.com/policy/technology/3531431-faa-approves-drone-delivery-from-zipline/

Jun 17, 2022

This week in drone news: Amazon is starting drone deliveries this year, A small drone was found crashed near a runway in Arkansas, the proposed drone act of 2022, drone safety awareness day, and a new Pilot Institute course! Amazon plans to begin deliveries in northern California this year the company announced this week Prime Air drones will carry packages that weigh up to 5lbs and are shoe-box sized or smaller The drone will hover ~10 feet over the ground to drop the package and will find this spot via a QR code printed by the customer. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-13/amazon-plans-to-start-drone-delivery-in-california-this-year A small drone was found crashed near a runway at Boone County Regional Regional Airport in Arkansas The drone is a “Skyrider” and models cost ~$50. The aircraft was not registered The airport manager stated “Our airport is in a Class E airspace. A drone is not allowed to go zero feet within four miles of our airport and can then go up to 400 feet after that,” said Boone County Regional Airport Manager Judy McCutcheon according to KY3. “That covers the entire city limits of Harrison, Arkansas, with the exception of the far southeast side. That is a no drone sight unless you are a 107 drone operator, and get permission with the FAA before you fly.” https://dronexl.co/2022/06/13/recreational-drone-runway/ This bill in the US House of Rep. seeks to cover malicious use of drones, including Weaponization of UAS Impairment of identification or lighting Interfering with protected activities (Operations of aircraft, airports, vessels, vehicles, law enforcement, or military ops) Operating in restricted airspace with knowledge of the prohibition Transportation of contraband Threats, attempts, or conspiracies of the above Terrorism and electronic surveillance Penalties for injuries/death based on above infractions This law would allow DHS to prosecute certain offenses in the same manner as the FAA https://www.justice.gov/ola/page/file/1465976/download New paid course from PI! Learn the elements of photography from Greg and our guest instructors Billy Kyle and Ken Dobo!

Jun 10, 2022

This week in drone news, Paladin has gotten a BVLOS waiver for class B airspace, Axon stops r&d on a Taser drone, more blue UAS added to the approved list, and a firmware upidate to the Mavic 3! Paladin Drones has received a class B BVLOS waiver for their Drone as First Responders system The waiver is for the Elizabeth Police Department in New Jersey Paladin’s aircraft, the Knighthawk is a 4G LTE quadcopter with a 55 minute endurance designed specifically for first responders. Paladin’s Watchtower solution also integrates video feeds with other manufacters for maximum situational awareness. https://paladindrones.io/class-b-beyond-visual-line-of-sight-waiver-granted-to-elizabeth-police-department/ Axon has stopped the plan to create a drone armed with a taser after a majority of its ethics board resigned due to the project. Axon founder and CEO stated “we are pausing work on this project and refocusing to further engage with key constituencies to fully explore the best path forward,” The board voted 8-4 against Axon continuing work on the project https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/axon-halts-plans-taser-drone-ethics-board-resign-85211941 More aircraft have been added to the Blue UAS list, including the Wingtra one, Alta x, Spirit, and Ebee Tac We’ve been critical in the past of the limited aircraft on the blue UAS list, the addition of these aircraft should allow for more competition and more capability Previously we reported that the capabilities of Blue UAS are lacking when compared to other manufacturers, such as DJI and Autel. https://dronexl.co/2022/06/03/wingtraone-altax-spirit-ebee-tac-blue-suas/ The telephoto lens now supports RAW Different frame rates for video (4K 25, 30, 50 Manual ISO and Shutter speed DJI May have also finally fixed the GPS issues! HLG on the main camera D-Log and HLG when recording master shots and Quickshots Check out the full changes on DroneXL! https://dronexl.co/2022/06/01/dji-mavic-3-firmware-update-gps/

Jun 3, 2022

This week in drone news, Amazon has apparently been telling the FAA not to investigate drone crashes as they are investigating, a new defense/public safety drone, and a large crop-spraying drone crash in California. It appears that Prime Air has been avoiding FAA crash investigations by claiming the company has the authority to conduct its own investigations At least twice, FAA inspectors have found that Amazon has moved crash evidence and/or inhibited an investigation. At least 8 Amazon drones crashed last year, one sparking a 20 acre wildfire in Oregon. Amazon said that regulatory delays could “Totally Disrupt” the goal timeline of launching Prime Air delivery in 2024. Amazon responded by stating that the company has"has complied with all incident reporting, investigation, and other applicable regulatory requirements," the spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, said. "Over the last seven years, the FAA has never taken an enforcement action against Prime Air, and has awarded us an air carrier certificate to enable commercial deliveries — showing that our comprehensive process has met the FAA's high bar.” https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-air-faa-regulators-investigation-drone-crashes-2022-5 A California Start up named “Realtime Robotics” has released a portable heavy lift drone that they say beats competitors in terms of situational awareness for first responders. The Hera is a backpack-sized drone with a payload capacity of 30lbs and can be outfitted with up to 4 EO/IR cameras. The aircraft can be tethered or untethered with a flight time of 46minutes with a 5lb payload. Realtime Robotics also says the Hera is NDAA compliant. Guessed to be around $25k https://rtrobotics.com/ A large crop splaying aircraft crashed in Winters, CA While news sources say the aircraft had a wing span of 10 feet, an NTSB report states the aircraft make/model, suggesting a wing span of 38 feet, and a MGTOW of 1320lbs. The drone, a Pyka Pelican 7, crashed into a field, and was involved in a post-crash fire. There were no injuries. NTSB Accident # WPR22LA183 https://www.wintersexpress.com/local-news/unmanned-aircraft-crashes-in-ag-field

May 27, 2022

This week in drone news: Wyoming looking to create a drone trespass law, Insta360 sphere for the Mavic Air 2 and the Air 2S, Walmart expanding their drone delivery, and Skydio Symforce changes to open source. A Legislative committee in Wyoming voted to continue work on legislation that would address trespass issues relating to drone flights “Simply entering the airspace above somebody else’s land is a trespass, we’re saying that’s a criminal trespass in the bill, maybe that’s a misdemeanor?” said Olsen. “And maybe your felony occurs when you do these other activities including surveillance, what type of surveillance is it?” https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2022-05-24/lawmakers-consider-adding-drones-to-trespass-law Insta360 has released a new camera for the Mavic air 2 and the Air 2S This camera is a 360 cam and renders the drone invisible! This camera straps onto the drone allowing you to fly and get two shots at the same time. One 360 and one of what the drone sees! See video https://dronexl.co/2022/05/25/insta360-sphere-dji-mavic-air-2-2s-drones/ Walmart is expanding their drone delivery platform to six major cities! Phoenix, Tampa, Orlando, Dallas, Salt Lake, Richmond Deliveries in 30 minutes or less Walmart and DroneUp hope to expand up to 34 sites this year. https://www.axios.com/2022/05/24/walmart-drone-delivery-droneup-packages-doorstep-home Skydio Symforce is a framework for writing algorithms to control robots. The company has released symforce as an open-source project to accelerate the robotics and UAS industries “It’s an incredible tool that allows our team to quickly progress from rapid prototyping to the type of highly-optimized runtime code that powers our drones,” Skydio says in a press release. “SymForce is the result of five years of development by Skydio’s autonomy team in an environment where performance and code maintainability are crucial. We think the challenges it solves are common and that SymForce can help robotics engineers build faster, the same way that PyTorch and TensorFlow accelerated the deep learning ecosystem.” https://dronexl.co/2022/05/25/skydio-symforce-framework/

May 21, 2022

Join Greg, our lead instructor, as we learn about all the happenings in the drone industry this week. DJI had yet ANOTHER leak, it looks like a cinewhoop-style drone. Florida Light and Power has purchased an 1800+ lbs drone that will be used for disaster relief in up to a 1000-mile radius of takeoff. Fatshark is coming at DJI's digital system by releasing their own goggles boasting 1080p resolution. Thanks for all your support and love these past 3 years of news updates. We look forward to bringing you this content as long as drones are up in the air. New DJI leaks have already started after the release of the Mini 3 Pro! This new drone appears to be a cinewhoop-style FPV drone. Some specs have been leaked 500g No manual mode Head chase mode Vibration function https://dronexl.co/2022/05/15/dji-avata-dji-cinewhoop-drone/ Florida Power and Light has purchased a drone for disaster response. This aircraft is an 1800lb UAS that is capable of flying up to 1000 miles. Florida Power and Light will use this drone along with smaller quadcopters such as the Mavic 2. FPL hopes to be the first company to fly a large scale drone outside of testing areas https://dronexl.co/2022/05/17/fpl-fixed-wing-storm-drone/ Fatshark has released a new set of digital FPV goggles, promising 1080p video. It appears the Dominator uses the same chipset (P1) as the DJI’s goggles and other aircraft (Such as the Mavic 3 and RC pro) It will be interesting to see how the new Fatshark goggles compare to DJI! https://www.suasnews.com/2022/05/the-dji-p1-and-s1-fpv-chipset-its-not-all-that/

May 13, 2022

This week in drone news; DJI released the Mini 3 Pro, the drone on mars is recovering from a dust storm, Wingcopter gets criteria for part 21 cert, and FliteFest 2022! Download comparative footage and images on our blog! Mini 3 Pro Blog Review: https://pilotinstitute.com/dji-mini-3-pro-review/ Learn about the newest addition to DJI's lineup! DeepDive: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/dji-mini-3-pro-deep-dive/ See Greg and the Team's opinions on the Mini 3 Pro! Review: https://youtu.be/pn2iJq5hrcU Should you upgrade from the Mini 2? Mini 3 Pro vs Mini 2: https://youtu.be/8oqmifYVVwQ The Mini 3 Pro was officially released on Tuesday, and it packs some awesome features in a tiny drone. 4k60 1/1.3” CMOS Landscape/portrait mode Focus track, Master shots, and Quickshots New RC Plus Deep Dive! Link to our own review Ingenuity experienced a blackout due to dust accumulation on its solar panels This resulted in a pause in the mission for both ingenuity and for perseverance. This shows that a “Test vehicle” designed for four flights has become a massive asset for the Perseverance team. With 28 completed flights, the Ingenuity is the first power flight on another planet! https://www.space.com/mars-ingenuity-helicopter-blackout-dust On Wed Wingcopter announced the FAA had issued the special class airworthiness criteria. This is NOT yet an airworthiness certificate but rather the requirements that must be met to obtain an airworthiness certificate! This is a huge step forwards for drone delivery! https://wingcopter.com/airworthiness-criteria We just booked our travel to FliteFest 2022! FliteFest is in Malvern, Ohio in June 22-26, and is a remote control flying conference. Join us and the guys at flitefest to fly both drones and airplanes! https://www.flitefest.com/

May 6, 2022

This week in drone news; Snapchat has released a drone, Skyward to end operations in June, Disney Paris celebrates with a drone show, an app to find your stolen drone, and finally an update on free stickers! Snapchat has released a drone! This drone, “Pixy” is a "free-flying sidekick” and is essentially a selfie drone. Pixy is autonomous, taking video as it flies which is then transferred to and saved within Snapchat’s app. The drone is ducted and weighs only 101g. $249.99 - https://www.pixy.com/shop?utm_source=g_brandsearch&utm_medium=pixy_paid&utm_campaign=us_g_brandsearch_conversion_snapchatpixy&utm_term=snapchatpixy&utm_content=shop_page Skyward, a Verizon company, announced this week that they would end operations. Skyward provided LAANC airspace authorization, and fleet management. Refocus on ground robot management. connectivity services, and solution development. They will continue services through June 30, 2022. This is yet another LAANC provider that is having a difficult time monetizing in the drone space. AirMap shut down operations a few months ago and was purchased by Drone Up shortly after. If you need a replacement, be sure to look at either Aloft or UASidekick. To celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Disney Paris, the park launched a drone show! The show featured 150 color changing drones prior to the fireworks show The only previous drone show occurred in 2016 in Orlando. This goes to show that Drones may be the next big thing next to firework shows! https://www.avinteractive.com/news/drones/first-drone-show-launched-inside-disney-theme-park-03-05-2022/ The Australian Company DroneSec has launched a “Stolen Drone Registry” This database allows users to report drones stolen, including the make, model, serial number, and date/location of the loss. The system actively scans eBay, Facebook marketplace, and other locations for matches. Once a match has been found, the person who reported the theft is contacted. https://dronexl.co/2022/04/27/stolen-drones-info/ Pilot Institute is proud to announce we’ve shipped over 10,000 stickers We’re not stopping! We’re going to continue this to bring awareness to the only correct place to register your drones - the FAA’s website! The cost is $5 on the FAA’s site, and our stickers are free. Order yours at pilotinstitute.com/free

Apr 29, 2022

This week in drone news; The Whitehouse has released an action plan calling for more power to regulate drones in and around sensitive locations, DJI Inspire 3 leaks, a new FLIR camera, and our newly released Pilot Institute Wiki! The presidential administration is calling on congress to expand authority of both federal and local governments to take action against drones. This action plan calls for expanding fed and local agencies that can track/monitor drones “flying in their airspace”. It also involves creating a ground system to detect drones that can be used by federal/local governments. “adopt legislation to close critical gaps in existing law and policy that currently impede government and law enforcement from protecting the American people and our vital security interests.” This plan also involves allowing counter UAS operations for certain authorities. https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-federal-aviation-administration-congress-90c34d902cacb04d0d7369356d9706c1 DJI Inspire 3 reportedly shown in a video Zenmuse X9 To be released In September - Before the 16th? https://dronexl.co/2022/04/22/dji-inspire-3-video-dji-insiders/ Mini 3 release delayed? According to Jasper Ellens, a longtime DJI Leaker, the Mini 3 will release May 10th. FLIR has released a new camera! This camera is a 640x512 Boson LWIR, along with a 64MP EO camera IP54 56g 60Hz video output via USP or MIPI Hopefully, we’ll see some cool new thermal drones soon! https://www.flir.com/products/hadron-640r/ We know you guys have trouble finding a single resource for local drone regulations. Over the last few months, we have been working hard to create a source that you can edit and update. We just released our new wiki page which contains not only all the local drone regulations but suggestions for places to fly locally. The best part is, we want your contribution to telling us where you love to fly in your state, as well as any other drone laws we didn’t find. Up and down vote locations to fly Submit a photo and suggest places to fly Submit new or updated regulation The Phoenix page is the perfect example of what we will achieve for the rest of the country. Check it out at pilotinstitute.com/drones We’ve also launched Facebook groups for each state! This is to help you network and get into your local UAS community. This is a perfect place to organize meetups and learn about the local regulations and fight existing or new drone laws (alongside organizations like DSPA). Join your state’s group!

Apr 15, 2022

This week in drone news; More leaks of the DJI Mini 3 including pricing, GoPro has released a slim action camera for drones, the first BVLOS waiver has been granted for FPV without a visual observer, and Gresco acquires DJI Arizona. Looks like the mini 3 will be released on either the 27th or 28th of April Other leaks suggest a possible 1” sensor on the mini 3 pro This has been supported by leaks on other sites, such as Amazon Pricing has also been released, and combos may start as low as ~$520, and extend to ~$1250. https://dronexl.co/2022/04/11/dji-mini-3-pricing-leaked/ https://dronexl.co/2022/04/08/mini-3-release-date-april/ https://dronexl.co/2022/04/13/amazon-dji-mini-3-drone/ GoPro has released the Hero 10 Black Bones This is an action camera specifically for lightweight FPV drones. Resolution up to 5.3K60 and hyper smooth 4.0 Pricing is currently 399.98. https://dronexl.co/2022/04/13/gopro-hero10-black-bones-fpv-drones/ On April 11th, 2022 Kenji Sugahara was awarded a BVLOS FPV waiver that does not require a visual observer. This waiver is based on sheltered operations and flying below obstacles. https://dspalliance.org/fpv-bvlos-waiver/?fbclid=IwAR1V1Kxje4_i1YZ7tl4psBIeDmyW0z4wH2Ki5Z8xi2-CA75k6x55k-H3h-0 DJI Arizona/Innovative UAS will be merging with Gresco Technology Solutions. DJI Arizona has been servicing consumers in Arizona since 2014 and will now be focusing on the Enterprise Market as part of Gresco. Gresco has been one of the leaders in providing UAS services to the public safety, electric utility and transportation sector.

Apr 8, 2022

This week in drone news: Two DJI leaks point to a new Mavic 3S and a new Mini 3 and/or Mini 3 pro, AUVSI Xponential is just around the corner, and the Ingenuity helicopter has won the Collier Trophy. Mini 3 pro? 3 axis gimbal Possible 180-degree view Obstacle avoidance Maximum aperture f/1.7 249g https://dronexl.co/2022/04/02/dji-mini-3-pro-video-photos-release-imminent/ Rumors of a new Mavic 3s New telephoto sensor - 1” Main camera unchanged Larger battery - 15% increase in battery life Fixed satellite lock time Fall 2022 or Q1 2023 https://dronexl.co/2022/03/25/dji-mavic-3s-fall-release/ AUVSI Xponential is just a few weeks away! Greg and Jason will be attending Use promo code PILOTINST20OFF for 20% off tickets Our partners at @AUVSI are known for convening the best & brightest minds in uncrewed systems and autonomous tech. This April, they’re hosting their flagship event, XPONENTIAL, in Orlando. Don’t miss your chance to shape the future of autonomy! Learn more: xponential.org The Ingenuity helicopter has been awarded the Collier Trophy by the National Aeronautic Association. To date the Ingenuity has logged a total of 43 minutes of flight time over 24 flights. Ingenuity is the first powered and controlled flight of an aircraft on another planet. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/mars-helicopter-wins-collier-trophy/

Apr 1, 2022

This week in drone news: Texas law 423 has been found unconstitutional by a federal judge, a recreational pilot in New York was fined more than $15,000, an update from our travels to the Texas Public Safety Robot Response Summit, and an upcoming South Florida Drone Meetup. Texas Drone law 423 was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge The law restricted drone use and distribution of images captured via drones. “The challenged Texas statutes prohibited legitimate newsgathering that causes no harm, and unconstitutionally drew distinctions that disallowed journalistic drone photography but allowed the exact same drone photography when done for other favored purposes. Judge Pitman properly found that these distinctions were improper and that the statutes were so vague as to be unconstitutional.” https://petapixel.com/2022/03/30/stringent-texas-anti-drone-law-overturned-in-federal-court/ A drone pilot from NYC was fined by the FAA over 15k last December. The pilot stated they were operating under 44809 but did not meet the requirements. The operator was issued a $15,205 fine. The FAA issued fines for three flights, including 107.12, No remote pilot certificate, 107.13, drone not registered, 107.19(c) Posing a hazard to people, aircraft or property, 107.23(a) Flying at night without a waiver (Prior to new rules), 107.29(a) Flying over people without a waiver (Prior to new rules), 107.41 Flying in controlled airspace without authorization, 107.65 No 24 month recency of knowledge. Brinc Drones and ICOR robotics have partnered to save lives. This partnership will enable ICOR robots to deploy Brinc aircraft into structures. DroneSense has launched remote drone operations geared towards public safety. This allows an operator to remotely pilot a drone in order to respond to emergencies. The web-based interface allows for near-real-time control with minimal video latency. https://www.newswire.com/news/dronesense-launches-remote-drone-operations-software-designed-for-21667096 New firmware update for EVO Nano and Lite Series drones Dynamic tracking of video subject (person only) on EVO Lite+ 160Mbs video and image downloading from drone to phone via Wi-Fi 8-bit Log video HDR video More enhancements and issue fixes April 2nd, 2022 7AM - 4PM FREE Jensen Beach Causeway Park Jensen Beach Causeway (southside) Jensen Beach, FL 34957

Mar 25, 2022

This week in drone news: the DJI Matrice 30 has been released, the Ingenuity drone on mars has been extended to continue flights, a man attempting to smuggle drugs using drones has been arrested, and events/UAS industry update. Mavic 3 DeepDive: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/dji-mavic-3-deep-dive/ The Matrice 30 was released this week Available as M30 or M30T 48MP 1/2 CMOS and 5x to 16x optical and 200x digital zoom 12MP wide-angle cam 8k photo and 4k 30 fps and laser range finder. M30T has an additional 640x512px radiometric thermal cam IP55, OcuSync 3 Enterprise, 41 minute flight time, quick recharge, local data mode, emergency 3 prop landing, 3.7kg along with releases of the DJI RC Plus - New enterprise smart controller DJI FlightHub 2 - Flight planning and docking station software DJI Dock - Docking station for the M30 DJI Zenmuse H20N - Night Vision https://dronexl.co/2022/03/21/foldable-dji-matrice-30-m30/ NASA has officially extended flight operations for the Mars drone Ingenuity! Currently, Ingenuity has logged over 38 minutes of flight (One Evo 2 or Mavic 3 battery) and traveled 2.9 miles The missions will focus on supporting the Perseverance, providing route assistance, assessing targets, and imaging other features outside of the rover's reach. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/space-flight/mars-helicopter-mission-extended A man in Washington County Tennessee has been arrested after flying a drone over a jail yard. The drone was carrying a package wrapped in black electrical tape. Officers managed to grab the package and disconnect it from the drone. The drone then crashed due to the fishing line being tangled in the propellers. The package contained illegal narcotics and oxycodone pills. https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/drugs-smuggle-drone-washington-county-wcyb-east-tennessee/51-ef893852-e526-4dc7-ab3d-34844a89e532

Mar 18, 2022

Join Greg as we talk about the most recent DJI Leaks, the BVLOS Report published by the ARC, eBee Tac became an approved Blue UAS, and an update on the issue within Oregon State Parks. Give Billy some love: https://www.youtube.com/c/BillyKyle New Matrice https://dronexl.co/2022/03/15/foldable-dji-matrice-drone-m400/Expected to be the Matrice 30. Expected to be released on March 21 Compact Enterprise drone, a hybrid between the Matrice 300 and the Mavic Enterprise Inspire 3 https://dronexl.co/2022/03/14/dji-inspire-3-specs/Rumored to have 8K @ 75 FPS, 4K at 200 FPSSuper 35 CMOS, ProRes 4444XQ 10 Bit & 422HQ Mini 3 body leaked https://dronexl.co/2022/03/15/dji-mini-3-body-leaked/ This could show the body of the rumored Mini 3 The BVLOS Report is out! There is tons of information in it, and we’ve been reading over the 250-page document along with the voting results. We will have a live Q&A session about the report today Friday, March 18 at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific with Kenji Sugahara (on the ARC) and Vic Moss We’ll be making a full video on the results and what this may mean for the industry If you want to read it, here’s the link! https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/media/UAS_BVLOS_ARC_FINAL_REPORT_03102022.pdf The eBee TAC has been added to the Blue sUAS cleared list! This is the first under the DIU’s Blue sUAS 2.0 The Ebee is made by sensefly and owned by AgEagle. We’re interested to see how many others that are part of the Blues sUAS will be selected and we hope this adds more competition to the Blue sUAS market for better drones! https://www.suasnews.com/2022/03/ebee-tac-drone-solution-added-to-blue-uas-cleared-list-by-defense-innovation-unit/ This is a call to action! Oregon is looking to change the rules to allow drones to be flown inside their state parks - except in sensitive areas. Comments are currently open on this proposed rule change. We need YOU to email Oregon State Parks and support this change, many people are opposing this rule change simply because they don’t like drones. The email is in the description! OPRD.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov https://dronexl.co/2022/03/08/oregon-drone-community-help-now/

Mar 11, 2022

This week in drone news: Oregon State parks are looking to change their rules to allow drones and we need your help to ensure it goes through, an upcoming industry event in Texas, IRIS Automation's BVLOS waiver with Reno Fire has been approved, and Mini 3 Specs. Please email the Oregon State Parks department!!! Oregon State Parks: OPRD.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov This is a call to action! Oregon is looking to change the rules to allow drones to be flown inside their state parks - except in sensitive areas. Comments are currently open on this proposed rule change. We need YOU to email Oregon State Parks and support this change, many people are opposing this rule change simply because they don’t like drones. The email is in the description! OPRD.publiccomment@oprd.oregon.gov https://dronexl.co/2022/03/08/oregon-drone-community-help-now/ Iris Automation, on behalf of the Reno Fire Department, has gotten a waiver to fly BVLOS Without any visual observers Without any use of ground-based detection equipment This was achieved using the Casia X sense and avoid technology. https://www.reno.gov/Home/Components/News/News/19976/576 More DJI Leaks now include possible specifications! DJI Mini 3 Spec Guess. 1/1.3″ CMOS, F1.7 large aperture The gimbal is tilted at a large angle, and you can shoot upwards The camera supports vertical mode 3 direction obstacle avoidance Active Track O3 transmission New remote control with screen https://dronexl.co/2022/03/06/dji-mini-3-specs/ Have you experienced PSI testing troubles? If so: This is not acceptable. I need you to do 3 things: - Email PSI to let them know your experience: https://www.psionline.com/contact/form?tab=support - Email the FAA Testing Branch to let them know about your experience as well at afs630comments@faa.gov so they can follow up. - Email me at greg@pilotinstitute.com so I can compile the data and email both of these entities.

Mar 4, 2022

This week in drone news: More DJI RC Plus images, DJI Mini 3 possibly leaked, DJI Agras T40 and T20P appear on the FCCs database, and a man arrested for smuggling drugs and other things with a drone into prison. Have you experienced PSI testing troubles? If so: This is not acceptable. I need you to do 3 things: - Email PSI to let them know your experience: https://www.psionline.com/contact/form?tab=support - Email the FAA Testing Branch to let them know about your experience as well at afs630comments@faa.gov so they can follow up. - Email me at greg@pilotinstitute.com so I can compile the data and email both of these entities. Free drone registration labels: https://pilotinstitute.com/free/ Our Other Channels - PIXL Drone Show: drone related podcast, posts every Tuesday morning. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeSmbjvE0etKry8Nk2n0CQ - Pilot Institute Airplane: our airplane channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgBjGoM-yn_3bH8Qr9xkXA Our courses - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Get Pilot Institute Gear - T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Polo shirt: https://kats-custom-embroidery-llc.myshopify.com/collections/pilot-institute-gear The DJI RC Plus that we talked about last week has been spotted in use! The DJI leaker OsitaLV tweeted that the new DJI RC Plus may work with upcoming drone models, such as the DJI Matrice 400RTK The controller appears to have a number of customizable buttons and large antennas. https://dronexl.co/2022/03/01/dji-rc-plus-spotted-matrice-drones/ (Photoshopped?) images of a possible Mini 3 have been leaked by the long-time DJI Leaker OsitaLV. The images show a smart controller of sorts and a strange looking mini style drone. Most are discarding this “leak” as a joke, however there are rumors that a Mini 3 will release in April. https://dronexl.co/2022/03/01/dji-mini-3-release-date/ Another leak from the FCC has added the DJI Agras T40 and the DJI Agras T20P to the list of upcoming DJI aircraft Both aircraft seem to use the new DJI RC Plus smart controller No word on when these will be released or which aircraft is shown in the picture. https://dronexl.co/2022/02/25/drones-in-agriculture-dji-agras-t40/ A man in South Carolina was arrested after authorities say he crashed a drone filled with contraband into a prison yard. The package on the drone contained 558g of Marijuana, 585g of tobacco, four hacksaw blades, and three lighters. According to warrants, the man, Joshua Bryan Jordan, was seen flying on the aircraft’s video. https://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/summerville-man-arrested-after-crashing-drone-with-contraband-into-prison-yard/

Feb 25, 2022

This week in drone news: a possible DJI RC Plus leak, Autel firmware update fixes issues with the Nano and Lite, Video of the Mavic 2 crash into a helicopter, and a litchi update adds the A2S, Mini 2, and Mini SE. A new FCC filing suggests DJI will be releasing a new transmitter! According to the filing, the RC Plus seems to be an intermediate between the RC pro and the RC-N1. We’re not sure if this new controller has a screen This could also be an indication of new drones to come. Will we see this as an option with the rumored Mini 3 or Inspire 3? https://dronexl.co/2022/02/17/dji-rc-plus-fcc-filings/ Autel has released an update for the Nano and the Lite This firmware update adds 24/25/48/50 FPS video Solves Jello issue with nano Adds manual focus Customizable time stamps Speed/video priority modes EVO Nano+ and EVO Nano have gained new high photo resolutions of 8192×6144 and 8000×6000 respectively. https://dronexl.co/2022/02/17/firmware-update-evo-nano-lite-drones/ This story is a bit old, but the video of the crash has finally been released Back story Roughly two years ago - Feb 2020, a Mavic 2 collided with an Airbus helicopter while filming the King of Hammers off-road race in California. There were luckily no injuries, however, The NTSB stated probable cause was the “ failure of the small UAS remote pilot to give way to the helicopter, resulting in an inflight collision” It is important to note that the helicopter operations had a waiver to operate below standard altitudes. https://dronexl.co/2022/02/16/dji-mavic-2-drone-collision-helicopter-ntsb/ Litchi has added support for the Air 2S, Mini 2, and the Mini SE. Litchi says they will support the Mavic 3 as soon as the SDK is released. This update is only for those using an Android operating system An iOS update will be coming in the last week of March or the first week of April. https://dronexl.co/2022/02/23/litchi-update-dji-mini-2-air-2s-mavic-3/

Feb 18, 2022

This week in drone news: FAA Administrator has announced he will be resigning, the FAA announced this week they will begin Unmanned Traffic Management field testing, the Superbowl drone show, more concerns over blue UAS in comparison to the NDAA, and a new FPV course. Friday the 11th, the FAA announced the plan to begin testing unmanned traffic management capabilities. Testing will start in the spring of 2022. UTM service will be complimentary but separate from ATM services This field testing is aimed at sUAS operations, generally, below 400’. https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-begins-new-phase-testing-safely-integrate-drones-national-airspace The NFL put on a drone show for the Super Bowl. This show was shown 4 times, once the Friday prior and three times on Saturday. There were none on Sunday due to the TFR. Two NDAA compliant drones manufacturers, Terraview and Skyfish are petitioning congress to remove the blue sUAS requirement. These two manufacturers claim the Blue UAS program is causing damage to NDAA compliant manufacturers. Both manufacturers applied for blue UAS, but were told the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) lacked the funding to evaluate their systems. “The Blue sUAS list was never designed to be a gate-keeper for federal government procurement,” says Bruce Myers, Terraview CEO. “It’s actually stifling competition… The DIU never intended the Blue sUAS list to be the be-all-end-all. ” https://dronelife.com/2022/02/12/ndaa-compliant-us-drone-manufacturers-petition-congress-to-remove-blue-suas-requirement-from-gsa/ Check out our new FPV course! This is a step-by-step guide to building a cinematic FPV drone, taught by Don, our FPV instructor. Don goes over what parts to use, how to assemble, and configure the drone to get those awesome dynamic FPV shots. Enroll here: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/cinematic-fpv-drone-from-scratch/ The FAA administration released a memo stating: “Over the past several years, my family has been a source of tremendous encouragement, strength, and support. Nevertheless, after sometimes long and unavoidable periods of separation from my loved ones during the pandemic, it is time to devote my full time and attention to them. As I wrote in my letter to President Biden, it is time to go home.” Administrator Dickson said he made the decision in light of growing extended family and time away from his family. It’s expected Deputy Administrator Bradley Mims will take over Dickson’s duties. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/faa-administrator-to-resign/

Feb 11, 2022

This Week, Greg talks with FAA Drone Guy Kevin Morris about the National Airspace System (NAS), Superbowl TFRs, and Remote ID. Bobby Quin, CEO of Paypixl, joins us to talk about his software that helps drone service providers share their data and get paid. Drones are being restricted across the US and the DSPA is fighting back, Greg updates you on what the DSPA is up to. DRL has announced a PAID tournament where contestants will race FPV drones in their app. Superbowl TFR:https://www.faa.gov/superbowl DSPA: https://dspalliance.org/ PayPixl: https://paypixl.io/ Check out more from Kevin Morris and the FAA: https://youtu.be/KCXvQ-TYhFs Paypixl has released its portfolio paywall platform for photographers and pilots This program allows pilots, photographers, and clients to interact, complete jobs, share files, and pay all in one location. Unlike other programs, PayPixl does not own the customer relationships nor the images, models, or other data captured by the pilot. Check out app.paypixl.io Wisconsin SB868 Assembly Bill 907 No DJI Drones for any state agency Seattle, WA - Film Permit Washington State Drone Registration Fee? $15 per aircraft (Part 107) Money used to create a UAS position Oregon State Parks Maps with approved locations to fly Could be used for a model in other states DRL Arcade, a free drone racing app we reported on a few weeks ago, is running a mobile game tournament! The top finishers in each tournament will receive Prizes from DRL including a $250 gift card, a Nacon Headset and controller, and other DRL merch. Check out the app here: https://thedroneracingleague.com/arcade/

Feb 4, 2022

This week in drone news, DJI has announced the end of life for the inspire 2, Natulis cargo drones, Autel drones are being used in the Ukraine conflict, the upcoming Superbowl TFR, and new information ties DJI to the Chinese Government. DJI will be discontinuing the Inspire 2 in February “the following products are expected to be sold out in February 2022 the sales will be stopped immediately.” Will we see an Inspire 3 later this year? Drone XL reported a leak that the inspire 3 may be coming as soon as September! https://dronexl.co/2021/12/09/dji-drones-in-2022-inspire-3-mini-3-fpv-mini/ https://dronexl.co/2022/01/27/dji-inspire-2-discontinued/ The company Natilus Drone claims they will be able to reduce air freight costs by 50%. Natilus is based in San Diego, and has 4 sizes of drones in their plan. The 130T is the largest, and has a maximum takeoff payload of 955,000lb. It is suitable for intercontinental flights, as has a range of 5,880 miles. The N3.8T has a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 19,000 lb, will be able to carry a load of LD3 containers with a maximum weight of 8,500 lb. https://www.autoevolution.com/news/natilus-drone-claims-it-can-cut-air-freight-costs-by-50-percent-features-a-large-payload-180467.html Autel aircraft are being used as a resource by those opposing Russian-backed rebels in Ukraine. Autel’s aircraft are not militarized but are instead providing overwatch and recon. These units are being donated by businesses and charities to Ukraine. There WILL be a TFR around the Superbowl again this year. This will occur on Feb. 13th, 2022 around SoFi Stadium in Inglewood CA. Game day TFR will go into effect at ~2:30 PM PST. 30 NM ring centered over the stadium, the surface to 18,000’. Drones are PROHIBITED in the TFR. https://www.faa.gov/superbowl https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/faa-announces-super-bowl-lvi-safety-plan A Washington Post report reported that DJI maintains close ties to the Chinese government and received state funding. This is despite repeated claims to the contrary. DJI is not publicly traded, so the list of investors is hard to uncover. Some call this a hit piece ahead of an upcoming FCC vote regarding DJI. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/02/01/china-funding-drones-dji-us-regulators/

Jan 28, 2022

This week in drone news, Navajo Nation uses drones for medical deliveries, Drone saves a dog using a sausage, Osprey vs EVO 2, and a big update for the Mavic 3! A Native American-owned company called “MissionGo” will be helping launch the “Healing Eagle Feather” project This project will deliver essential materials such as insulin kits, meals, anti-venom, and emergency communication devices. No word yet on what aircraft is used, however in the demonstration, an M300 is shown along with a helicopter-styled sUAS. https://www.abc15.com/news/region-northern-az/navajo-nation-to-use-drones-to-deliver-medical-supplies A Dog in the UK was rescued using a drone and sausage after avoiding rescuers. The dog was stuck in mudflats that would be submerged by the incoming tide when someone had the idea to lure the dog out with sausage attached to a drone. Millie - the Jack Russel was then reunited with her owner. A student of ours had their EVO 2 taken down by an Osprey. While flying close to a cell tower, the Osprey went after the drone. These pictures tell the rest of the story. DJI updated the Mavic 3 with promised features Quickshots, Panorama, burst shooting Digital zoom in Video mode Color Display Assist in D Log Support to set RTH altitude for advanced RTH The RC Pro was updated as well to be compatible with the Air 2S. https://dronexl.co/2022/01/24/dji-mavic-3-firmware-update-features/

Jan 21, 2022

This week in drone news: A new app allows for DJI drones to be flown without transmitting sensitive information, Bengals VS Raiders NFL game flown over by drone, and a drone that folds while flying! Secure DJI app: https://dronexl.co/2022/01/14/dji-drones-airhub-secure-data-mode/ Last week, during the Bengals and Raiders game, someone with a drone flew over (and inside) the stadium. The operator then went on to post the video on social media. It looks like the drone is only about 20-30 feet over the field during some parts of the video. https://dronexl.co/2022/01/17/illegal-drone-footage-bengals-football-game/ This drone folds in flight to navigate through obstacles that would otherwise cause the drone to crash. Using the propeller’s thrust and reverse thrust, the aircraft can fold up to two arms at a time to fix through smaller holes or into tighter places. These folded arms can also be used to pick up objects, such as a package. Pretty cool use of drones! https://newatlas.com/drones/midair-reconfigurable-quadcopter/

Jan 14, 2022

This week in drone news: the FAA has approved a 35-mile BVLOS corridor, an M600 with an AED resulted in a life saved, a woman in China spent $12,500 on a drone show for her dog's birthday, and two records set by a drone show in the UAE. The FAA has approved a BVLOS drone corridor in NY. This corridor will allow BVLOS flights of unmanned aircraft for up to 35 miles. To monitor the BVLOS flights, NUAIR will deploy ground-based surveillance systems to monitor all air traffic and visual observers. https://dronexl.co/2022/01/06/faa-bvlos-flights-new-york/ A DJI M600 saved a life last year by delivering an AED to a man who’d suffered a heart attack in Stockholm. The man was shoveling snow from his driveway when he collapsed. A passerby (who happened to be a doctor) called emergency services. The AED was delivered by drone in 3 minutes, and the man’s heart was restarted before the ambulance arrived. https://dronexl.co/2022/01/05/dji-matrice-delivers-aed/ A woman in China spent $12,500 on a drone show for her dog’s 10th birthday. The show included 520 drones to spell out "Happy 10th birthday to Doudou”. Other images included a birthday cake and a box with a bone in it. The show however was flown inside of a no-fly zone, meaning the drones were at risk to be shot down. Police warned next time, they would shoot the drones down. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/devoted-dog-lover-spends-11000-25898649 DRONE LIGHT SHOW / FIREWORKS SETS -TWO- WORLD RECORDS in the UAE 1 “Highest Altitude Multirotor/Drone Fireworks Display” was the tower of pyrotechnic drones 1,055.8 meters in height, taller than any skyscraper in the world. 2 “Most Remote Operated Multirotor/Drones Launching Fireworks Simultaneously”, when 452 drones launched fireworks simultaneously to create the “Happy New Year” visual in the sky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDIT5gBuNrY

Jan 7, 2022

This week in drone news: the Evo Nano and Evo Lite have arrived, Christmas day rescue using drones, the new Skydio Keyframe feature, and CES! After a bit longer than a nano-second, the new Autel drones have arrived! The Nano is a 249g aircraft with a 1/2” (Nano) or a 1/1.28” (Nano +) sensor and a three-axis gimbal The Lite is a bit bigger and boasts a 4-axis gimbal with a 1/1.28” or 1” (Lite+) sensor capable of 6k/30 FPS We’ll be working on getting DeepDives for these new aircraft soon! CES B-Roll https://dronexl.co/2021/12/29/autel-evo-nano-lite/ A fire department in VA was able to find two lost hikers on Christmas Day thanks to thermal imaging on a drone. Rescuers were then guided to the location of the hikers, who’d gone out unprepared for nighttime travel. There were no injuries reported. https://nypost.com/2021/12/27/virginia-fire-department-rescues-hikers-on-sharp-top-mountain-with-drone/ Skydio has announced their new “Keyframe” feature which allows an operator to select keyframes and the aircraft will create a cinematic path to match these frames. Once these frames are set, the user will be able to play back and forwards, as many times as needed and at different speeds "One of the main things that set professional productions apart is the motion of the camera. With the help of cranes, jibs, and large production crews, Hollywood productions do really unique, interesting things. In the hands of an expert pilot, drone footage can be very cinematic," said Skydio CEO, Adam Bry. "KeyFrame makes this capability accessible to a new wave of creators. Hollywood quality cinematography, available anywhere, anytime." prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-autonomous-drone-maker-skydio-announces-new-keyframe-capability-for-breakthrough-autonomous-cinematography-301453453.html

Dec 31, 2021

This week in drone news: A recap of the 2021 year including the new drones we’ve seen, drone bans, regulation changes, UAS in public safety, and Pilot Institute milestones. TRUST: https://trust.pilotinstitute.com/

Dec 24, 2021

This week in drone news: Seattle drone laws in question requiring permits for UAS flights, Virginia Tech has received the first approved means of compliance for category aircraft, and the Ingenuity helicopter has hit 30 minutes airborne! A means of compliance has been accepted by the FAA! Virginia Tech has received the first means of compliance from the FAA. Details are not available on the actual testing method, however, this is the first step towards approved operations over people and category 2/3 aircraft. https://vtx.vt.edu/articles/2021/12/ictas-maap-meansofcompliance.html The Ingenuity UAS has hit the 30-minute mark! The aircraft has flown 17 times, for a grand total of 30 minutes 48 seconds. “Few thought we would make it to flight one, fewer still to five. And no one thought we would make it this far,” said Ingenuity team lead Teddy Tzanetos. “On the way to accumulating over a half-hour aloft Ingenuity has survived eight months of bitter cold, and operated out of nine unique Martian airfields. The aircraft’s continued operations speaks to the robustness the design and the diligence and passion of our small operations team.” https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/space-flight/mars-helicopter-reaches-30-minute-milestone/ Lots of people are going to be getting drone this holiday season. Pilot Institute asks you to do a few things: Be a good mentor and help educate! Invite new folks with drones or those interested to fly with you. The more in this hobby, the better. Fly safe and Happy holidays!

Dec 17, 2021

This week in drone news; a leak has shown possible new DJI drones in 2022, DJI also to be added to an investment and export blacklist, Flytrex expands their drone deliveries, and drones are being used to recover from the Kentucky tornados. New DJI Products and their associated release dates have been leaked online We’re possibly looking at Mini 3 in April FPV Mini in July Inspire 3 in September https://dronexl.co/2021/12/09/dji-drones-in-2022-inspire-3-mini-3-fpv-mini-and-more/ DJI will be added to the investment and export blacklist The US Department of Commerce will put DJI along with more than 24 other companies on the entity list that restricts American exports and investment. The US Treasury Department will also put DJI and others on the “Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies” Blacklist. https://dronexl.co/2021/12/15/dji-to-be-added-to-investment-and-export-blacklists/ Flytrex has received approval to expand the delivery area for its operations to 1 mile from all of its NC locations. This expansion will allow Flytrex to reach an additional 10,000 households Flytrex partners with both foodservice and retail establishments to provide UAS deliveries. https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/unmanned-vehicles/faa-approves-flytrex-drone-delivery-service-expansion Drones are being used as part of the recovery efforts for the Tornados in Kentucky. We know a few folks who are out working on these operations Shout out to StormPoint, SkyeBrowse, and other First responders in Kentucky. https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2021/12/11/1063367722/drone-footage-captures-devastating-aftermath-of-mayfield-kentucky-tornado

Dec 11, 2021

Join us in learning about the recent up-comings in the drone community. DroneUp, a DSP, has squired the former LAANC provider, Airmap. The Drone Racing League has been accredited by the FAA in a first-of-its-kind drone safety event accreditation. A pilot, and friend of Pilot Institute, Kenji Sugahara, has received a response from the FAA regarding is p.107 exemption for a +55lb drone. DroneUp is acquiring Airmap No disclosed price for the transaction or date. This is interesting to see a drone delivery platform purchase a software provider such as airmap. AirMap has been in the news over the years and more recently for losing their ability to issue LAANC requests and wanting to monetize on the airspace access. https://www.zdnet.com/article/mergers-pave-way-for-scaling-drone-delivery/ DRL is now an FAA-accredited drone event organizer. DRL will help to oversee UAS events to ensure safety. “We’re honored the FAA has accredited DRL as the first UAS event organization, and we’re excited to participate in the FAA’s PSP program to ensure safety is the priority at all UAS events,” said DRL COO Ashley Ellefson. “We look forward to sharing our expertise in drone-event safety more widely with the industry and continuing to work with venue organizers to curate safe and spectacular drone racing experiences through the most unique and incredible spaces.” Kenji Sugahara has received the first 55lb+ exemption using only a part 107. This paves the way into part 107 operators potentially receiving waivers to operate aircraft that weigh more than 55lbs. Currently, part 107 operations are limited to aircraft less than 55lbs. Fears of more expensive GPS appear to not be an issue for transmitters and Standard RID. With this change however, comes the possibility that cellphone’s GPS may not suffice for standard RID. An increase in cost however is unlikely, as WAAS GPS units are within $5 of other GPS units currently in use on unmanned aircraft.

Oct 29, 2021

This week in Drone News: More leaks on the Mavic 3, a proposed drone operation to rescue dogs has been canceled due to the dogs disappearing, Mesa Airlines and drone delivery, and a new MicaSense RedEdge Camera Mavic 3 / Mavic 3 Pro / Mavic 3 Cine The Mavic 3 specs have been leaked ahead of the assumed Nov. 5th launch. 5.1K 50FPS, 4K 120FPS, 1080 200 FPS+, 20 MP 200MBPS H.264 & 140MBPS H.265 Cine can record Apple ProRes 422 HQ The secondary camera is 12 MP and can record 4K 30 Mavic 3 Cine has 1 TB internal storage Standard Mavic 3 has 8 GB Micro SD up to 2TB are supported 4S 5000mAh LiPo battery, 46 minutes of flight time OcuSync 3.0 Controller quality video is 1080P @ 30 or 60 FPS https://dronexl.co/2021/10/26/mavic-3-specs-leaked-launch-dji-drone/ A-Team rescues dogs Drone operations in Spain had been feeding dogs on a portion of the mountain surrounded by lava flows. A plan was in place and operators received permission to fly their UAS to the dogs in an attempt to rescue them. Once the plan was solidified and in place, the dogs disappeared. The animals were apparently rescued by unknown persons who spray-painted a message “The dogs are fine. - The A-Team”. https://www.npr.org/2021/10/21/1048003713/a-team-dogs-rescue-volcano-lava-la-palma-spain Mesa Airlines and drone delivery Mesa Air group has signed an agreement with Flirtey Eagle drones. Mesa will be using these aircraft for nearly all delivery types but will start with commercial food and beverage deliveries. So far, Mesa has purchased 4 sUAS for testing, with the option of 500 more. With the purchase of these drones, Mesa becomes the first US-scheduled airline to launch a commercial drone delivery service. https://www.aviationtoday.com/2021/10/21/mesa-air-group-first-scheduled-us-airline-launch-commercial-drone-delivery-service/ New MicaSense Camera AgEagle, who we reported on last week is releasing a new MicaSense RedEdge-P sensor This sensor is a multi-spectral and RGB sensor designed for spectral analysis of plants and has a larger spatial resolution than the previous RedEdge. It is interesting to see this release only a week or so after AgEagle announced the purchase of SenseFly. We may soon see MicaSense and ebee aircraft together! https://www.suasnews.com/2021/10/ageagle-unveils-the-micasense-rededge-p-drone-sensor/

Oct 22, 2021

This week in drone news, the FCC has released a document discussing DJI as a security concern and the commissioner has called for a ban, an 8-day flight by an unmanned aircraft, AgEagle is purchasing senseFly from Parrot, and Arizona DroneFest 2021. Parrot Anafi Thermal Deep dive: https://pilotinstitute.com/course/parrot-anafi-thermal-deep-dive/ FCC Commissioner calls for DJI ban The FCC commissioner called for the process of adding DJI to the FCC’s covered list. This would prohibit the use of federal money from being used to purchase DJI equipment. “The FCC also has a proceeding underway examining whether to continue approving equipment from entities on the Covered List for use in the US, regardless of whether federal dollars are involved” The covered list is a list of companies whose products contain or pose an “unacceptable security risk” The FCC Commissioner also stated that additional consideration was required to “determine if other entities warrant closer scrutiny” https://twitter.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1450496145516544001/photo/1 8-Day UAS flight Vanilla UAV has claimed the world record with an 8 day, 50-minute flight without refueling. Over 8 days, the aircraft flew a total of 10,600 NM before landing This is a fixed-wing UAS designed primarily for the military. The Vanilla is not an sUAS but is instead in the group 3 category - between 25 and 599kg. The Vanilla UAV has a payload of 68kg or 150lbs. https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/vanilla-uav-claims-world-record-eight-day-flight-without-refuelling/145774.article AgEagle to Aquire Sensefly AgEagle Aerial Systems is purchasing senseFly from Parrot. senseFly is most widely known for the creation of the ebee (fixed wing Parrot stated that this sale was necessary to their future plans of focusing on quadcopter/multi-rotor aircraft. “Moving forward, Parrot will focus its expertise and resources on the growth of its professional quadcopter drone equipment and drone data analysis software activities. The transaction will provide additional cash and lower operational expends to drive Parrot’s growth and industry standing. With the expanded capabilities of the ANAFI line of professional drones and of the Pix4D software suites, Parrot will continue to address its core market segments: 3D Mapping, Surveying and Inspection, Agriculture, and Defense and Security.” https://www.suasnews.com/2021/10/ageagle-to-acquire-sensefly-from-parrot/ Come visit us at AZ DroneFest! This Saturday we’ll be at Grand Canyon University at the Arizona Drone Fest! Come by the booth, stop in for Greg’s talk on regulations @10am, meet the team, and get your registration stickers printed, fly the drone sim! General admission is free! We hope to see you there!

Oct 15, 2021

This week in drone news, A new round of Blue UAS has started testing, a bird that was rescued using a drone, a drug-loaded large UAS lands on a police car, and DJI's latest announcement: Good things come in 3s. Blue UAS 2.0 A new round of blue UAS testing has begun. This round includes 11 vendors, such as Sense fly, Skydio, Harris Aerial, and Wingtra. The goal of this is to further expand the U.S. government’s ability to obtain sUAS that are effective in their mission goals. We reported recently about how Blue UAS are not measuring up to the standards set by other consumer aircraft, such as DJI. Hopefully, Blue UAS 2.0 will help to expand the available aircraft for the government. https://www.diu.mil/latest/new-streamlined-option-for-dod-organizations-to-access-UAS Bird rescued by drone! This took place in Peru, a bird was tangled in a string that was attached to an electrical wire. Using a Mavic Mini or Mini 2, police attached a razor blade and cut the string. The bird fell onto a nearby roof where it was captured and taken to a wildlife rehab center. This goes to show there are infinite uses for drones! https://www.yahoo.com/now/pigeon-stuck-high-voltage-cable-160619176.html Drug-loaded drone lands on police car A man in Georgia is facing charges after being found near a prison. The story gets more interesting when police noticed a drone that came and landed on top of the investigating deputy’s patrol car. This drone was loaded with drugs, cellphones, and other contraband. Police say the man was attempting to make a contraband drop at the prison. Looks to be a DJI Matrice 600 https://www.wrdw.com/2021/10/11/man-charged-after-contraband-carrying-drone-lands-deputys-patrol-car/ DJI's Good things come in 3s Based on the image included in the post DroneXL is reporting that the likely release of products from DJI will be A DJI Osmo on October 20th The DJI Action 2 on October 27th The Mavic 3 on November 5th No more info as of now, but we’ll keep you posted! https://dronexl.co/2021/10/12/mavic-3-release-date-dji/

Oct 8, 2021

This week in drone news: A new product that houses the EVO 2 from Autel Robotics, drone shoot down in PA, drone show fail in China, rumors of new DJI drones, and a new Pilot Institute course on FAAsafety.gov FAA Safety: https://www.faasafety.gov/gslac/ALC/course_catalog.aspx New videos! Intermediate FPV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dw6ZIysrjo ADS-B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeEohJoGAXw It appears that Autel Robotics has developed an automated docking station for the EVO 2 line of aircraft. This system is called the EVO Nest Works with the EVO 2, EVO 2 RTK, and EVO 2 Enterprise series This keeps the drone charged and ready to fly 24/7 The drone takes-off and lands in the box where it is stored and charged IP54 certification The Nest takes 45 minutes to charge the aircraft https://dronexl.co/2021/10/05/autel-evo-nest-drone-docking-station/ A man in Pennsylvania is facing charges after allegedly shooting down an inspection company’s drone. The business, Exelon Business Services was contracted to inspect power poles and lines. During the flight, the rPIC heard gunshots and lost contact with the aircraft. The aircraft was found in a trashcan behind the man’s house but he refused to discuss how it ended up there. State police state that the charges include criminal mischief worth more than $1,000 and that charges will be filed in the county courts. https://www.pahomepage.com/news/local-news/sayre-man-allegedly-shoots-down-drone-charges-expected-to-be-filed/ A drone show in China experienced a major failure this week After lifting off, all 200 of the drones came down on top of people watching the show. Videos show the aircraft dropping out of the sky, however, it’s difficult to tell if they were descending or falling Luckily there were no injuries https://supchina.com/2021/10/05/drones-fall-from-the-sky-during-failed-performance-in-zhengzhou/ DJI Mini 3 - Some leaks suggest a DJI Mini 3 could be released in November! No pictures yet of the Mini 3 DroneXL is reporting that DJI actually reached out to deny that a new Mini series aircraft is in the works/will be released. Remember that DJI also denied the Mini SE would be available in the US and Europe DJI Mavic 3 - Lots of leaks, DroneXL is reporting that the release will be on October 20th. We’re very excited for these releases! https://dronexl.co/2021/09/30/dji-mini-3-drone-november-15th/ https://dronexl.co/2021/10/04/mavic-3-retail-price-confirmed/ https://dronexl.co/2021/10/04/dji-mini-3-existence-denied/ We’ve got a new course, available only on FAAsafety.gov! This course is an interactive course discussing Aeronautical Decision Making for sUAS - ALC-723 This course IS available for wings credits and is 100% FREE! We’re working on more FAA safety courses geared towards drones. We put out two new videos this week, ADS-B and some Intermediate FPV maneuvers!

Jul 22, 2020

This week in Drone News: Skydio announces the X2D drone and a series of new software. UPS Flight Forward and Matternet expand their delivery network at hospitals. The CEO of Kittyhawk discusses an increase in LAANC authorization in the last 6 months. Skydio's new drone : 00:43 Expanded delivery network for UPS/Matternet : 02:42 Increase in LAANC authorisations : 04:50 Now on Podcast : 06:21 Script/notes Skydio Launches Skydio X2 commercial Drone Skydio announced the launched of a new commercial drone called the X2. Comes in two format: X2D and X2E X2D: designed for the US Army as a reconnaissance drone X2E: designed for first reponders and enterprise Comes with a 360-deg camera and a FLIR system (320x256)12 MP photos, 35 minutes flight time, 6.2 mi range Also comes with a new set of software, including 360 zooming, 180 vertical images for inspections, and scanning software. Will start shipping 4th quarter of 2020. Skydio also raised $100 million to speed up the development of their drones and marketing efforts. https://dronelife.com/2020/07/13/skydios-x2-drones-ceo-adam-bry-talks-breakthrough-autonomy-and-100-million/ UPS Flight Forward expands UPS Flight Forward is expanding its hospital delivery network with the helps of Matternet M2 drones. They will carry patient specific and time/temperature sensitive medicine They will also carry PPE to medical professionals. This is happening in Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina. They have made more than 2200 deliveries so far (4400 flights) Increase in LAANC authorization Jon Hegranes, CEO and Co-founder of Kittyhawk, said that LAANC authorizations are hitting an old time high. There have been over 320,000 LAANC authorizations granted with more authorizations granted this year than in the first 21 months of LAANC. Over a third of all LAANC authorizations were granted in the first 6 months of 2020.

Jul 10, 2020

This week in Drone News: A near miss between a drone and a police helicopter in Tusla, OK. A video submitted by one of our students showing a UFO (Unidentified Flying Object). And a length recap of the AUVSI/FAA Symposium including Remote ID information from the FAA's Jay Merkel and Administrator Dickson, the newly announced FAA Drone WINGS (or Drone PROPS) program and other things. Timing Helicopter coming too close : 00:54 Drone-UFO : 02:44 FAA/AUVSI Symposium: 3:56 Links - Get your own Pilot Institute T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Script/Notes: Near-miss between drone and police Helicopter Captured in Tulsa during a procession. Looks like an inspire 2 heading toward a helicopter and getting prop washed. https://ktul.com/news/local/a-near-miss-with-a-drone-and-a-crash-on-the-turnpike-heightens-stress-on-law-enforcement Drone or UFO? Breanna, who is one of our graduates (98% on the exam!!) shared this video she took from her backyard. Thought it was firework at first. Then after a while, the lights shut off. She said the lights also turned blue at one point. FAA/AUVSI Symposium Jay Merkle: Final Ruling is pretty much done, going through the review stage before release to the public. FAA Administrator Dickson: “service providers” WINGS Program for Drone Pilots 182k remote pilots as of 7/1/20 Shoutout to Kevin Morris, the FAA Drone Guy, and the team of other FAA inspector including John, who I know watches every week!

Jul 3, 2020

This week in drone news, we discuss a Mavic 3 rumor that wasn’t really a rumor. We talk about FAA extending the Special Federal Aviation Regulation until September. We go over the new Parrot Anafi USA and how Parrot’s CEO, Henri Seydoux, unexpectedly slammed DJI in public. And lastly, we will show you a map of drone rescues over the world. Timeline 0:42 The Mavic 3 rumor that never was 1:27 FAA Special FAR is extended until September 2020. 3:55 Parrot releases Anafi USA and slams DJI 7:18 A map showing all the drone rescues in the world Drone Training - Get your own Pilot Institute T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Script/Notes Mavic 3 rumor that never was This week, DroneXL reported that the Mavic 3 was expected to be released at the end of September based on images that surfaced online. As it turns out, the images were part of another existing DJI agro drone called the T16. So we will have to wait a little longer for a release date for the Mavic 3! Extension of Special FAR The FAA has extended its special FAR that was issued a few months ago to deal with COVID shutdowns. Remote Pilot whose privileges are due to expire between March and September (previously June) can renew online. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/29/2020-13960/limited-extension-of-relief-for-certain-persons-and-operations-during-the-coronavirus-disease-2019 Parrot Anafi USA Two weeks ago, we discussed the new Parrot Anafi “rugged version”. More information was release this week from Parrot. It’s called the Parrot Anafi USA because it was designed for the US Army. Equipped with 3 cams: 32x zoom 2 cameras 21-MP cam claiming to see from 3.1 mi. FLIR camera coupled with the zoom. 500 gram, quiet (79 dB), ready in 55 seconds and all-weather. Something unexpected came out of the release when Henri Seydoux, the CEO of Parrot, openly slammed DJI publicly by claiming that a version of DJI Go was silently modified after data leaks were supposedly found. DJI responded by saying the data was not for the DJI Go app but for its Osmo device (DJI Mimo app) and the information was not leaked but going to a third-party provider to share footage. Drone Rescues Maps Drones are used for good daily in the world. DJI has compiled a map of all drone rescues in the world 130 in the US, 63 in Europe, 23 in Asia, 14 in Latin America https://dronelife.com/2020/06/29/dji-drone-rescue-map/

Jun 26, 2020

This week in drone news, we discuss a recap of the Drone Advisory Committee held on June 19, 2020. Remote ID and UTM were hot topics discussed along with recommended changes to the drone culture. In the second part of the video, we discuss an update from the FAA regarding your hobbyist registration. Timestamps 0:40 DAC Meeting Recap 11:07 FAA Registration update Drone Training - Get your own Pilot Institute T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Drone Advisory Committee Drone Advisory Committee met last Friday and it was broadcasted live. Final rule in Dec 2020 for Remote ID I have to be a little cynical. This means that the FAA already went through the 50,000 comments that were left in the NPRM, in about 60 working days. That’s over 800 comments per day. There was discussions about the need for a UTM and I detected a hint at wanting to know where UAS are, even in uncontrolled airspace. Joe DePete, the president of ALPA took a large part of the meeting congratulating his team mates for coming up with pillar of operation that, in my opinion, are already in place for most serious commercial UAS pilots. I applaud the push for a learning-focused environment but… He kept bragging about the safety records for the airlines (which is indeed great) but also he showed a serious lack of understanding of the UAS industry. While I appreciate that manned aircraft organizations are trying to bring the safety culture (I do the same with our PI courses), their lack of credentials in the UAS world reduces their credibility drastically. Brendan Schulman from DJI is the only one who spoke for UAS operators in the field by reminding everyone in the DAC that the industry had a perfect record thus far with no fatalities and hundreds of millions of flight conducted. Sadly, no talk from the AMA representative for the FPV community. FAA Registration for Hobbyists The FAA released a statement saying that the first batch of registration that was recently extended to December 12, 2020 will expire soon. Initially, back in 2016, Hobbyists had to register. Then they didn’t, and then they had to again. For those who initially registered but didn’t ask for their money back, the FAA had extended registration until December 12, 2020. Registration can be renewed within 180 days so you can login today to the FAA drone Zone and renew yours. The registration number will remain the same, and The new expiration will be December 12, 2023 (3 more years).

Jun 19, 2020

This week in Drone News. Rumors of a Parrot Anafi Thermal rugged version. A DJI Mavic Pro was shot in the air by a riffle and survived the encounter. An update on the 2018 alleged Gatwick Drone incident. And finally, a drone helps rescue a father and daughter from drowning. Timeline 0:00 Intro 0:45 Parrot Anafi Thermal rugged version rumored 2:07 Mavic Pro shot and kept flying 3:45 Update on the Gatwick Incident 5:39 Drone helps with father/daughter river rescue - Get your own Pilot Institute T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Anafi Thermal Rumors Images surfaced on DroneXL this week of a rugged version of the Parrot Anafi Thermal drone. The current model is popular with first responders so an outdoor tactical version would make sense. It shows larger motors with serrated blades, a built-in bright screen. It is equipped with a triple camera setup with a FLIR thermal cam and a 32x optical zoom. Parrot, a french company, is expected to build the drone in the US and will not include any Chinese-made part. Mavic Pro shot Instagram user @vandy007 posted images of his Mavic Pro after it was shot at with a rifle. The user reported that he was flying close to 400 feet and adjusting the settings on his camera and he heard a shot. He didn’t think anything of it and just landed only to see the damage. The damage was mostly to the battery but it’s amazing that the drone survived. Yes, it is a federal crime to shoot at an aircraft, including a drone… Update on the Gatwick incident Remember the Gatwick alleged drone incident in 2018? A couple had been falsely arrested in conjunction with the alleged incident. Their house was assaulted by police and they were held for 36 hours in December 2018. They sued and just settled $250,000 There was never any confirmed drone sighting and with hundreds of journalists and government official, no proof has been provided to date. Gatwick did however spend $6 million to install Anti-UAV Defense system. Over a $1 million has been spent investigating the supposed incident. Drone helps father/daughter in the river A drone was used to locate a father and his daughter whose canoe had capsized in the San Joaquin River in California. The drone followed a citizen who rescued the daughter and brought her back to land. The drone helped the fire department located the father who had stayed behind. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/rick-smith-298376199_antiochpd-apd-uas-activity-6677326574427238400-s4Oh/

Jun 12, 2020

This week in drone news: An update to the DJI data leak that’s been going on for years. A Canadian police drone collides with a Police Helicopter. Pix4D releases a new photogrammetry cloud service: Pix4Dcloud and Pix4Dcloud Advanced. And finally a Pilot Institute update: we reach 20,000 students and 36,000 enrollments, all thanks to you! Summary 00:42 - DJI Data Leaks: real or not? 04:03 - Police drone collides with a police helicopter 06:15 - New Pix4Dcloud offering 07:43 - 20,000 students at Pilot Institute - Get your own Pilot Institute T-shirt or Long Sleeve T: https://amzn.to/30CLtBw - Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0 - Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T - Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc - Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3 - Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG Script/Links DJI Data Leaks: real or not? A report from Booz Allen, an IT consulting company, was released this week regarding the long-debated possible data security issues from DJI drones. The report was prepared for PrecisionHawk, a commercial drone and data company. Booz Allen tested risk assessments of possible vulnerabilities for 3 drones: the Government Edition Mavic Pro, Matrice 600, and the Mavic 2 Enterprise. The testing did not identify data connections made by the drone platforms to DJI or Chinese servers. They did identify potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited or triggered by a threat source. The attacker would need to have physical access to the drone itself, or be within direct radio range during specific operations. The vulnerabilities were provided to DJI who said they mitigated several of them and will address the rest shortly. The report also said that “vulnerabilities will exist to some degree regardless of the UAS platform”. https://www.precisionhawk.com/blog/unmanned-aerial-intelligence-technology-center-of-excellence-conducts-risk-assessment-of-drone-technology When a police drone collides with a police helicopter A Royal Canadian Mounted Police AS350 helicopter collided with a SkyRanger R60 drone earlier in February but was only reported in June. The two aircraft were on a joint mission in British Columbia when the accident happen. It was classified as a midair collision, which happened at 300 feet AGL. No one was hurt and the helicopter did a precautionary landing on a road nearby. Damage was found on the helicopter to the main rotor blades and the tail boom and rotor. The drone itself was destroyed and with has a listing price of $100,000, it’s an expensive lesson. https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/police-helicopter-collides-with-police-drone/