Drone News Update

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week: the FAA escalates enforcement on the controversial DHS TFR, that same TFR gets its first federal court challenge, and the Forest Service updates their filming rules. Let's get to it.

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

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week. First, DJI officially confirms the Avata 360 launch date and 8K resolution, Another SkyeBrowse update, and a $5,000 reward is being offered after military drones were stolen. Let’s get to it.
According to industry reports, the Avata 360 will feature a brand new replaceable lens system. A dedicated lens kit will reportedly cost around 50 euros and include two replacement lenses and the necessary tools. So, if you scratch a lens during a bad landing, you can just swap it out yourself for about 25 euros instead of sending the whole drone in for repair. That's a huge win, and solve a problem we’ve been curious about from the start. We also have leaked battery specs. The new Intelligent Flight Battery will reportedly cost around 70 euros and pack a 38.6 watt-hour capacity. Compare that to the DJI Avata 2, which has a smaller 31.8 watt-hour battery that costs 100 euros. More capacity for less money? The drone is expected to pair with the DJI Goggles N3, and hopefully the goggles 3 as well! However, there's a catch for the average consumer. The Avata 360 reportedly weighs in at almost 400 grams. This means it won't fall into the sub-250 gram category, so you'll need to register it and comply with Remote ID rules to fly legally here in the US. Next up, SkyeBrowse has released another update! If you aren’t familiar, SkyeBrowse builds drone mapping software for public safety agencies, using videogrammetry and photogrammetry technology. The platform is currently used by over 1,200 public safety agencies worldwide for applications such as accident reconstruction, crime scene investigation, and disaster response. This update is to its Flight App, expanding drone compatibility and improving mission planning tools. The update adds support for several new DJI models, including the Mini 4 Pro, Matrice 400, and the Matrice 4 Series, along with new high-performance sensor payloads. The WideBrowse grid scanning workflow was also redesigned, introducing two new capture modes: Cross Grids for added scene detail on low-rise structures, and Side Scan for capturing building facades and vertical surfaces. New features include a live ETA display for pre-flight planning and a Previous Flights tool for reloading and re-flying completed missions with identical settings.On the web platform side, the update adds an AI chat assistant, an image overlay tool for 3D models, expanded file upload support, GLB export improvements, and a broad interface redesign. Keep those coming Bobby! Last up, a $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals who allegedly stole military drones from Fort Campbell in Kentucky. According to the U.S. Army, four Skydio X10D drone systems were taken. If you're not familiar, the X10D is the defense and military variant of the Skydio X10. Reportedly, between November 21st and November 24th, 2025, unknown individuals unlawfully gained access to a building belonging to the 326th Division Engineer Battalion and took the equipment. The Army CID is actively investigating the incident and asking anyone with credible information to submit an anonymous tip. This is one of those don’t be that guy moments… Join us in the Premium community for Post Flight, where we share our opinions that aren’t suitable for YouTube and we’ll see you next week! https://www.wsmv.com/2026/03/10/5k-reward-offered-after-four-military-drones-stolen-fort-campbell/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/06/dji-avata-360-low-pricing-replaceable-lenses/https://dronexl.co/2026/03/10/dji-avata-360-official-teaser-8k-march-26/

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

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update, We have three stories for you this week: DJI takes the FCC to court, Apple TV sets a massive new drone light show record over Los Angeles, And BRINC teases a brand new drone, but we’ll have to wait for release.
First up, DJI is taking the FCC to court. They filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, challenging the December 22nd decision that blocked new equipment authorizations for their products. DJI argues the FCC never actually proved they're a threat. Here’s the full statement from DJI, and I’m not going to read it for you, but if you’d like to pause and read it, here you go. Basically, DJI says the NDAA gave the government a full year to conduct a security audit, and DJI even sent letters asking to be examined. But no audit happened. Instead, the FCC banned all foreign-made drones just two days before the deadline. So, what does this mean for you right now? Nothing changes for current operators. If you have a drone authorized before December 22nd, you can still fly it. This includes the Air 3S, Mini 4 Pro, and Mavic 3 series. However, new models are currently blocked. This is the second suit DJI has against the federal government at the moment, and we’ll be watching closely. Next, Apple TV launched a 3,000-drone light show over Los Angeles to promote season two of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters. The display reached up to 500 feet above the city and stretched across an area equal to about three football fields. They recreated massive images of Godzilla, King Kong, and the new villain Titan X, and the show even integrated fireworks into the choreography for key transitions. According to Apple TV, this set a world record for the tallest aerial display of a fictional character formed by drones, surpassing a 2024 formation of Wolverine. I’m sure the approvals for this one took a bit! And third this week, BRINC Drones is teasing a brand new aircraft. They'll reveal a next-generation Drone as First Responder on March 24th, nearly a month away from this recording. The teaser campaign is called Command the Night, and it looks like this drone is built specifically for low-light law enforcement operations. Teaser images show a large dome sensor housing, which could be new sensors or upgrades to their existing thermal or visual systems. BRINC CEO Blake Resnick claims this is their best product ever. Night operations have always been a weak point for DFR programs. Standard cameras struggle in the dark, and bolt-on thermal sensors just add unnecessary weight and complexity. A purpose-built night drone could be a massive game changer. BRINC is growing fast after raising 75 million dollars last year, bringing their valuation to over 400 million dollars. It’ll be interesting to see if we’re able to get our hands on this new drone to test it out! That's all for this week join us in the premium community where we share our opinions for post fight and we will see you next week. Have a great weekend.https://dronexl.co/2026/02/24/dji-takes-fcc-to-court/https://dronexl.co/2026/02/23/apple-tv-drone-record-los-angeles/https://dronexl.co/2026/02/24/brinc-teases-next-gen-dfr-drone-march-24/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: the FAA abruptly shut down all airspace around El Paso, Texas, DJI's former Vice President of Sales has been detained in China on bribery charges, a new bill could give Kansas City police the authority to take down drones during the 2026 World Cup, and a drone pilot is facing federal charges after flying over a highly sensitive military site and posting the video on YouTube. Let's get to it.

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