Drone News Update

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have four stories for you this week: FAA NOTAM creates invisible no-fly zones, the FAA has reopened the comment period for BVLOS rulemaking, SkyeBrowse launches a new AI feature to improve 3D models for crash scenes, a DJI drone helps save a 96-year-old woman from a fire in Texas. Let's get to it.

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

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week the FAA is adding two new UAS test sites, NOAA is officially using drones for daily weather forecasting operations and SiFly and Taranis are teaming up to scale up aerial crop intelligence. Let's get to it.

First up, the FAA has announced it's adding two new UAS Test Sites, which is a huge deal because it’s the first time they’ve expanded the program in almost ten years. The new sites are in partnership with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. This brings the total number of federal test ranges up to nine, joining the existing sites in Alaska, North Dakota, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Texas, and Virginia. If you aren’t familiar, the whole point of these test sites is to create a space for real-world testing to collect the data needed to safely integrate drones into our national airspace.According to the FAA, this is all about advancing Beyond Visual Line of Sight, or BVLOS, operations, as well as things like cargo delivery and managing multiple drone operations at once. The Choctaw Nation site will focus on practical applications like delivery services, infrastructure inspection, and emergency response missions across tribal lands. Meanwhile, the Indiana site will concentrate more on industrial and commercial uses, like cargo logistics, energy infrastructure, and agricultural monitoring. This expansion allows the FAA to gather the data they need to finally build the safety cases and regulations for these advanced operations. Next up, weather drones are officially moving from testing into operational use for US weather forecasting. For decades, forecasters have had a major blind spot in the lower atmosphere, which is where a lot of disruptive weather forms. Now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is partnering with a company called Meteomatics to fill that data gap.Meteomatics’ autonomous "Meteodrones" will be flying vertical profiles through the atmosphere to measure temperature, humidity, and wind. This data will be fed directly into the National Weather Service's daily forecasting operations. This is a big step up from a research program that started back in 2024 in North Dakota. Now, it's not just research; it's part of the daily toolkit for forecasters. An initial pilot program is already running in Oklahoma through April of 2026, with drones being managed from a remote "Meteobase." Better data at these critical altitudes means more accurate forecasts and more timely warnings.And in our final story this week, two companies are partnering to tackle one of the biggest challenges in agricultural drone use: scale. SiFly, a U.S.-based manufacturer of long-endurance VTOL drones, and Taranis, a leader in AI-powered crop intelligence, have launched a joint Field Validation Program. The goal is to prove out a new operational model for collecting crop data over massive areas. The star of the show here is SiFly's Q12 drone, with a three hour flight time. This improves the efficiency of data collection and makes the data itself more consistent. The flight time introduces a problem though, data management, which is where the Taranis comes in, processing the data in real time. The program will run during the 2026 growing season to validate how this combination of long-endurance flight and AI analysis can make aerial intelligence more scalable and affordable for farmers and agronomists.That’s it for this week, we’ll see you on Monday for Post Flight, our show where we share our opinions that aren’t always suitable for YouTube and for the live! https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sifly-and-taranis-launch-field-validation-program-to-accelerate-aerial-crop-intelligence-at-scale-302666560.htmlhttps://dronelife.com/2026/01/14/faa-adds-two-new-uas-test-sites-to-advance-drone-integration/https://dronedj.com/2026/01/16/meteomatics-meteodrones-noaa-weather-drone/

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week, Updates to the Foreign Drone Ban, the Department of Homeland Security is creating a new permanent counter-drone office, and the Super Bowl LX no-fly zone. Let's get to it.

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

Welcome to your weekly UAS News Update. We have three stories for you this week; leaked pricing for the upcoming DJI Avata 360, the world record for the fastest drone has been shattered, and public safety is starting the year off with a ton of drones for good stories! Let's get to it.
First up thanks to a leaked pricing table from a Chinese retail store, we have what appears to be the final pricing for the DJI Avata 360. And yes, the Avata 360 is already FCC approved. Now for the prices. In China, the base drone is listed at ¥2,988, which is about $426 USD. The Standard Combo with the Motion Controller 3 is about $569, and the Fly More Combo comes in at around $811. That puts the estimated US price for the base drone around $489, and the Fly More Combo will likely land right at that classic DJI price point of $999.This drone is rumored to brings true spherical 360 capture to an FPV platform, which is a huge deal. There are also rumors it could be under 250 grams. It seems to be a direct challenger to the Insta360 Antigravity A1, and DJI is betting that immersive 360 FPV is compelling enough for people to swallow that price tag for this new tech. Next up, for all you speed demons and FPV builders out there, the record for the world's fastest drone has been absolutely demolished. Luke Maximo Bell and his team have reclaimed the Guinness World Record with their Peregreen V4 drone, clocking an official top speed of 408.60 miles per hour, or 657.59 kilometers per hour. They took the record back from Benjamin Biggs, who had set it at 389 mph.What's really impressive here is the engineering. They meticulously tested three different motors—the AOS Supernova 3220, the AMX 2826, and the T-Motor 3120. They ended up choosing the T-Motor 3120 not because it had the most thrust, but because it was the most reliable and ran cooler. That shows it's not just about peak power, but about surviving the run! The frame itself was 3D printed, merging a hard PETG material with a softer TPU on the nose cone. To get that extra speed, they also bumped the motor KV up from 800 to 900. I want to pause for just a minute to discuss an upcoming webinar we are hosting. This webinar is all about how to land clients in 7 days, and it’s on Tuesday, January 13th. If you're struggling to get your first client, this is perfect for you. Be sure to preregister if you want to attend. Check out the link in the comments, and we'll see you there! Last up this week, we have a bunch of drones for good stories, out of several places across the country:- A hiker was rescued using a drone in Chillicothe, Ohio using a drone, likely using a DJI Matrice series.
- A hiker in Oregon was rescued, likely using an M30T or Matrice 4T.
- A man with dementia in Campbellsville KY was located using a Matrice 30T.
- A Skydio X10 was used to capture a man in Wichita after an armed robbery.k
- A DJI Matrice 400 was instrumental in a rescue in Michigan, after a snowmobile broke through lake ice, sending the two riders into the water.
- And a Matrice 4T in Fishers, Indiana located a firearm after it was dumped by a suspect during a chase.These stories are proof that drones have become like any other tool for Public safety departments, and that they do save lives. Alright, that’s it for this week, Join us in the premium community for Post flight, our uncensored show where we share our opinions, which aren’t always suitable for YouTube! See you on Monday for the live! https://dronexl.co/2026/01/04/luke-bells-peregreen-v4-new-fastest-drone/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/02/dji-avata-360-price-china-us/https://dronexl.co/2025/12/31/police-drone-missing-hiker-ohio-search/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/05/dji-drone-ice-rescue-saginaw-bay/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/04/wichita-police-drone-robbery/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/04/dji-matrice-drone-campbellsville-missing/https://dronexl.co/2026/01/03/drone-rescue-lost-hiker-oregon/

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