Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 4 stories for you this week; DJI Geofencing Update, DJI Flip Released, Drone Hits Plane, Arrest for Forging Part 107, and a New Bill For Governmental Drone Use in VA.
00:00 Introduction
00:17 DJI Geofencing update
02:29 DJI Flip Released
03:23 Drone Hits Plane
04:48 Arrest for Forging Part 107
05:31 New Bill for Drone Use
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First up, DJI has removed restricted, authorization, and altitude zones around airports from their geofencing system.
Areas around airports now show up as enhanced warning areas that can be immediately unlocked by assuming full responsibility for the flight. DJI also changed the shaped of the warning areas to match the shape of the LAANC areas, but without the altitude limitations.
Note that accepting responsibility in the app still does not replace getting LAANC approval. DJI is not an approved FAA LAANC provider, we recommend you instead download Aloft Air Control.
Next up, DJI Released the Flip this week!
The flip is a sub 250g drone with a 1/1.3" CMOS sensor, 31-minute flight time, and integrated propeller guards.
Please note that it does not have remote ID and is priced between the Mini 4 Pro and the Neo!
if you would like more information about the drone, please check out our full review, beginners guide, and our free deep dive!
Next up, a drone hit a firefighting airplane in LA at the end of last week.
It's unclear where the incident actually occurred as the pilots did not note the location of what they believed to be a bird strike.
After landing the airplane was found to have a 3"x6" hole in the leading edge of the wing, with part of the drone inside.
Based on images shared by the FBI, the drone in question is either a DJI Mini 3 or a Mini 3 Pro.
When the mini is fitted with a small battery, if it's operated under the recreational rules under 49 USC 44809, neither registration nor remote ID is required.
In addition to this accident, over 40 drone incursions were reported into the TFRs currently covering Los Angeles due to the ongoing wildfires.
Please, please, please, do not fly your drone if there's a wildfire nearby, even at low altitude.
Another not-so-great story this week involves a fire chief in New York, who was arrested for allegedly falsifying his remote pilot certificate.
Michael J. Leonelli allegedly provided a fake remote pilot certificate after the volunteer fire department requested proof of his certificate.
He is charged with second and third-degree forgery and criminal possession of a forged instrument.
We'll keep you updated when we see more.
Last up, the Virginia Legislature unanimously passed Bill 2125 that would prohibit the use of UAS by law enforcement and regulation enforcement except in special circumstances. It was sponsored by Republican US Representative Ben Cline.
Approved circumstances include: SAR, Amber Alerts, Blue Alerts, Senior Alerts, and situations where “use of an unmanned aircraft system is determined to be necessary to alleviate an immediate danger to any person”.
Any other data captured by a drone without a warrant isn’t admissible for criminal or civil proceedings.
The bill also prohibits the state or local governments from arming UAS.
If you’d like to read the full text, check it out below.
