Remote ID Enforcement, Bill to Control Airspace, St. Louis Bill Update, DJI Avata 2 Leak

Welcome to this week’s UAS News update. We have four stories for you:

1. Remote ID enforcement is finally beginning.
2. There is a bill to control airspace in Illinois, which could have negative implications.
3. We have an update on the St. Louis drone bill, which is also concerning.
4. Lastly, the DJI Avata 2 is leaking information.

Remote ID Enforcement

First up, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deferred enforcement of Remote ID ends this Saturday, which is tomorrow when you watch this video. This means that Remote ID is now required to operate any drone that is registered or needs to be registered. If your drone does not have Remote ID at this stage, you can equip it with a broadcast module or you can fly it at a FRIA, which is the FAA-recognized identification area. You can find FRIA information on the FAA UAS facility map or using an app like Loft Airware, for example.

Bill to Control Airspace in Illinois

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. As we previously covered, the bill would limit commercial operations and attempt to also control the airspace, which is something that they are not allowed to do. Despite being advised against this action by industry experts, it seems they’ve ignored the feedback. Restrictions would include airspace around emergency vehicles, schools, publicly owned buildings, and events. If these laws are violated, the pilot would face a fine and then confiscation of the drone.

This is a perfect example of a municipality overreacting to proposed drone operations. This all stemmed from one individual’s desire to start a surveillance business targeting neighborhoods, which the city deemed inappropriate. Consequently, the city’s reaction has led to regulations that affect everyone in the drone business in St. Louis.

St. Louis Drone Bill

Third, this week, is an Illinois bill that would also try to control airspace. The bill proposes that municipalities control the lowest 150 ft of airspace and could create their own rules around public airspace. If you’re in Illinois, please reach out to Senator Julie Morrison and Senator Linda Holmes to express that this bill contradicts the FAA’s sole jurisdiction over airspace. Others have tried and failed miserably to enact similar laws, as it’s illegal. Interestingly, this bill does not specifically target UAS but would apply to all aircraft, including helicopters.

DJI Avata 2 Leak

Ending on a brighter note, we have some leaks for the DJI Avata 2. Leaked pictures suggest the Avata 2 appears to be a more streamlined and thinner version of the original Avata. Along with the leaked drone images, there’s another set of DJI goggles with forward-facing cameras, possibly to allow for an AR (augmented reality) experience.

The leaked specs suggest a 1/1.3″ sensor, 150° field of view, f/2.8 for the camera, and 4K 60, 100, and 120 fps recording capabilities. Rumors say the drone will weigh around 480 grams, which does not qualify it as a Category 1 drone for flying over people. It will reportedly fly for 27 minutes in normal sports mode and 12 to 15 minutes in full manual (Acro) mode. We’ll keep you updated on further leaks, but you can check DroneXL for the articles.

That’s all we have for you this week. We will see you next Monday for the live event. If you are in the community, we also have a community event this Friday at 14:00 p.m. Pacific Time, so make sure to join us.

It’s just like my mom used to say, “Is it recreational?” It’s actually a bit more complex than that. A little bit of a zoom in, dude, seriously. Recreational flight is strictly for fun. I saw a smirk on your face. It’s all about the purpose of the flight. I’m proud of you. Yes, the game is rigged. That’s why.