New C-UAS Authority, SkyeBrowse Update, Drone Delivers Life Jacket, Pilot Pleads Guilty

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. I have four stories for you this week that every pilot needs to know about. Police just got new counter-drone authority with a bill that President Trump signed into law yesterday. SkyeBrowse released its biggest update of the year. We have a drones-for-good story out of Washington. And then a man who pleaded guilty after flying his drone over an MLB game. Let’s get to it.

Safer Skies Act Is Now Law: Local Police Can Take Down Your Drone

First up this week, the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has passed both the House and Senate and President Trump signed it into law on Thursday, December 18. The Senate passed it 77-20 on Wednesday, a week after the House approved it 312-112.

Tucked inside this 3,000-page document is the Safer Skies Act, which for the first time creates a federal framework that allows state, local, and tribal police to detect, track, and even take down drones that pose a credible threat. Previously, this authority was limited to federal agencies only, like the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense.

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 or critical infrastructure.

The push for this was reportedly driven by the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and the fact that the NFL has documented more than 2,000 drone incursions per season for each of the last three years. Per season. That’s nuts.

The bill also introduces new felony penalties with up to five years in prison for serious violations involving national defense airspace. This is a significant escalation from the current enforcement landscape.

For recreational pilots, the message is unchanged: stay away from stadium TFRs. The 3-nautical-mile restriction is already federal law. The difference now is that local police will have the training and legal authority to act immediately, not wait for federal backup that rarely arrives at regular-season games.

SkyeBrowse Releases Major Software Update

SkyeBrowse 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 5x faster in good reception and up to 20x faster in bad reception. In one example, they took a 7-minute, 1.5 GB video and processed it into a full 3D model in under 2 minutes. That’s really impressive.

For those who need extra detail, there’s also SkyeBrowse Ultra, which provides 4x higher quality for photorealistic, lifelike 3D models. This feature will only be available for Premium Advanced customers.

On top of that, they’ve also given their free-tier users a boost. Free users now have access to tools like annotations, drawings, clippings, and distance measurement, which were previously paid features. It’s great to see a company that’s not only pushing the boundaries with high-end processing but also adding value to their entry-level free plans.

King County Drone Delivers Life Jacket in Historic Flood Rescue

Our third story comes from 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 being too strong for first responders to enter the water, a sheriff’s deputy had a great idea.

Instead of waiting for a helicopter, they launched a drone and attached a life vest to it. The deputy flew the drone directly to the stranded man and delivered the life jacket. According to King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Manager Brandyn Hull, this was the first time drone pilots had ever delivered a life jacket to a person.

The man was later rescued by a helicopter from NAS Whidbey Island.

This is a perfect example of how drones are changing emergency response. A drone can be deployed in minutes. It costs a fraction of a helicopter flight. And more importantly, it doesn’t put any responder’s life at risk to deliver initial aid.

In a flood, minutes matter. By delivering the life jacket, the deputy bought crucial time and stability for the victim until the helicopter could arrive for the rescue. For fast, low-risk, immediate intervention, a drone is often the best possible option.

This wasn’t a miracle. This was smart practice and great use of the technology. Good job to the officer who did that.

Georgia Man Pleads Guilty After Flying Drone Over MLB All-Star Game

Last up, we have a story of what not to do. Mitchell Parsons Hughes, a 47-year-old from Decatur, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to flying his drone over the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park on July 15.

According to prosecutors, he flew directly into the 1-nautical-mile TFR that was active during the event. To make matters worse, he was flying an unregistered drone and had no Part 107 certificate and no TRUST certificate. His drone’s control panel even warned him about the flight restrictions, and he flew anyway.

Security officials from the FBI, the Department of Transportation, and the FAA spotted the drone immediately and tracked him down. On December 5, he pleaded guilty to knowingly violating National Defense Airspace. The word “knowingly” is important here.

He was sentenced to 6 months of probation and a $500 fine, which honestly, I think he got off pretty easy.

This is the exact kind of behavior that gives responsible pilots a bad name and fuels calls for more restrictive regulation. With the new felony penalties now in effect under the Safer Skies Act, a stunt like this could have led to much more than just probation and a small fine. His drone could have been taken down entirely.

As always, please don’t be that guy. Know the rules, check the TFRs, and fly safe.

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 there.