Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have four stories for you this week. The spray drone industry is asking the FCC for a carve-out. The FCC has added some Pentagon letters to the DJI and Autel records. DJI is ending service for the Phantom 4 Pro V2. And a Massachusetts town has voted to ban Amazon drone landing and takeoff pads. Let’s get to it.
Spray Drone Sales Fell 59%, and the Industry Wants Part 137 Drones Out of the FCC Ban
First up, U.S. sales of new agricultural spray drones fell 59% between 2024 and 2025. The American Spray Drone Coalition says about 3,700 units sold in 2025, down from 8,950 in 2024. The group blames U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s hold on DJI shipments that began in October 2024.
Keep in mind, these are industry estimates, not actual records. Even so, sprayed acreage rose almost 59%, to more than 16 million acres.
Now, the coalition wants a carve-out from the FCC’s proposed ban. The FCC’s July proposal would ban imports and sales of foreign military-grade drones, and that includes any drone that can dispense an “economic poison.” So, that’s any Part 137 drone that is foreign made.
Specifically, the coalition wants Part 137 drones excluded. It also wants two years of spare part imports. As of October 21, the FCC has not adopted the proposal to classify these drones, and many others, as military-grade.
The FCC Added Pentagon Letters to the DJI and Autel Records but Says It Didn’t Rely on Them
Next up, the FCC added Department of War letters to its records on DJI and Autel Robotics. A public notice on October 14 covers both companies’ records, but here’s the catch. The FCC says it did not rely on these letters when it added the companies to the Covered List.
Only the redacted, unclassified cover pages are public. The classified material was filed under seal. The public pages say the government worries foreign-controlled drone makers could harm Americans. They do not name any specific vulnerabilities or give any technical evidence.
As you’re likely aware, the FCC added foreign-produced drones to its Covered List on December 22, 2025. DJI filed a petition for reconsideration in January, and Autel filed an application for review as well. DJI is also currently suing the FCC over its inclusion on the Covered List, and the Department of Defense after being labeled a Chinese military company.
DJI Ends Phantom 4 Pro V2 Support on October 31, but the Drone Keeps Flying
Speaking of DJI, service support for the Phantom 4 Pro V2 is ending this month. The final support date is October 31, 2026. After that, DJI says it will no longer offer product inquiries, technical support or maintenance for the aircraft or its accessories.
This doesn’t mean the drone stops working. It’s just the end of official support.
If you’re not familiar, the Phantom 4 Pro V2 launched in May 2018 with a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor, a mechanical shutter, and 4K video at 60 frames per second. That mechanical shutter and the open SDK are why some mapping and survey pilots still fly it eight years later.
Westborough Voted 510-13 to Ban Commercial Drone Pads Aimed at Amazon
Finally, voters in Westborough, Massachusetts just took on Amazon. On October 19, a special town meeting passed a bylaw 510 to 13. It would ban any commercial drone launch pad, landing pad or delivery drop zone in town. The fine is $300 per offense.
This was written in response to Amazon’s plan to fly its Prime Air MK30 drones from a warehouse in town. It takes effect only after the Massachusetts attorney general approves it or allows 90 days to pass. The town meeting warrant also says MassDOT Aeronautics must approve it.
The bylaw itself says it does not regulate flight, altitude or flight paths. The question is whether a ban on landing sites conflicts with the ground end of a federally regulated operation under Part 135, which is how Amazon operates.
Amazon is also facing more hurdles in this town. A zoning appeal is set for November 2, and a Planning Board hearing is set for November 10.
That’s all for this week. There’s no Post Flight this time, and we’ll see you on Monday for the live Q&A. Have a great weekend.
This article is based on a video from our YouTube partner Greg Reverdiau. Watch the full weekly UAS news update on the Pilot Institute YouTube channel, and find more of Greg’s work on his DroneXL author page.
