Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have three stories for you this week, and yes, unfortunately a lot about the FCC again. First, the FCC is still thinking about a potential ban on thermal and spray drones. Then a Florida senator is pushing back on DJI and Autel’s appeals with the FCC. And finally, a Massachusetts town is shutting the door on Amazon drone deliveries. Let’s get to it.
The FCC Says a Ban on Thermal and Spray Drones Is Still on the Table
First up, the FCC says a ban on foreign drones is still on the table, according to Adam Chan, the agency’s senior national security counsel, on The Drone Ultimatum podcast published October 30. The ban would cover the import and sale of previously approved foreign drones in the military-grade category.
We have talked about this at length if you have been following us for a while. We even made a video on the actual comments that were left on this proposal from the FCC. The category includes thermal, LiDAR, spray, swarming and docking drones. It also includes anything that weighs 55 pounds or more.
Chan said a transition period is possible. But the FCC’s July 21 notice already proposes one: 180 days after the order is published in the Federal Register, which it has not been at this stage. Blue UAS would still get an exemption, and of the 443 filings on that window, 439 asked for more time. Drones you already own would not be affected. I want to be very clear here: this would be for the sale of future drones, and even drones that have already been approved by the FCC.
Chan also pointed to $5 billion to $6 billion in new investment because of all this. The FCC’s own fact sheet said over $4 billion, and if you believe that, well, we have got other issues. Spray drone sales fell 59% in 2025, according to the American Spray Drone Coalition. Chan obviously did not watch the video we made analyzing all of the comments on the FCC’s own proposal. Feel free to send it to him. Maybe he is watching this, because we are talking about him.
Senator Rick Scott Backs the Government’s Case Against DJI and Autel
Next up, Senator Rick Scott backs the government’s case against DJI and Autel. His letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr last month asks that both companies stay on the Covered List. The FCC has placed it in the record for DJI’s petition for reconsideration and Autel’s application for review.
Scott, a known opponent of drones, sponsored the bill behind Section 1709 of the 2025 defense law. He says he read a classified report that finds both companies pose an unacceptable national security risk. Of course, that report is not available to the public. But keep in mind that the risk is high enough that you cannot know about any of it, yet low enough that current models are not a threat. Only banning future models would solve this issue. I guess Rick Scott and the FCC think we are idiots in this case.
Meanwhile, DJI argues Congress did not review the technology thoroughly enough before it made the decision. Bottom line: this letter is not a new FCC ruling. It does not change anything for drones you already own. It adds political weight to a fight that is still playing out, and the FCC has not decided either challenge.
Westborough Voted 510 to 13 Against Amazon Drone Delivery Infrastructure
Finally, a Massachusetts town just said no to Amazon drone delivery. Westborough residents voted 510 to 13 at a special town meeting, about 97.5% in favor, or against drone delivery in this case. The bylaw bars ground-level delivery drone infrastructure: launch pads, landing sites, staging hubs and residential drop zones.
I am going to say that again: 510 to 13. The fine is $300 per violation. Residents cited noise, privacy concerns over navigation cameras, and the town’s character. On October 30, Amazon withdrew its site plan, and it did so without prejudice. A spokesperson said the company plans to re-engage and submit a revised bid later. Not sure how that is going to be possible, but anyway, the bylaw still needs to be signed off by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
If you are wondering whether this is actually legal: notice how this is land use on the ground, not in the airspace. That is really the only way these towns can prohibit any kind of drone activity, and I think this could set a precedent beyond drone delivery. Other communities are going to be watching. Delivery operators may find that local approval is the hardest hurdle to get past in order to keep these operations going.
As always, the conversation continues on Post Flight, where we discuss these stories uncensored in the Pilot Institute Premium Community. We will see you again on Monday for the live Q&A. Have a good weekend.
This article is based on a video from our YouTube partner Greg Reverdiau. Watch the full video on the Pilot Institute YouTube channel, and find more of Greg’s work on his DroneXL author page.
Sources: Pilot Institute / YouTube, The Drone Ultimatum, FCC DA 26-758, Senator Rick Scott’s letter to the FCC (PDF), FCC ECFS record of the letter, Telegram & Gazette.
