Welcome to your Weekly UAS News Update! We’ve got five stories for you this week:

1. The new DJI Action 5
2. DJI Air 3S hits the FCC database
3. Instituto Piloto Community update
4. Drone finds missing girl in Luisiana
5. Drone incursions into Incendio forestal aircraft operations

Let’s get started!

DJI Action 5 Released

DJI has released the new Action 5. It comes with a 1/1.3-inch sensor, the same size as the Mini 4 Pro. Features include:

• 10-bit D-Log and HLG
• Horizon steady
• Subject tracking
• Barometer and hygrometer
• 47 GB of internal storage
• Magnetic mounting
• 4-hour battery life
• 113-degree max operating temperature
• Connection with DJI mics

We’ll be getting our hands on one to check out soon and will be posting content on it.

DJI Air 3S Hits FCC Database

The Air 3S has hit the FCC database. We’ve seen quite a few leaks, including some boxed images with the RC-N3 series controller. It appears to be very similar to the previous model, possibly with a larger sensor in a dual camera setup and potentially larger batteries.

Some rumors suggest the batteries may be backwards compatible with the Aire 3, similar to what we saw with the Mini 3 Pro to Mini 4 Pro transition. We’ll have to wait for DJI’s official announcement. Typically, we see a product launch within 2-8 weeks after it hits the FCC database.

Pilot Institute Community Update

We’ve launched our premium Community this week. The goal is to help Part 107 pilots use their certificates to get paid work. Unlike a course, the premium Community offers:

• Tons of interviews
• Short workshops
• Exclusive content updated monthly
• An extended version of the news update called “Postflight”

In Postflight, Greg, myself, and Ben will discuss the news stories in more detail, offering personal opinions in addition to the facts. If you’re interested, check out pilotinstitute.com/community to get started.

Drone Locates Missing Child in Louisiana

A drone in Louisiana located a missing 10-year-old girl this week. After searchers were unable to find her, Arkansas-based Drone Management Services stepped in to assist. Using what appeared to be a Mavic 3 Thermal, co-owner Josh Cber located the girl sleeping on the ground and guided rescuers to her location. Great job stepping out of their comfort zone to help!

Drone Incursions in Wildfire Operations

The National Interagency Fire Center has published data on 21 incidents where drones operated near wildfires. In 10 of these incidents, firefighting aircraft operations were suspended. Firefighting aircraft typically operate within a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) area, meaning other aircraft, including drones, are not permitted.

As a PSA, be sure to check your TFRs before flying, especially if you’re in wildfire-prone areas out west.

September Photo Contest

Our September photo contest voting is live in the community until the 24th. The theme this month is “colorful.” Click on your favorite photo in each round that pertains to the theme. We’ll share the winner on next week’s news update.

That’s all for now. Greg will be back next Monday for the live Q&A. See you in the community for Postflight!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​