US Government

Washington and the drone industry: legislation, procurement, security reviews, and agency policy beyond the FAA.

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147

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Reporters on beat

Oct 27

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Zipline

Zipline Promises Ivory Coast A 300% Return, Not What It Costs

Côte d'Ivoire approved an eight-year Zipline deal for 10 drone hubs serving 12 million people, backed by a $150M US award. The price is unpublished.

Haye KestelooSep 22

Two hands holding open the shell of a grey quadcopter on a blue mat, exposing the main circuit board, GPS patch antenna and internal modules

COVERED LIST

FCC Bars DJI Chips From New US-Built Drones on October 13

The FCC's drone ban now reaches inside the airframe. From October 13, no new US-built drone can be authorized with a DJI-made logic-bearing part.

Haye KestelooSep 21

Gray drone wing and fuselage lying across the bow of a center-console fishing boat while two men look back from the helm

Department of Defense

Air Force Loses Shahed Clone Off Eglin, Fishing Charter Reels It In

A Pensacola charter hauled a US Air Force Shahed-136 clone out of the Gulf near Eglin. The base confirms a test article went down but won't name it.

Haye KestelooSep 21

Amazon

Amazon Wants Drones Over 6 Massachusetts Towns. Not All Have Been Told

Amazon wants a Westborough, Mass., drone pad serving six towns within 7.5 miles. Shrewsbury heard via police, Southborough not at all. Forum Sept. 23.

Haye KestelooSep 21

Amazon

Amazon Drones Overwhelm Texas Suburb, NYT Says. FAA Signed Off In July

The New York Times counted 52 Amazon drones over one Richardson yard in a day. The FAA ruled that noise not significant in July. Here is the paper trail.

Haye KestelooSep 21

Amazon

Amazon Wants 1,000 Drone Flights a Day in CT. Comments Close Oct. 1

Connecticut takes public comment on Amazon's North Haven drone hub until Oct. 1. The FAA filing asks for 1,000 MK30 flights a day, Amazon's usual ceiling.

Haye KestelooSep 20

Three-panel sequence of an Amazon Prime Air MK30 drone releasing a package over a suburban Arizona backyard

Drone Delivery

Amazon Drones Drop Packages Where State Law Calls It a Crime

Ten states restrict dropping objects from aircraft more tightly than the FAA. Amazon's MK30 is the only delivery drone that releases packages in flight.

Haye KestelooSep 20

A young boy in a Blue Angels flight suit holds a Blue Angels RC model jet at Flite Fest 2023

Industry

Army Has 40,000 Drones and Too Few Pilots. FAA Data Shows Why

The Army has drones for every squad but too few trained pilots. FAA data shows the hobbyist pipeline that produces them has been shrinking since 2023.

Haye KestelooSep 20

US Government

The drone industry moves fast. Stay ahead of it.