Washington and the drone industry: legislation, procurement, security reviews, and agency policy beyond the FAA.
DJI filed an appeal today with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging a federal court decision that upheld the Department of Defense’s designation of the drone maker as a “Chinese Military Company” despite the court rejecting most of the government’s allegations. The October 14 announcement marks the latest chapter in a…
News organizations have formally challenged the FAA’s proposed drone regulations before the October 6 comment deadline, warning that the rules would effectively ban aerial journalism in America’s cities and raise serious First Amendment concerns about government restrictions on newsgathering. The News Media Coalition’s challenge comes as press freedom advocates fight on multiple fronts against dro
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced this week that the agency will vote October 28 on regulations closing two critical loopholes that currently allow Covered List companies to continue operating in the U.S. market. The timing couldn’t be worse for DJI’s rapidly expanding network of shell companies. These aren’t theoretical changes. The proposed rules would prohibit…
DJI’s shell company strategy continues expanding with the Skyany X1, a new Amazon-available drone that’s essentially identical to the previously reported Skyrover X1—both rebranded DJI Mini 4 Pro drones manufactured in Malaysia. The discovery, highlighted in a recent video by Half Chrome‘s Jack Towne, reveals how DJI is accelerating its workaround operations as the December…
A drone hovering at just 75 feet near San Diego International Airport’s active runway created a dangerous close call with incoming passenger aircraft in late August, with air traffic control recordings revealing confusion about whether the aircraft was authorized police equipment or an illegal operation. The drone incident highlights growing coordination gaps as police drone…
A major rail workers union has asked the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit drone flights over rail yards and main lines, arguing that railroad management is increasingly using unmanned aircraft for employee surveillance in what the union calls one of the most dangerous work environments in America. The International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail…
The US Commerce Department added 15 Chinese companies to its restricted Entity List on Wednesday for facilitating the purchase of American electronic components found in weaponized drones operated by Hamas and Houthi militants, according to a final rule published in the Federal Register. The blacklisting marks another escalation in US efforts to disrupt supply chains…
The National Press Photographers Association has condemned the largest drone flight restriction ever imposed in the United States as an unconstitutional attack on aerial journalism, demanding the FAA and DHS explain why press freedom is being sacrificed in the name of security. The legal challenge marks a critical escalation in the fight over whether federal…
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