Regulations

FAA backs down on threat to prosecute drone pilots By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The FAA has apparently backed down on its threat to impose criminal penalties on drone operators flying in the vicinity of federal law enforcement vehicles, after a journalism rights group sued the agency in federal court to strike down its… Read more: FAA Reverses Course on Drone Flight Limits Near Federal Operations

As detection outpaces enforcement, the FAA introduces faster penalties for rule-breaking operators Detection Has Outpaced Enforcement Drone detection is no longer the problem. From stadium security to federal agencies, authorities can now identify unauthorized drone activity in real time. But enforcement has struggled to keep up: once a violation is detected, the process to act… Read more: FAA Moves to Close Drone Enforcement Gap with New DETER Program

Public notice outlines questions about regulatory reforms, spectrum access, and innovation zones The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has opened a new proceeding aimed at strengthening the U.S. drone industry. The effort supports a broader federal strategy focused on domestic production, secure supply chains, and expanded deployment of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The agency’s Wireless Telecommunications… Read more: FCC Seeks Input to Advance U.S. Drone Industry

New white paper outlines policy roadmap following FCC action on foreign drones and components The Commercial Drone Alliance (CDA) has released a new white paper outlining policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the domestic drone industry and reducing reliance on foreign components. The report, titled Advancing the Domestic Drone Industry, positions recent federal actions, including the… Read more: Commercial Drone Alliance Calls for “Whole-of-Government” Strategy to Build U.S. Drone Industry

Access, Regulation, and the Future of Drone Use Analysis raises questions about how policy decisions may shape who benefits from drone technology As drone technology advances, its applications continue to expand across industries, public safety, and everyday life. Drones support infrastructure inspection, emergency response, mapping, and delivery services. These capabilities position the technology as a… Read more: Who Gets to Fly? ACLU Paper Examines the Future of Drone Access

Four systems receive time-limited approvals as a new case-by-case pathway takes shape News and Commentary.  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has updated its Covered List to formally incorporate a new category of devices granted Conditional Approval by federal agencies. The March 18, 2026 action marks the first time the FCC has identified specific drone systems… Read more: FCC Updates Covered List, Introduces First Conditional Approvals for Drone Systems

As lawmakers move to limit the use of ADS-B data for fee collection, the debate highlights broader issues around surveillance data, safety technology, and the future integration of drones into shared airspace. News and Commentary.  Support is growing across the United States for legislation that would prohibit the use of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data… Read more: Why the ADS-B Fee Debate Matters for the Future of Drones and Shared Airspace

Agency narrows focus to electronic conspicuity and right-of-way as February 11 deadline approaches Just two days remaining to comment, as the Federal Aviation Administration reopened a narrow portion of its proposed rule to enable routine drone flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) on January 28. The reopened comment period applies to the agency’s BVLOS… Read more: Two Days Left: FAA Reopens BVLOS Comments on Some of the Hardest Airspace Questions

Agency issues fines, license suspensions, and revocations for unsafe and unauthorized drone operations The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) took enforcement action against multiple drone operators in 2025 for unsafe and unauthorized flights. The announcement closely follows recent FAA actions to expand flight restrictions through two new broad NOTAMs, including one that limits drone operations over… Read more: FAA Signals Tougher Stance on Unauthorized Drone Operations

Part 108 NPRM and the Two Camps of the Drone Industry: Lessons from Commercial UAV Expo 2025 By DRONELIFE Contributing Editor Paul Rossi Last week, I attended my fourth straight Commercial UAV Expo in Las Vegas, NV. This year’s event was especially notable, not only for the conversations happening on the show floor, but also… Read more: Uniting Perspectives: How Part 108 Can Serve the Entire Drone Industry

Ann Arbor drone policy focuses on citizens’ privacy rights By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill The city of Ann Arbor Michigan recently adopted a policy regulating the city’s use of drones, which emphasizes individuals’ privacy rights and the strict control of data collected during UAV missions. Ann Arbor’s City Council voted unanimously Aug. 7 to… Read more: Ann Arbor Sets Strict Privacy Standards for Drone Use

Industry leaders urge swift progress on drone rulemaking and integration The AUVSI Drone and AAM Policy Symposium, held July 29–30 in Washington, D.C., brought together policymakers and industry leaders to discuss the future of drone and advanced air mobility (AAM) integration in the national airspace. The event, hosted by the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems… Read more: AUVSI Drone and AAM Policy Symposium Keynote: Call for Action on BVLOS and National Leadership

Congress Questions FAA Staffing and AI Use Amid Growing Airspace Complexity July 2025 — As the landscape of aviation continues to evolve, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finds itself under growing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers. Recent concerns focus on FAA workforce reductions and the agency’s increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, especially as these… Read more: FAA Faces Tough Questions: Are AI and Job Cuts Threatening Airspace Safety?

The “Leading Innovation in Flight Technology (LIFT) Act,” introduced by Rep.Jen Kiggans (R-VA) on July 24, 2025, aims to accelerate U.S. rules for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. The measure would compel the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to set clear performance standards, use artificial intelligence to speed… Read more: The LIFT Act: Finally Opening the Door to Routine BVLOS Drone Flights in the United States?

Senate Confirms Aviation Industry Pick The U.S. Senate today confirmed Bryan Bedford as the next Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, ending a contentious nomination process that largely divided along party lines. Bedford, the longtime CEO of Republic Airways, will lead the agency at a critical moment for American aviation safety and modernization.  The final… Read more: Bryan Bedford Confirmed as FAA Administrator

New OIG Report Highlights Achievements and Persistent Challenges in Beyond Visual Line of Sight Drone Integration The Federal Aviation Administration has made substantial progress in advancing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations, with approvals increasing from 1,229 in 2020 to 26,870 in 2023, according to a newly released report from the Department of… Read more: FAA Makes Significant BVLOS Progress, But Critical Gaps Remain in Achieving Scalable Operations

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted this morning to advance Bryan Bedford’s nomination as Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with a narrow margin of 15 ayes to 13 nos. Bedford, the longtime CEO of Republic Airways, now moves one step closer to leading the agency at a time of heightened… Read more: Senate Committee Confirms Bryan Bedford as FAA Administrator in Divided Vote

Bryan Bedford, the longtime CEO of Republic Airways, is set to appear before the Senate Commerce Committee on June 11 as President Donald Trump’s nominee for Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The hearing comes at a pivotal moment for U.S. aviation, following the deadliest domestic air disaster in over two decades and amid… Read more: Bryan Bedford Faces Senate Scrutiny as Trump’s FAA Nominee

News and Commentary. The Drone Integration and Zoning Act (S.1249), currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, is raising significant concerns across the commercial drone industry. The bill – another reboot of the Drone Federalism Act first introduced in 2017, and the bill of the same name first introduced in 2019 – would fundamentally shift… Read more: Proposed Drone Integration and Zoning Act (S.1249): Still a Bad Idea

News and Commentary.  U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s recent comments have reignited hopes for long-awaited regulations enabling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. During a March 14 visit to Amazon’s Prime Air facility in Seattle, Duffy emphasized the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) intent to propose rules expanding drone use for deliveries and other… Read more: FAA Signals Momentum for BVLOS Rulemaking: What It Means for Commercial Drone Applications