Regulations

Funding supports 19 projects focused on detect-and-avoid, BVLOS communications, drone traffic management, identity verification and other technologies for UAS integration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded $12 million for 19 drone research and testing projects. The projects aim to support the safe expansion of drone operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). The awards… Read more: FAA Awards $12 Million for Drone Research and Testing

FAA officials at Commercial UAV Expo discussed how regulation, information sharing, airspace modernization and security must work together as advanced aviation scales As the FAA works toward a regulatory framework for routine beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations, the challenge goes beyond determining who can fly and under what conditions. At Commercial UAV… Read more: Scaling Drone Operations Will Require More Than Part 108

Commercial UAV Expo returns September 1–3 as major regulatory changes reshape the U.S. drone market. Here’s what the DRONELIFE team will be watching, plus where to find our friends and partners on the show floor. Commercial UAV Expo returns to Las Vegas September 1–3, bringing more than 3,700 commercial drone professionals and 240-plus exhibitors to… Read more: Headed to Commercial UAV Expo 2026? Keynotes, DRONELIFE, and Friends and Partners to Visit in Las Vegas

Chris Rocheleau’s exit comes as the FAA continues work on long-term safety and drone integration initiatives. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will see another leadership change as Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau steps down from the agency, according to Reuters. Rocheleau became one of the FAA’s most visible leaders following the January 2025 midair collision near… Read more: FAA Deputy Administrator Departure Highlights Leadership Turnover During Critical Aviation Reforms

Coalition argues the proposed Section 2209 rule should better protect First Amendment newsgathering while allowing security restrictions around critical infrastructure. By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill Citing the important use of drones in news-gathering, a coalition of civil liberties groups is advocating for changes to a proposed FAA rule designed to allow important fixed sites, such… Read more: Civil Liberties Groups Warn FAA Drone Rule Could Restrict Journalism

New FAA planning platform aims to improve management of an increasingly complex National Airspace System The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to support a major modernization effort designed to improve how the National Airspace System (NAS) handles growing demand from airlines, cargo operators, and emerging aviation sectors. The June 2026 announcement… Read more: FAA Modernizes Airspace Management as Demand Grows Across Aviation Sectors

Commercial Drone Alliance says Part 107 and Part 135 operators now have a path to request approval The FAA is updating FIFA World Cup 2026 Temporary Flight Restriction NOTAMs to clarify that some drone operations may be allowed inside restricted airspace with authorization from the Department of Homeland Security, according to an update shared by… Read more: FAA Clarifies World Cup Drone Restrictions, Creates Path for Authorized Flights

From World Cup airspace restrictions to critical infrastructure rulemaking, several federal initiatives could shape the drone industry in the months ahead. Much of the drone industry’s attention remains focused on Chinese drone restrictions, supply chain policy, and the long-awaited Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) rule. But several federal initiatives are quietly moving forward this… Read more: 5 Federal Drone Policies Flying Under the Radar This Summer

Cargo drone platform joins FAA-reviewed aircraft list, potentially streamlining future operator approvals Michigan-based drone manufacturer blueflite announced that its Cobalt 461 cargo drone has been added to the FAA’s Section 44807 Approved UAS List, indicating that the aircraft has already undergone FAA review as part of the agency’s advanced operations approval process. The FAA’s Section… Read more: Blueflite Added to FAA Section 44807 Approved UAS List: Why it Matters

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