Drone News Roundup: New DJI Flip Leaks, How the NJ Drone Sightings Started, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
9 January 2025This week we’re covering new leaked images of the DJI Flip, including a photo of its packaging ahead of launch.
We’re also covering how the mysterious New Jersey drone sightings began, drone rules you need to know for 2025, a new potential ban on Chinese drones from the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the end of Walmart’s partnership with DroneUp.
Now on to the links!
New Leaked Photos of the DJI Flip
It’s getting closer. pic.twitter.com/fgv9ZnU8od
— Jasper Ellens | X27 (@JasperEllens) January 7, 2025
Drone industry insider Jasper Ellens shared a bunch of leaked photos of the DJI Flip recently, making it seem likely the Flip will launch soon. In the photo above we can see the Flip’s unique folding design, which stacks the arms and props side by side under the drone. According to leaks, the Flip will have all the handsfree Quickshots that come with the DJI Neo, as well as first-person streaming. Follow the link below to see more of the leaked photos, as well as a video.
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How Did the New Jersey Drone Sightings Start?
By the end of last year, talk about mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey had become one of the biggest stories of the year. All the major news outlets were reporting on the fact that people were seeing strange aircraft in the sky over New Jersey, and soon the sightings began spreading to other neighboring states. But where did the story begin? According to reporting from the New York Times, the first of these sightings took place outside the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, when a contractor saw “a light rising straight up from the tree line and toward the arsenal” and reported it. After that first report dozens more sightings poured in. In less than a month, the FBI received over 5,000 tips on a devoted “drone hotline.” But now, after the dust has settled, it looks like many of those lights in the sky weren’t drones—they were crewed aircraft—and the few actual drones people spotted were in fact looking for the mystery drones. Read the New York Times reporting on how the sightings began here, and follow the link below for our complete guide to the NJ drone sightings.
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2025 Drone Rules You Need to Know for 2025
Wondering what you should be looking out for in 2025 as a drone pilot? We’ve got you covered. In this video, we highlight three key updates drone pilots need to know for flying in 2025:
- Remote ID compliance. All drone pilots have to comply with Remote ID, whether you’re flying as a commercial drone pilot or as a recreational flyer. Skip to 0:25 in the video for an update.
- The DJI Ban. DJI hasn’t been banned—but the fight isn’t over. Skip to 1:06 in the video for an update.
- Part 108. The FAA will be releasing its Part 108 rules on BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations this year, promising major changes for the drone industry. Skip to 1:44 in the video for an update.
Want to learn about all three? Watch the video, and make sure to check out the video description for links to other resources on these topics.
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Another DJI Ban? Commerce Department Could Make It Hard to Get Chinese Drones
Credit: DJI
The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced that it’s working on a rule that would limit or outright ban the use of drones and drone components from China. The rule is being created under Executive Order 13873, which seeks to secure the U.S. information and communication supply chain, empowering the Commerce Department to make rules pertaining to these types of technology, including drones. The rule itself hasn’t yet been made, just the announcement that a rule is being considered. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be gathering public feedback to help it evaluate the potential impact of such a rule until March 4, 2025. If you’re worried about a ban on DJI, Autel, or any other Chinese drone company, now is the time to share your concerns. Read the Commerce Department’s announcement here and submit your public comment through the Federal Rulemaking Portal at regulations.gov or via email at UnmannedAircraftSystems@bis.doc.gov.
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Partnership Between DroneUp and Walmart Ends
Credit: DroneUp
Walmart and DroneUp have ended their partnership for drone deliveries. This news comes just a month after DroneUp received Part 135 certification from the FAA, allowing it to operate as a small airline for drone package delivery. Getting a Part 135 is a huge deal—only Amazon Prime Air, UPS Flight Forward, Zipline, and Wing have gotten one to date. But despite this win, Walmart has decided to pivot to other, less costly options for pursuing drone delivery. According to past statements, DroneUp’s cost per delivery was $30, a fact that had already forced it to reduce its deliveries for Walmart to serve only the Dallas area.
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