UPS’ Flight Forward has received permission from the FAA to fly the Matternet M2 delivery drone BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) on long-range missions. With the new permission, Flight Forward can now fly longer BVLOS missions without spotters on the ground. Drone technology company uAvionix also received permission to test its detect and avoid technology using the Vantis Network for BVLOS operations. And Phoenix Air Unmanned received permission to fly the SwissDrones SVO BVLOS for aerial work, including aerial photography, surveying, and inspections.
Drone News Roundup: FAA Extends Remote ID Requirement by Six Months, Specs Revealed in New DJI Mini 4 Pro Leak, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
14 September 2023This week we’re covering the FAA’s extension of the Remote ID deadline by six months.
We’re also covering a leak revealing the specs for the DJI Mini 4 Pro, a beautiful cinematic FPV tour of the Dolomites, the FAA issuing BVLOS permissions to UPS for drone delivery and others, and Sony’s new ILX-LR1 camera made for shooting high-quality drone footage.
Now let’s get to those links!
FAA Extends Remote ID Requirement by Six Months
Remote ID Compliance for Drones: Everything YOU Need to Know
The FAA’s Remote ID requirement was supposed to go into effect this Saturday, September 16. However, this week the FAA extended the deadline by six months, pushing it back to March 16, 2024. Starting in six months, any drone you fly (except those weighing less than .55 pounds) will have to be capable of transmitting identifying information, including the drone’s ID, location and altitude, and velocity. Unless you’re flying in a specific FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA), you’ll need to make sure you’re compliant by either using a drone with standard Remote ID or attaching a Remote ID broadcast module to your drone. But don’t worry if you’re not compliant yet—the extension will give you some breathing room to make sure you can be compliant once the rule goes into effect.
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Full Specs Leaked for the DJI Mini 4 Pro
Credit: Igor Bogdanov of @Quadro_News
DJI has added the DJI Mini 4 Pro to the FCC database, revealing new information about this surprise addition to DJI’s 2023 product lineup. At the same time, a box featuring the drone’s full specs has been leaked by drone industry insider Igor Bogdanov. According to the FCC filing, the Mini 4 Pro will come in two versions—MT4MFVD and MT4MFVDB—though it’s unclear what the difference is between them. We can see on the box that the although the Mini 4 Pro’s flight time will remain the same as that of the Mini 3 Pro, it will feature upgrades to its transmission system to support Full HD video transmission at 12.4 miles (20km), as well as supporting a 4K/100fps shooting mode for capturing cinematic video footage. Between the FCC filing and the leaked specs, it’s likely we’ll see the Mini 4 Pro officially launched within the next few months.
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Exploring the Dolomites by FPV Drone
Exploring the Dolomites l Award winning Cinematic FPV video
This video shot by drone pilot David Zalka takes us on a cinematic FPV tour of the Dolomites, a stunning mountain range located in northeastern Italy. The Dolomites get their name from the carbonate rock dolomite, which has a pale color and lends the mountains their nickname “Pale Mountains.” The footage in this video was shot on the DJI Mavic Air 2 and a custom FPV drone Zalka built, which he flew along with the DJI Goggles and the GoPro Hero 8 Black. About shooting the video, Zalka says, “I’m rather a cinematic type than a freestyle so I knew I [had] to climb those Italian Alps the Dolomites and dive those mountains.”
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FAA Issues New BVLOS Permissions to UPS, uAvionix, and Others
Credit: UPS
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Sony Launches Camera for Industrial Drone Operations
Credit: Sony
Sony just launched a new camera at Commercial UAV Expo. The location of the launch itself speaks volumes, signaling that Sony has made this camera primarily for the commercial drone market. Called the ILX-LR1 Professional Camera, it’s a full-frame, interchangeable lens camera made for professional drone use cases that call for collecting high-quality visual data. To reduce weight, the ILX-LR1 doesn’t carry a battery, relying instead on the drone as a power source. Its design is also generally compact and stripped down, making for a lighter payload. (It weighs just .5 pounds / 243 grams). But while the ILX-LR1’s weight is cut to the minimum, its ability to collect high-resolution images has been maximized. The fact that Sony is making cameras that can be used on multiple drone platforms signals its commitment to the drone industry, and its belief that there is a huge potential for growth in the commercial drone space.
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