Drone News Roundup: New Drone Pilot Tips, Drone Santa, and More!

This week we’re covering practical tips for those who just received their first drone as a present.

We’re also covering a festive drone Santa video, cinematic drone footage from the Dolomites, how drones are being used to support elephant research, and Voliro’s new drone-based flammable gas probe.

Now let’s get to those links!

Got a Drone as a Gift? Here’s What to Do First

Just got your first drone? Congratulations! Flying is a lot of fun and there are drone pilots everywhere waiting to welcome you to the community.

The rules can seem intimidating at first, but we’re here to help. The first thing to figure out is how you plan to fly it—just for fun, or for work.

• If you’re flying for fun you’ll need to take the FAA’s TRUST—we offer it free.
• If you’re flying for work you’ll need to take the FAA’s Part 107 test—we can help you get ready.

Either way, you’ll need to register your drone with the FAA (unless it weighs less than 250 grams) and make sure you’re using Remote ID when you fly. Read the full guide linked below to get all our advice for getting started with your first drone.

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Drone Santa Delivers a Holiday Surprise

Happy holidays! Check out this festive video from Freefly showing its Astro drone dressed as Santa Claus, taking flight to spread some holiday cheer. Beyond the seasonal fun, the clip shows off the Astro’s rugged, professional-grade design. Give it a watch for some lighthearted fun this holiday season.

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FPV Drone Tour of the Dolomites

Travel drone videographer Joshua Turner keeps putting out quality footage. His latest cinematic drone video is an FPV tour of Italy’s Dolomites, featuring sweeping aerial shots of the legendary mountain range’s jagged peaks, winding valleys, and snow-covered ridgelines. Shot on the iFlight Nazgul F5 and the iFlight BOB57 with both the Sony ZV-E10 II and the GoPro Hero 13, the footage highlights how careful flight planning, smooth camera work, and strong editing chops can create immersive visual stories.

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Drones Help Advance Elephant Research

Drone in use in Samburu National Reserve | Credit: Jane Wynyard / Save the Elephants

Researchers are using drones to study elephant populations in ways that would be almost impossible from the ground. A new study from the nonprofit Save The Elephants details how drones equipped with high-resolution cameras are helping scientists track herd movements, monitor health, and gather data across large, remote areas. All this, and the drone-based approach minimizes stress on the animals, since it’s far less invasive than ground-based alternatives.

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Voliro Adds Real-Time Flammable Gas Detection to Its Inspection Drone

Voliro has released a new gas payload for the Voliro T that provides real-time flammable gas readings at the point of inspection. The probe will help crews be aware of the risk of explosive gases when working in spaces that may present explosion hazards, such as stacks, tanks, and process piping. Unlike aerial gas probes for gas inspections, which are made to help find gas leaks, this probe is purely meant for safety, helping inspectors identify the presence of flammable gases so they can be safer on the job site.

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