Drone News Roundup: First Waterproof Selfie Drone, 8K FPV Drone Footage from Africa, and More!

This week we’re covering the Aqua, HoverAir’s new waterproof selfie drone.

We’re also covering an 8K FPV drone tour of Africa, a super small drone from BETAFPV that carries the DJI O4 Air camera, a lesser-known part of the FAA’s new BVLOS rule called Part 146, and using drones for controlled avalanche blasts in Canada.

Now on to the links!

HoverAir Launches First Waterproof Selfie Drone

HoverAir just released Aqua, the first self-flying selfie drone made to take off, land, and fully operate on water. It weighs under 249 grams, so you don’t have to register it with the FAA. But the Aqua isn’t impressive just because it’s waterproof. It also features high-quality technology, coming with a 1/1.3″ sensor, 4K at 100fps video, and over 15 waterproofing features—think hydrophobic materials and vacuum seals. Aqua floats like a lifebuoy and is designed to follow you on a range of water adventures, from surfing to kayaking, even in gusty winds up to 33 knots.

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Epic 8K FPV Drone Tour of Africa

In this FPV drone video, filmmaker and FPV pilot Ellis van Jason takes us on a journey through Africa’s sprawling landscapes and wildlife in stunning 8K resolution. Ellis has been making videos from his drone footage for years. Through that work, he’s become a master of capturing cinematic FPV footage, especially of natural locales. This video compiles a whopping 35 terabytes of some of his best work—according to him—in a video that features shots from Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Namibia.

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Featherweight DJI O4 Air Drone from BETAFPV Packs a Punch

Credit: BETAFPV

BETAFPV’s tiny new Pavo Femto FPV drone is a game-changer in the micro drone world. It’s incredibly small, weighing just 0.12 pounds (54.77 grams) including the DJI O4 Air Unit, and fully optimized for 4K/60fps video capture. This featherweight whoop-style drone comes with powerful LAVA 1102 brushless motors (14,000KV) with a thrust-to-weight ratio exceeding 6.75:1, helping to push its performance well beyond most sub-100-gram drones. The Pavo Femto includes an F4 flight controller, onboard Serial ELRS 2.4GHz receiver, and flies on 2S LiHV batteries delivering around 5 minutes of flight time.

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What Is Part 146? The Digital Backbone for BVLOS Drone Operations

Credit: Wing

Part 146 is the FAA’s new regulatory framework certifying and overseeing “automated data service providers” (ADSPs), the digital infrastructure enabling safe Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights under the upcoming Part 108 rule. Part 146 isn’t for drone operators or manufacturers, but it’s a crucial part of flying a drone BVLOS. ADSPs deliver critical automated data services—like traffic deconfliction, obstacle avoidance, and weather info—which drones need to operate safely over long distances. Part 146 ensures these services meet minimum performance standards to support growth and innovation in BVLOS operations while keeping the national airspace safe.

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Drones for Controlled Avalanche Blasts

Credit: AVSS

Canadian drone company AVSS has scored a major win with Transport Canada’s nationwide Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) to deploy its SnowDart system for avalanche control. The SnowDart tech combines low-cost, eco-friendly pyrotechnic darts deployed via drone to safely trigger controlled avalanches. This drone-enabled method enhances safety by reducing helicopter use and risky on-the-ground operations, while offering greater precision and cost savings. Backed by years of testing and innovative flight planning software, AVSS is now aiming to scale its avalanche management work across Canada.

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