Drone Industry News

Three things happened in the drone world over the past few weeks that every commercial operator should have on their radar.

First, Part 108 — the BVLOS rule we've all been waiting on — finally moved to OIRA for final review on July 10. That's the last stop before publication. OIRA's targeting a July release, but their review window can run up to 90 days, so I wouldn't be surprised if this slips into late 2026 or even early 2027. I've been telling clients not to build business plans around a specific BVLOS launch date. The finish line is visible, but we've said that before.

Second, Section 2209 — the rule that lets critical infrastructure sites petition for drone restrictions — just closed its public comment period on July 6. [Insert your refinery Part 107 story here if you want to reference it again — it's a strong, real example.] If this rule finalizes the way it's proposed, expect to see a slow but steady patchwork of no-fly zones pop up around energy facilities, refineries, and rail yards near you. Worth checking the FAA's list before you take a new commercial job near anything that looks like infrastructure.

Third — and this one affects your gear budget directly — the DJI situation isn't resolving, it's escalating. The Pentagon is now citing classified intelligence in its dispute with DJI, and while existing drones keep flying, the pipeline for new DJI models is still cut off. The FCC's carved out some temporary exemptions for allied manufacturers, but those run out at the end of this year. If you're running a DJI fleet and thinking about expansion, I'd start looking at Blue UAS-approved alternatives now rather than waiting to see how this plays out.

Taken together, these three stories tell the same story I've been saying for a while now: the federal government is tightening its grip on who flies, what they fly, and where. For operators who are legitimate, licensed, and insured, this mostly works in our favor — it raises the bar for entry and squeezes out the folks flying without a Part 107. But it also means more paperwork, more restricted airspace to track, and less certainty about what hardware will be available a year from now.

My best advice; keep your certifications current, keep your LAANC and insurance paperwork on hand, and don't assume the rules you're operating under today will be the same ones you're operating under in six months.