#BVLOS without waiver, the biggest "Gotcha" most drone pilots missed: https://zorz.it/eGbmu

#DarleneLleno #DronePilots #BeyondVisualLineOfSight #FAARequirement #AerialWork #DroneVideography #AerialDroneWork

Friday, February 13, 2026

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/02/friday-february-13-2026/

V -BAT 118 Vertical Takeoff and Landing Drone #military #defensetechnology #airpower

Publicado por: UCTe1870ampo0Z-Dz2R990PQ (Military Defense) Fecha: 2025-05-05 21:01:02 | Duración: 00:00:17 Vistas: 222908 | Likes: 1544 V -BAT 118 Vertical Takeoff and Landing Drone #VBAT118 #VerticalTakeoffLanding #DroneTechnology #VTOL #DroneInnovation #DronePilots #UAV #AerialRover #DronesDaily #TechGadgets #FlyingHigh #AviationLovers #DroneLife #DronesOfInstagram #DronePhotography…

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Patria Acquires Nordic Drones to Enhance Unmanned Aerial Systems Capabilities

https://www.defensemirror.com/news/37035/Patria_Acquires_Nordic_Drones_to_Enhance_Unmanned_Aerial_Systems_Capabilities

#BusinessNews #Acquisition #Patria #NordicDrones #UnmannedAerialSystems #DroneTechnology #FinnishTechnology #TEMApproval #SkyDone7 #DronePilots #ProfessionalDrones #Muurame #FinnishMinistry #EmploymentAndEconomy #TechnicalAerialPhotography #Mapping #Measurement #Inspection #ControlTasks #ClientBase #FinnishManufacturing #SecurityExperts

My heart is so full! ❤️#GLIDE met today for the first time this year.

These 12 amazing #DronePilots and #Engineers will change our world for the better!🌎

#STEM #STEMeducation
@carrierobledo
@Drone_Legends @K5engineers

DJI Denies Throttling Ukrainian Army Drones After Rumors Swirl

#equipment #news #aerial #aeroscope #dji #djiaeroscope #djidrone #djidrones #drone #dronephotographer #dronephotography #dronepilots #drones #russoukrainianwar #surveillance #ukraine

Ukrainian Drone Photographers Join War Effort, Gather Real-Time Imagery

#equipment #news #aerial #dji #djidrone #drone #dronephotographer #dronephotography #dronepilots #russoukrainianwar #surveillance #ukraine

Lawsuit Alleges the FAA’s New Rules Violate Constitutional Rights

The drone equipment retailer RaceDayQuads (RDQ) is in the midst of a legal battle with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in a case that has the potential to shake up the commercial drone operations and manufacturing industry.

RDQ, an online store that sells equipment for the drone-racing or first-person view (FPV) community, has challenged the legality of the FAA's actions during the time it took to finalize its early 2021 final rule on Remote Identification (RID) of Unmanned Aircraft, as reported by Forbes.

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A post shared by RDQ (@racedayquads)

The RID rule requires all drones over 0.55 pounds that register with the FAA to have an electronic license plate -- either integrated into the drone at the time of manufacturing or attached to the drone as a RID broadcast module (BMID).

This RID technology would then transmit "message elements" through a broadcast signal which would be accessible to any member of the public and would contain information, such as the location of the drone, its operator, and other data. Law enforcement and security agencies would have the additional ability to triangulate these message elements with the help of FFA in the case of "bad actors."

The rule also places restrictions on locations where RID non-compliant drones would be permitted to fly. This is something Tyler Brennan, owner of RDQ, and his legal team have raised as a concern because 99% of FPV pilots currently fly drones in parks, woods, and in their backyards, not in open fields recognized by the FAA.

The financial impact is also integral in the case put forward by Brennan. He estimates that drone racing enthusiasts in the United States alone spend around $75 million a year on FPV-related equipment. The increased regulations put forth by the FAA jeopardize that market, where the added burden may put off many hobbyists.

If the rule is implemented, he argues that it will raise the barrier for entry for hobbyists because the RID will need to be built into drones. Not only will it add to the weight of drones but also significantly increase the cost for the consumer and may ground millions of drones due to disruptions in the supply chain.

The RDQ team notes that the public should be given a vote on government regulations that impose costs on the public, and their constitutional rights should be protected.

"We are seeking to protect the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens to be free from unreasonable searches from the government when they are flying in their own backyards," states Brennan. This Fourth Amendment issue is just one of five presented in the brief submitted by Brennan and his team.

The RDQ legal team has had success in the field before and successfully prevailed over the FAA in Taylor v. Huerta , which overturned the agency’s 2015 registration requirement for recreational aircraft. Still, the government's brief denied RDQ's allegations but Brennan and his team have got the opportunity to file a reply brief due in 30 days, with a court ruling likely to follow not until early 2022.

RaceDayQuads has set up an explainer outlining its full argument on its website.

#industry #law #news #aerialdrone #case #court #drone #dronepilots #faa #federalaviationadministration #fpv #racedayquads #ruling

Photographer’s Harrowing Tale of Imprisonment for Flying a Drone in Cuba

In 2016, a Canadian traveler innocently flew his drone in Cuba and was unexpectedly arrested and accused of being a spy for the United States Government due to an unfortunate coincidence.

Chris A. Hughes, a self-proclaimed camera and travel enthusiast, found himself in seriousl trouble with Cuban law enforcement during a holiday in the country several years ago. He told his story to YouTuber Chris Hau as part of his series "Production Horror Stories."

Several years ago, Hughes flew to Havana, and while out with a local friend, he noticed two buildings with impressive artwork. Although drones weren't that well known at the time, Hughes had one with him and decided to capture an aerial shot of the two buildings.

As he flew the drone, a military officer approached him and, according to Hughes, started to yell at him in Spanish which prompted Hughes to descend his drone. Shortly after, numerous military officers surrounded Hughes and separated him from his Cuban friend, preventing him from being able to communicate effectively since he did not speak the language.

Both of them were taken to a local jail and accused of being American spies. The situation quickly turned from a "friendly drone aerial shot in the park" to one where Hughes was interrogated about his intentions due to an unfortunate coincidence: Unbeknownst to Hughes and his friend, the building that he was filming happened to also be where Fidel Castro was at the time, which was the cause of the commotion.

Toronto man detained 2 weeks after flying drone in Cuba. Authorities thought he was a spy. https://t.co/wyj3n1n2ym pic.twitter.com/K7LlM2Bu7w

— Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) October 19, 2016

Both parties could not speak each others' languages which made the situation even more aggravated as did lack of access to a phone to arrange for a lawyer or an interpreter. The officers looked through Hughes' confiscated phone and found a typical tourist photo of his family in front of the White House, which prompted even more questions about his association with the government of the United States.

Eventually -- still, none the wiser about what is going to happen with him -- Hughes was moved to a prison and held there for thirteen days, locked inside his cell. To Hughes' relief, the Canadian Consulate sent an English-speaking representative and advised Hughes to allow the Cuban law enforcement to follow their process of the case -- although it was unknown as to what that process entailed or how long it might take -- in order to not further provoke any aggression.

Not long after, the charges were dropped and the Sergeant of the military of Cuba promised to return Hughes's drone and footage -- with the exclusion of the particular offending clip -- and even welcomed Hughes to return to Cuba in the future, albeit without the drone.

In the years since the dramatic event, Hughes has had time to reflect on himself both as a person and as a traveler who needs to respect the local laws of every country he visits. Hughes says he has visited Cuba since and has fond memories of his trips there, but the experience of being imprisoned will stay with him for the rest of his life, he told Hau.

Unfortunate and life-changing encounters with law enforcement due to similar situations are nothing new, especially as more countries and states have begun to crack down on the use of drones. Some countries have gone as far as heavily penalizing unsuspecting tourists, such as the case of Hughes in Cuba and the imprisoned French tourist Benjamin Briere in Iran, as noted by Fstoppers.

Hughes's travel videos can be viewed on his YouTube channel, as can Hau's photo and video tutorials and future interviews from his "Production Horror Stories" segment.

#culture #travel #cuba #dronepilots #dronerules #drones #fines #horrorstory #illegal #irresponsible #law #laws #productionhorrorstories #rules

Police in the UK are Cracking Down on Irresponsible Drone Pilots

Police in the United Kingdom have been granted new powers that allow them to further crack down on pilots who are either flying illegally or irresponsibly with increased fines and the ability to confiscate drones.

Operation Foreverwing, which is a new campaign that is aimed at "clamping down" on drone-related crimes was launched on March 22 in response to 336 drone-related incidents that were recorded during the previous five months in the United Kingdom. It sees three organizations working together to deter drone crime.

According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the police launched dedicated drone teams across the country and are tasked with enforcing drone laws by handing out fines and confiscating drones.

“The use of drones has increased dramatically in recent years and as a result of that we are seeing instances of dangerous and irresponsible flying," National Police Chiefs' Council lead for counter Drones, Chief Constable Lucy D'Orsi, said. “If you are a drone owner it is your responsibility to make sure you are following the rules for your own safety and that of others around you."

UK law now mandates that operators of drones that weigh more than 250 grams and all drones lother than toys outfitted with a camera must be registered with the CAA. Failure to do so can result in fines up to £1,000 (about $1,400).

DJI Air 2S | Ryan Mense, PetaPixel

While there are more than 200,000 registered drone owners in the country, the CAA estimates that there are possibly tens of thousands of those still unregistered, Jonathan Nicholson of the CAA tells the BBC.

The increased power given to law enforcement is already being leveraged. The BBC reports a drone user was fined more than £5,000 (about $6,965) for flying illegally over MI6's building in central London last week.

"Our objective is not to stop people having fun or using their drone for business, it’s to make sure that everyone can share the air safely and that means sticking to the rules outlined in the Drone Code," Nicholson explains. "Drones can cost thousands of pounds, and with fines for breaking the rules, the costs can quickly add up for those failing to comply."

The goal appears to be to mainly use the high fines as the key deterrent to prevent drone misuse.

“Drones can cost thousands of pounds, and with fines for breaking the rules, the costs can quickly add up for those failing to comply,” Nicholson says.

Full details on drone rules and specific UK regulations can be found on the CAA website.

Image credits: Header photo licensed via Depositphotos.

#equipment #law #news #dronepilots #dronerules #drones #fines #illegal #irresponsible #laws #rules #unitedkingdom