Drone & Aerial Photography — 2026-05-13
The FCC extended its firmware waiver for foreign-made drones to January 2029 while a new op-ed argues the DJI/Autel ban ignores how drones actually operate in practice. Meanwhile, DJI pushed spring firmware updates to several flagship models, and the 11th Annual SkyPixel contest revealed some of the most breathtaking aerial imagery captured in the past year.
Drone & Aerial Photography — 2026-05-13
Gear News
DJI Spring Firmware Wave: Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, Air 3S Updated
DJI released a new round of spring firmware updates covering several of its flagship consumer drones, including the Mavic 4 Pro, Mini 5 Pro, and Air 3S, as well as the DJI RC Pro 2 controller and the DJI Fly app itself. The updates focus on flight stability improvements and battery management tweaks. Notably, these updates apply to the global lineup — US buyers still cannot purchase the newest DJI models due to FCC restrictions.
DJI Osmo Mobile 8P Launches Globally — US Sidelined Again
DJI officially launched the Osmo Mobile 8P, a new feature-packed smartphone gimbal aimed at creators, vloggers, and livestreamers. The 8P introduces a compact remote and enhanced AI tracking tools. However, as with recent DJI drone launches, US buyers are excluded for now due to ongoing FCC market restrictions.
ACSL's SOTEN Drone Coming to Canada via Draganfly This June
Japanese drone maker ACSL is partnering with Canadian company Draganfly to bring its SOTEN drone to the Canadian market in June 2026. The SOTEN is NDAA-compliant, making it attractive to government and enterprise customers in North America seeking alternatives to Chinese-manufactured drones.
Regulation Watch
FCC Extends Foreign Drone Firmware Waiver to January 2029
In a significant but nuanced move, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology issued Public Notice DA 26-454 on May 8, 2026, extending its waiver that allows owners of foreign-made drones — including DJI and Autel models — to continue receiving firmware updates until January 2029. The FCC effectively conceded that cutting off security patches and bug fixes would create worse outcomes than the ban itself.
New Op-Ed: FCC's DJI/Autel Ban "Ignores How Drones Actually Work"
A pointed new analysis published May 12 on DroneDJ questions the logical consistency of the FCC's Covered List approach: if DJI and Autel drones pose an immediate national security threat, why are thousands of them still flying over America every single day? The piece argues the current policy creates market chaos without meaningfully improving security.
FCC Commissioner Defends Blacklisting of Foreign Drones
On May 8, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty publicly defended the agency's decision to expand its "Covered List" to include foreign-manufactured drones and critical drone components, citing national security concerns. The defense came as the agency faced mounting criticism from drone pilots and industry groups.
FAA Proposes New Drone No-Fly Zones Around Critical Infrastructure
The FAA's Section 2209 NPRM — nine years in the making — would create a new airspace designation called the Unmanned Aircraft Flight Restriction (UAFR), restricting drone operations in close proximity to fixed-site facilities such as power plants and dams. The proposed restricted areas would include clearly defined horizontal and vertical boundaries and would appear in FAA airspace information systems used by drone pilots and flight-planning apps. Commercial operators and public safety agencies have 60 days to submit comments.
Shot of the Week
DJI SkyPixel 2026: The 11th Annual Winners Are Breathtaking
DJI announced the winners of the 11th Annual SkyPixel Photo and Video Contest, drawing on submissions from the competition period that ran from November 27, 2025, through March 10, 2026. The winning images — selected from a global pool of drone photographers — showcase the full range of aerial perspectives, from abstract landscape patterns to dramatic wildlife shots from above.
The contest, now in its 11th year, has become one of the most prestigious showcases for aerial photography talent worldwide. Aspiring competitors should note that SkyPixel entries reward not just technical execution — stable exposure, clean composition — but strong storytelling from a perspective only possible from altitude.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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