Everything is not falling apart...

[mavic3usa]

...it's actually falling into place.

You have 1 year of software updates before we cut you off.

FCC Confirms Drone Firmware Updates Will Continue Until January 2027

FCC Order DA 26-69 confirms DJI and Autel drones can receive firmware and security updates until January 1, 2027. Here's what the waiver means for your drone.

dronexl.co

Up next: New Activations

 

[Riptide]

I honestly didn't realize firmware updates were in question. If they are blocked, I hope a simple VPN will trick it and it won't be gps based. Alternatively as long as the dronehacks firmware updater keeps working and dankdronedownloader offers the latest firmware for download (currently don't have the newest Mav4Pro firmware version) I think we'll be alright.

 

[GadgetGuy]

...it's actually falling into place.

You have 1 year of software updates before we cut you off.

FCC Confirms Drone Firmware Updates Will Continue Until January 2027

FCC Order DA 26-69 confirms DJI and Autel drones can receive firmware and security updates until January 1, 2027. Here's what the waiver means for your drone.

dronexl.co

Up next: New Activations

This actually means that DJI can now do the bidding of the FAA by adding in further undisclosed flight restrictions through future FW updates, much like has happened in the EU, where on January 1 all UK C0 drones suddenly acquired a hard 120m ceiling without any new updates being installed. For example, the FAA could demand that DJI reimpose GEO in the U.S. on all existing drones in exchange for approval of certain future drones.

 

[AeroJ]

Firmware updates have always been something of a mixed bag - sometimes adding useful new features, but more often than not, changing things, and restricting more things either at the time or later. For that reason I am unbothered if these updates stop. Not installing those is the reason I can still fly to 500m today !

 

[glocke12]

thats awful.

Hopefully this changes with a future administration ( and yes I know the ball got rolling under the previous admin ) because this is all incredibly short sighted.

 

[halifax]

The OG drone-ban sorcerer is Elise Stefanik, R-NY. Joe Bartlett, current Director of Federal Policy at Skydio was former National Security Advisor to Stefanik.

 

[anotherlab]

That order fixes a mistake in the original FCC order that had blocked firmware updates for pre-approved devices. They rushed out the blanket ban without considering that it had covered.

The OG drone-ban sorcerer is Elise Stefanik, R-NY. Joe Bartlett, current Director of Federal Policy at Skydio was former National Security Advisor to Stefanik.

If you are looking for blame, that bill had broad bipartisan support and was signed into law by Biden.

 

[halifax]

You mean the 2025 NDAA of $900B and 4,000+ individual elements? Biden did sign the NDAA to fund the military. But Stefanik, who you have written about here in the past, and Rick Scott R-FL, are the mother and father of this ban. But it matters not now.

Happy flying, Sir!

 

[jaja6009]

The ban is working as "they" intended.

At work we have been waiting to move on to a tru DFR program to see if we should continue with our large DJI fleet, or choose an American alternative.

Once the ban happened as everyone knew it would, our city just purchased a mega expensive Axon/Skydio DFR program. I say mega expensive just because a DJI based system of the same size and similar capabilities would of been much lower in cost. Axon Air also will do the same using DJI.

We have 3 Skydio X10 with docks coming soon. The DJI drones will not be able to integrate into the system so for now we will be using two parallel live streaming services. Unfortunately our DJI aircraft's days are numbered. With Care and repairs being uncertain, an accident repair or Care replacement may not happen.

 

[BlueHeeler]

Here's a thought, lets just assume that the FCC enforces the blocking of the FW updates ( through the Internet ) and DJI complies on 01.01.2027, what can stop 3rd party vendors ( outside of the USA ) from offering updates through other media like Flash Drives with a small fee via snail mail ? Is it feasible ?

 

[MS Coast]

Here's a thought, lets just assume that the FCC enforces the blocking of the FW updates ( through the Internet ) and DJI complies on 01.01.2027, what can stop 3rd party vendors ( outside of the USA ) from offering updates through other media like Flash Drives with a small fee via snail mail ? Is it feasible ?

Yes, certainly. But, how might the FCC block international file transfers from taking place over the Internet?

 

[BlueHeeler]

Yes, certainly. But, how might the FCC block international file transfers from taking place over the Internet?

Good question in which I cannot answer, I am sure someone here can answer that, but assuming that it could be blocked, others means are still out there, but then again, how can the FCC enforce such a rule in the first place ?

 

[anotherlab]

Here's a thought, lets just assume that the FCC enforces the blocking of the FW updates ( through the Internet ) and DJI complies on 01.01.2027, what can stop 3rd party vendors ( outside of the USA ) from offering updates through other media like Flash Drives with a small fee via snail mail ? Is it feasible ?

The FCC can not block firmware updates from being applied. They can declare them illegal after the waiver date, but actually blocking the updates would be a fruitless game of whack-a-mole for the FCC.

It doesn't really matter. Unless the ban is lifted, commercial use will fade away as the aircraft age out or can no longer be repaired.