January 21, 2020, issue of 'AOPA Drone Pilot'


VOL 4, ISSUE 2	January 21, 2020

Top Stories

Music in the air

Peek behind the scenes at a music video shoot, and see how a few simple shots were planned and executed to elevate the art. (Photo by Terry Jarrell.) Read more >

Mystery unsolved...

Colorado's Department of Public Safety is scaling back efforts to track down the mysterious drones, leaving many scratching their heads. Read more >

...but what could they be?

While the state is cutting back search efforts, investigative reporters have a few theories. Read more >

Training and Safety

Supersized no-go

The FAA reminds you not to fly near Miami during the Super Bowl on February 2. Read more and watch a video >

Rain brings down drones

British investigators concluded that rain infiltration downed a number of DJI Matrice 200 series drones, prompting DJI to emphasize guidelines and limits, and Heliguy to post a primer on what IP ratings really mean. Read more >

Scaring up sales

One of our fellow remote pilots posted this somewhat strident take on the potential consequences of hiring hobbyists to photograph real estate listings. Watch the video >

Gear

Above and beyond

Autel announced its EVO II series boasting 8K video and 40-minute flight endurance. Read more and watch a video >

Pod save your drone

These drone parachutes are packed in pods to eliminate downtime after deployment. Read more >

Amphibious future

British police, and anyone else inclined to drone in the rain, might want to have a look at this one. Read more >

Property patrol

Sunflower Labs unveiled its newest line in home security—autonomous drones. Read more >

Unexpected reboot

Nearly a year after vanishing from retailer inventories, the DJI Phantom 4 Pro has returned. Read more >

Lifestyle

I'll have another

Dock Street Brewing's autonomous drone helps craft each batch. Read more and watch a video >

Public Safety

Strapped for cash

Unmanned aircraft, including optionally piloted helicopters, have the potential to aid wildfire control techniques, but progress requires more money. Read more >

Caught in the act

Miami police filmed a drug deal with a drone (and a warrant). Read more and watch a video >

Detecting airport intruders

Heathrow Airport, following a series of disruptive drone sightings, has installed electronic countermeasures to detect and track aerial invaders. Read more >

Olympic preparations

Tokyo announced that all 24 venues for the 2020 Summer Olympics have drone detection coverage. Read more >

Regulation and Policy

FAA gets early earful on drone ID

Hundreds of comments voicing concerns, fears, and critiques of the FAA's proposed drone tracking rules were posted within days of the landmark document's December 31 publication. Read more >

EAA: RID too great a burden for modelers

The Experimental Aircraft Association hopes to have model aircraft excluded from proposed remote ID requirements. Read more >

DJI responds to RID

The world's largest maker of civilian drones supports remote ID but has a bone to pick with the FAA's proposal to require an internet connection. Read more >

News

Feds moving to ground foreign drones

The U.S. Department of the Interior may soon ground hundreds of drones made in China based on privacy concerns that DJI continues to dispute. Read more >

Apple hires top drone lobbyist

A recent hire suggests Apple may be getting more serious about unmanned aircraft. Read more >

Inspecting amid a mystery

Companies like UAV Recon are doing important work in the Denver area, and there is no mystery about their mission. Read more and watch a video >