Category 2 Drones ✈️ and AVSS: Soaring into a New Era
Hey there, Drone Enthusiasts! Ever dreamt of flying your drone safely over crowds or moving vehicles? Well, buckle up, because we’re diving into the exciting world of Category 2 drones and AVSS (Airborne Vehicle Safety Systems), specifically parachute recovery systems! The latest drone news is buzzing with advancements in this area, and I’ve broken down a couple of recent Pilot Institute videos to give you the need-to-know info on how this tech is revolutionizing drone operations. These breakthroughs represent a major leap forward, paving the way for complex operations previously restricted by safety concerns. We’re talking game-changing stuff here!
Key Takeaways: What You Need to Know NOW
The First Category 2 Drones Are Here! Say hello to the DJI Matrice 3D and 3DT – the first drones officially approved for Category 2 operations using AVSS parachute systems. This is HUGE. This certification allows these drones to legally operate over people and moving vehicles under Part 107, expanding the possibilities for commercial drone work significantly. Even better, the Mavic 3 Enterprise series has also received Category 2 approval with the AVSS PRS-M3E parachute, putting this advanced technology in the hands of more operators.
Parachute Power: AVSS, a leading developer of parachute recovery systems for drones, is playing a crucial role in making these operations a reality. Their systems provide an additional layer of safety, giving pilots peace of mind knowing there’s a backup plan if things go south. These parachutes drastically mitigate risk, creating a safer environment for everyone.
BVLOS Progress: While not directly tied to Category 2, the FAA’s recent approval of commercial BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations without visual observers for companies like Zipline and Wing Aviation is another positive sign for the future of unmanned aviation. This shows regulators are becoming more comfortable with advanced drone tech and are laying the groundwork for broader BVLOS operations down the line.
DJI Innovations: Even with regulatory hurdles, DJI continues to push the envelope. Leaks about their new lightweight "Neo" drone, featuring impressive specs and possibly geared towards Category 1 operations, underscore the rapid innovation happening in the drone industry.
Safety First, Always! The unfortunate incident involving the Apellix washing drone highlights the importance of safety protocols, even for experienced pilots. Unexpected malfunctions can happen, reminding us to always prioritize safety measures and stay vigilant.
Taking Off into the Future: What’s Next?
The recent surge in Category 2 approvals signals a major shift in the drone industry. As AVSS continues testing and more manufacturers integrate these safety systems, we can expect to see an even wider range of drones achieving Category 2 status. This will unlock massive potential for various industries, from infrastructure inspection and public safety to aerial photography and cinematography. Furthermore, the ongoing development and refinement of UTM (Unmanned Traffic Management) systems are key to enabling more complex BVLOS operations, pushing us closer to a truly integrated airspace where drones operate safely and efficiently alongside traditional aircraft.
Ready to See These Developments in Action?
Scroll down to watch the video highlights and get an even deeper understanding of how Category 2 drones and AVSS are reshaping the landscape of drone technology. You won’t want to miss this!
View the videos just below
Drone News: Drone Ban CCP Update, 1st Cat 2 Drone, New DJI Model, & FAA Authorizes Commercial BVLOSPilot Institute29,421 views | 1,116 | August 2 2024 12:00:08 (115 comments)[ Read more … ]
Welcome to your weekly UAS news update we have 4 stories for you, Countering CCP Drones Act Update, First Category 2 Drone, a brand new DJI drone model and the FAA authorizes commercial BVLOS flights without a visual observer.
00:00 Introduction
00:19 Drone Ban CCP and NDAA
01:14 First Category 2 Drone
02:10 New DJI Model
02:57 FAA Authorizes Commercial BVLOS Without VO
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First up, a new senate amendment to the 2025 NDAA hopes to add the Countering CCP Drones Act.
If enacted, the countering CCP language would revoke all FCC approvals for DJI and Autel products, effectively banning new mo dels and grounding current fleets.
The NDAA still has to be voted on by the Senate, but the addition of the Countering CCP language would align the House of Representatives NDAA bill and the Senate bill on the issue.
Now is a great time to reach out to your representatives and senators as we near the election to let them know this language would devastate our industry and reduce Public Safety’s ability to effectively save lives.
We’ll update you as this progresses.
Next up, the first Category 2 Drone has hit the DOC List!
The DJI Matrice 3D and 3DT are now approved for operations over people under categories 2 and 3 using the AVSS parachute system!
If you’re unfamiliar with the Matrice 3D, it’s DJI’s Dock 2 aircraft.
Both of the Matrice 3D and 3DT are variable categories between cat 2 and cat 3 depending on the winds.
More approvals should begin to hit the DOC list as AVSS tests more parachutes!
Next, there are some DJI leaks for a new drone!
The DJI Neo hit the FCC database this week, showing a 2S, 1435mAh battery.
According to DroneXL, DJI follows a “30% Rule” in battery to drone weight, suggesting the drone will weigh about 170g.
Leaked pictures also show a possible prototype similar to a DJI Mini-series drone.
Currently, there are no leaked specs for the drone and we can’t verify the leaked images are indeed of this model.
We’ll keep you updated when we see more!
Last up, the FAA has finally authorized the first commercial drone operation beyond visual line of sight without using a visual observer. The approval goes to Zipline and Wing Aviation. I’m guessing this is an approval without a waiver under part 135 since other operators have been able to do this under part 107 waivers.
The FAA stated that companies are sharing planned flight routes with other authorized airspace users by using Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) systems.
We are still expecting to see a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) later this year that would normalize BVLOS operations for drones.
Finally, a quick Community update. We have our July Drone photo contest winner! This month’s winner is Derek Paulsen, with his photo of a “Beautiful Mountain Lake Outside Glacier National Park”. Congratulations to Derek, who will receive a custom made pilot institute trophy and a $250 gift card. We’ll have another contest in August, so stay tuned for those details.
That’s it for now, have a great weekend, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live!
Our Other Channels
– PIXL Drone Show: drone-related podcast.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeSmbjvE0etKry8Nk2n0CQ
– Pilot Institute Airplane: our airplane channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIgBjGoM-yn_3bH8Qr9xkXA
Our courses
– Part 107 Made Easy: the most comprehensive ground school online. https://bit.ly/2AkRWq0
– Drone Business Made Easy: start your drone business with a solid foundation. https://bit.ly/3dVT55T
– Drone Flying 101: the perfect course for beginners. https://bit.ly/2XUy3Pc
– Drone Maneuvers Mastery: become a better pilot with these 50 maneuvers designed to improve your flying skills. https://bit.ly/3hkWkG3
– Cinematic FPV Drone From Scratch: build your own cinematic machine with this course. https://bit.ly/37oOfeG
Get Pilot Institute Gear: https://merch.pilotinstitute.com
First up, AVSS seems to just be getting started!
The Mavic 3 Enterprise and Enterprise thermal are now Category 2 when equipped with AVSS’s PRS-M3E parachute system!
This allows the drones equipped with the parachutes to legally operate over people and moving vehicles under Part 107 and without a waiver!
Awesome to see someone else working on categorizing drones and hopefully we’ll have more to share soon!
Next up, the NTSB has released a preliminary report on an accident that occurred in February of this year.
A small drone was involved in an accident on Feb. 20th, 2024 in Orlando, FL.
The RPIC stated to investigators that the purpose of the flight was to power wash a hospital and that the RPIC and Aircraft had operated multiple time throughout the day.
On the final flight the remote pilot took off and noted the drone began to lose directional control 2-3 feet off the ground.
The RPIC attempted to control the aircraft but the aircraft did not respond.
The RPIC then attempted to disarm the aircraft, where it once again did not respond.
The RPIC realized the drone would not respond to commands and decided to manually unplug the batteries of the drone, resulting in severe lacerations on his arms, hands, and legs, partially severing a finger.
The aircraft in question was an Apellix B1 Washing Drone, which is a coaxial octocopter.
We’ll keep you updated when we see more about this accident.
Third up, Aloft has completed the FAA’s onboarding process introducing new features!
New features for Aloft are primarily around improved further coordination requests.
Two new features aim to help remote pilots who submit requests for “Further Coordination”.
The first, is a reduction in expiration time from 24 hours before the operation to 3 hours before the operation.
The second is enhanced feedback, allowing ATC to send feedback on why a request was denied.
Hopefully these two improvement save operators time and money with scheduling and requesting airspace approval!
Last up, more DJI Neo Leaks!
Most of the specs appear to have been leaked for the new DJI Neo.
The drone appears to come in at 135 grams with an 18 minute flight time, max flight distance of 4 miles using O4, and 22GB of internal storage.
The Neo’s camera is rumored to be a 12MP 1/2” sensor, f/2.8 Iso 100-6400, and a max video resolution of 4K/30.
Leaks suggest that the Neo does NOT have any SD card compatibility and shoots only JPEG/MP4.
Pricing is rumored to be $329 for the fly more combo and may release as soon as August 20th.
This might be a good, though limited solution for category 1 operations!
Have a great week, and we’ll see you on Monday for the Live!
Patryk Alexander is an associate copy editor at 4kVideoDrones.com, where he sharpens articles and helps keep the website's content clean and error-free. With a background in creative writing, Patryk brings a unique perspective to his editing that helps make 4kVideoDrones.com's content engaging and informative. When he's not editing or writing, Patryk enjoys spending time with his family and exploring the great outdoors.
