FAA BVLOS NPRM Missed, Drone Ban Proposal, and Drone Hits Helicopter in TX

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update. We have three stories for you this week: the FAA missed the deadline for the BVLOS and PRM, Senator Rick Scott introduced the Drones for America Act to phase out Chinese drones, and a drone allegedly collided with a rescue helicopter in Texas. Let’s dive in.

FAA Misses BVLOS NPRM Deadline

The FAA has missed the July 7, 2025, deadline for publishing the much-anticipated Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). This delay joins the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 deadline, which set September 16, 2024, for the NPRM’s release. The BVLOS Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) delivered a 381-page report with 70 recommendations in March 2022 to enable BVLOS operations.

However, the FAA remains focused on ensuring satisfaction with the rules, regardless of congressional or White House deadlines. For example, Section 2209 from the 2016 FAA Reauthorization Act remains unimplemented. Unfortunately, the industry can only wait.

Drones for America Act Introduced

Florida Senator Rick Scott has introduced the Drones for America Act, a bill aiming to ban Chinese-made drones and components while boosting U.S. manufacturing. The bill proposes a phased approach: a full ban on Chinese drone sales by January 1, 2028, and a ban on Chinese components by January 1, 2031. Gradual tariff increases on these items would fund a grant program to support American companies in developing and producing U.S.-made drones and components, aiding first responders, law enforcement, farmers, and ranchers.

However, the bill overlooks small businesses and recreational flyers, who rely heavily on DJI drones with no viable U.S. alternatives. Additionally, no study has assessed the output capacity of American manufacturers. With DJI currently unable to sell drones in the U.S. due to CBP restrictions, the proposed tariffs would generate zero revenue, raising questions about funding for the grant program.

This bill risks harming the drone industry by ignoring small service providers and recreational pilots while forcing public safety agencies to purchase more expensive drones without sufficient funding. Please contact your senators and representatives to voice concerns about this legislation’s impact on drone pilots.

Drone Collision with Rescue Helicopter

On July 7, 2025, during catastrophic flooding in Kerr County, Texas, a drone reportedly collided with a rescue helicopter, forcing an emergency landing and sidelining a critical life-saving asset. Over 100 people have tragically died in the area, which was under a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR), specifically NOTAM FDC 52615, to keep airspace clear for rescue operations. This preventable incident endangered first responders and victims.

A similar case occurred in January 2025, when a hobbyist’s DJI Mini 3 crashed into a firefighting Super Scooper in California, grounding it for five days during wildfires. Drone pilots must respect TFRs and avoid interfering with emergency operations.

If you want to help, refrain from flying unless specifically requested by agencies. Instead, connect with local search and rescue groups to offer future assistance and receive training if needed. Always check TFRs and avoid reckless flying.

Post-Flight and Upcoming Stories

In our premium community show, Post-Flight, we’ll dive deeper into these stories and discuss additional topics, including the Fourth of July drone show by Sky Elements and the New York Police Department’s request to neutralize drones. Join us Monday for the live show and Post-Flight in the premium community.

The proposed tariffs are ineffective with zero DJI sales, leaving no funds to support U.S. manufacturers. We need policies that help attract talent and enable mass production of U.S.-made drones.