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Does giving a camera wings dodge the FCC’s drone ban?
The Verge • • technology
Key Points:
- HoverAir’s new $750 Versa drone attempts to bypass the US government’s December 2025 foreign drone ban by marketing itself as a mini steadycam with optional snap-on propellers, rather than a traditional drone.
- The FCC approved the Versa’s camera component on August 9th, as it only certifies wireless radios and HoverAir submitted paperwork solely for the camera, not the propellers which connect physically without wireless radios.
- However, the FCC’s ban covers “UAS critical components,” including cameras with radios, meaning the Versa’s camera may still fall under the ban and FCC jurisdiction.
- The FCC outsourced the initial certification to a private body but can revoke the approval within 30 days if it determines the Versa violates the ban, putting HoverAir’s approach at risk of being overturned.
- While HoverAir offers refunds for its banned Aqua drone and sells the Versa camera separately, potential buyers in the US should exercise caution until the FCC definitively approves the full drone configuration.
