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A consortium has been formed by UK aviation companies, including Vertical Aerospace, Virgin Atlantic Airways, and Skyports, with the objective of testing and preparing the launch of electric takeoff and landing (eVTOL) flight services, like air taxis, in what members call the world’s first full advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystem.

DJI has dropped a fairly large firmware update for its latest remote controller, DJI RC, to fix the issues that some Mini 3 Pro drone operators have been facing. This update comes days after the drone maker made the DJI RC compatible for use with the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Cine aircraft through a new software package.

Just a month after it was announced that Amazon will begin aerial deliveries to people in Lockeford, California, meta-marketplace Amazon revealed Friday that it will roll out similar drone services in College Station, Texas.

Aloft, the company that powers more than two-thirds of all LAANC authorizations in the US, has announced a major milestone. The UTM technology specialist says it has given approvals to more than half a million drone flights since it was first authorized by the FAA to do so for controlled airspace at or below 400 feet.

Alphabet subsidiary Wing is pulling the curtain back on how it plans to cater to different industries that may come knocking on its door looking for on-demand drone delivery.

Specialized security and tactical drone manufacturer BRINC has launched its Global Rescue Network, which will assist and support humanitarian efforts and disaster response wherever they arise around the world.

US lawmakers, government officials, and even major sports organizations are stepping up to back a Biden administration call to create legislation that would considerably expand the number of actors permitted to undertake anti-drone measures to neutralize potential threats from UAVs.

Global drone giant DJI is apparently having some success in opposing draft legislation that would formally prohibit US government agencies from buying its UAVs, according to a report in the Financial Times.

Litchi for iOS, one of the top automated drone flying apps on the market, now fully supports DJI Air 2S. Meanwhile, Litchi for Android has added a media gallery that lets you review and download media from the drone’s storage.

Medical drone delivery pioneer Zipline is joining forces with MultiCare Health System, a not-for-profit healthcare organization in Washington, to launch the state’s first commercial drone deliveries.

California drone data collection and analytics startup DroneBase has acquired Inspection², a UK-based company that specializes in automating industrial inspections through AI technology. DroneBase plans to utilize the incoming tech stack across telecom and transmission & distribution (T&D) sectors.

Ecuador is the world’s leading export of cacao, the chief ingredient in single-origin chocolates. Over 90% of the cacao production in the country is undertaken by small farm owners. But a downward trend in crop prices and labor shortage during the busy season has left farmers struggling to improve efficiency and remain profitable. This is why they have now turned to drones for fruit tree spraying.

Drone delivery and services provider DroneUp is moving to use the momentum of its swiftly growing US operations to expand to Europe, where it will develop new business across the continent from a base in Poland.

Score another drones-for-good point for Australia’s UAV and geospatial education provider SheMaps, whose aerial tech introduction and training have led a young Queensland woman to take to the skies in an effort to safeguard the history of the Aboriginal Koko-Muluridji people’s Wallara clan.

According to DJI leaker OstiaLV, DJI’s new RC controller might be coming to more than just the Mavic 3 but also the Air 2S, replacing the Smart Controller. A welcome addition as the DJI RC is a fantastic offering for its price.

Bad people putting lousy ideas into action with the aid of remote controllers are at it again, with police in both the US and Canada recently cuffing pilots using drones to drop contraband into prisons.

In a move to acclimate future users of air taxis in what’s expected to be a showcase market, electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft company Volocopter has opened a permanent public exhibition in Singapore featuring its VoloCity plane.

San Francisco-based Elroy Air says it expects to deliver 100 autonomous cargo drones to Bristow, a leading provider of helicopter transportation to oil and gas customers, search and rescue (SAR), and aircraft support solutions to government and civil organizations.

Rapidly expanding counter-drone company Dedrone has closed an over-subscribed $30 million Series C-1 fundraising round that will serve to fuel its continued business expansion in the US and abroad. The successful recruitment of backers comes just seven months after the firm attracted $30.5 million in a December Series C effort.

With their energy efficiency and multi-payload capacity, fixed-wing drones are perfect for surveying or surveilling large areas. But which is the most popular fixed-wing drone in America?

Drone maker Yuneec is readying to release a new hexacopter, the H850 RTK, which has been designed with commercial applications such as infrastructure inspections, surveying, public safety applications, and fawn rescue in mind.

It’s Prime Day 2022 and DJI is offering the Action 2 Dual-Screen Combo for $299, a staggering 45% off its usual retail price of $539. The Amazon sale price offer delivers a new all-time low for the modular action camera.

Drone pilots with ambitions of upgrading or expanding their fleets – and making a really good deal in the process – should probably run-not-walk their browsers to Amazon during its 48-hour Prime Day sales and consider adopting a DJI Air 2S Fly More Combo at a sweet 20% discount.