Arch Aerial LLC

A ROW inquiry comes in. A third party claims they never broke ground inside the pipeline corridor.

The question isn't whether they did. The question is whether you can prove it.

If your last documented aerial pass of that segment is 14 months ago, the conversation stays open for months. If it's 3 weeks ago, you open the file, pull the geo-referenced frame, and the conversation closes.

The difference between those two outcomes isn't what happened in the field. It's when the last flight happened. Its the difference of thousands of dollars and a legal case.

Consistent aerial documentation of ROW isn't a nice-to-have. It's the record your compliance team reaches for when the call comes in.

The FCC added DJI to the Covered List on December 23, 2025. Here's what it actually means for operators.

The "ban" you've seen in headlines isn't a ban on existing DJI drones. Aircraft you already own remain legal to own and fly. The FAA hasn't restricted recreational or Part 107 operations. Drones already activated still work.

What changed: new DJI models can't receive FCC equipment authorization going forward. Aircraft already FCC-approved before the ruling, including the Matrice 400, Mini 5 Pro, and Mavic 4 Pro, remain importable and sellable. New models that haven't yet been authorized are blocked from the U.S. market.

The practical impact for commercial drone programs:
- Existing DJI fleets remain operational. No replacement timeline forced by regulation.
- Future fleet expansion using new DJI models is constrained.
- Long-term parts, batteries, and firmware support carry real uncertainty.
- Insurance and procurement teams may begin scrutinizing DJI exposure.
- Operators planning multi-year programs should factor diversified hardware into the plan.

Our current fleet combines DJI multi-rotor platforms as well as fixed-wing systems. We're monitoring the ruling and adjusting program planning around it.

Source:

List of Equipment and Services Covered By Section 2 of The Secure Networks Act Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.