BVLOS Rules, School Safety Drones, Mars Helicopters & Michigan Drone Skyway – UAV News Talk

BVLOS rules, school safety drones, NASA’s Mars helicopters, and Michigan’s 40-mile drone research skyway take center stage in UAV News Talk episode 433, hosted by Max Trescott and David Vanderhoof. The discussion begins with the newly introduced LIFT Act—short for Leading Innovation in Flight Technology Act—proposed by Representative Jen Kiggans of Virginia on July 24, 2025. The bill would compel the Department of Transportation to accelerate FAA rulemaking for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone operations. The hosts explore how AI could be used to speed approvals, contrasting deterministic AI rule-checking with generative AI’s potential for errors, and weighing how this fits—or clashes—with the FAA’s traditionally deliberate safety-first approach.

Next, the conversation shifts to Florida’s plan to trial armed drones for school security. Developed by Campus Guardian Angel, these drones would be stored on-site in protective boxes and launched within seconds to engage an active shooter—potentially firing powder pellets to incapacitate the suspect. Max and David raise practical questions about launch authority, piloting, targeting in chaotic conditions, and operational control from a central dispatch center. They note the program’s $1,000-per-month cost and early deployments in four Florida school districts and one Texas university.

Video of the Week: A vivid example of drones aiding law enforcement—a Scottsboro, Alabama thermal video showing the nighttime capture of an attempted murder suspect hiding beside railroad tracks. The video’s bright, detailed imagery stands out from typical black-and-white thermal feeds, illustrating drones’ growing value in search and apprehension.

From terrestrial policing to interplanetary exploration, the episode dives into NASA’s ambitious proposal to send six helicopters to Mars. Building on the Ingenuity mission’s unexpected 72-flight success, the new fleet could haul 11 pounds each, operate autonomously, and even act as communication relays to extend range. The hosts discuss rotor speed adjustments for Mars’ thin atmosphere, coaxial rotor benefits, and lessons from Ingenuity’s final hard landing caused by a rotor strike.

Back on Earth, Michigan unveils its M Air Research Skyway—a 40-mile-long drone corridor enabling BVLOS operations, swarm testing, and drone traffic management (UTM) development. The University of Michigan’s engineering programs, private partners, and state agencies will collaborate to test delivery drones, advanced operations, and multi-drone coordination in a controlled yet realistic environment. Max notes the unique scale compared to most U.S. university programs, and David speculates on potential eVTOL or medical delivery applications.

The episode wraps with a look at China’s booming “low-altitude economy” and its newly recognized profession: drone flight planner. With over 247,000 licensed drone operators and 2.17 million drones registered, China sees...