This week in Drone News: the new FAA regulation is finally posted on the Federal Register which starts the clock for many important dates. Sony gives us a sneak peak of its new AirPeak platform designed for the Sony Alpha series. The US Government continues its attack on Chinese Tech companies. The Drone Service Providers Alliance adds an FPV advocate to its Board of Advisors. And lastly a Drone for Good story from Australia.

Be sure to enroll in our free night training module available at https://pilotinstitute.com/course/par...
If you’re looking for more information about the new regulation to fly night without a waiver:    • How to fly at night without a waiver ...  
Explanation about how to renew your certificate in 2021:    • How to renew your drone pilot license...  

00:00 Introduction
00:54 New FAA regs hit the Federal Register
06:21 Sony previews new Drone
08:55 More trouble that could affect Chinese Drones
10:05 DSPA adds FPV advocate to Board of Advisors
12:05 Drone for Good story

New FAA regs hit the Fed Register
The FAA final rules on Remote ID, Operations over People, Night, and Currency were published in the federal register today, Friday Jan 15.
This starts the “clock” for implementation of these rules:
Let’s take a look at some key dates

March 1, 2021
- The FAA Night training becomes available
- FAA Initial Written Exam (UAG) gets new questions added and qualifies for Night Training.
- You can now renew your certificate online for free on FAAsafety.gov

March 16, 2021
- Operation at night start without a waiver (with proper training)
- Operations over people regulation goes in effect.

Sept 16, 2022: Drone Manufacturers must comply with Remote ID.

Sept 16, 2023: Anybody flying outside of a FRIA must have Remote ID.

Night Training available
Get the knowledge part of the night training out of the way early before taking the FAA training. Available for free at https://pilotinstitute.com/course/par...

Sony Reveals AirPeak Drone
At CES 2021, Sony revealed its AirPeak drone.
While few specs are available at the moment, it appears to be carrying a Sony Alpha mirrorless camera.
They claim it is the “smallest class of drone that can be equipped with the Alpha system”.
Expected to be released to the public in Spring 2021.
Great article from Kara Murphy
https://www.dpreview.com/news/2550610...

More Trouble in US / China tech relationships
An executive order was signed on Jan 5, 2021 that takes aim at Chinese software. It will go in effect after 45 days.
The goal of the order is to prevent collection of “vast swaths of information from users, including sensitive personally identifiable information and private information.” 
While several companies were named, it excluded Chinese drone manufacturers.
https://dronelife.com/2021/01/08/brea...

Vic and Kenji from the DSPA announced that they selected their first Board of Advisors member with Dave Messina.
Dave is the president of the FPV Freedom Coalition and has been a proponent for the FPV community for a long time.
The FPV Freedom Coalition is a 501c3 organization dedicated to advocating the FAA for the right of recreational pilots.
It was also announced that both Vic and Kenji are now part of the Drone Advisory Committee (DAC).

Drones For Good story
4 adults and a baby were rescued in Australia after a SOS signal was sent from a drone.
The group became stranded on a trip to a waterfall after torrential rains hit the area.
After they couldn’t get cell signal, one of the adults attached his cell phone to a drone, typed the message, and sent the drone up to send the signal.
https://people.com/human-interest/4-a...