This topic is where rumor outruns reality. The legal answer needs to separate three different things:
- Whether a drone can be flown under FAA airspace rules
- Whether a drone can be purchased, imported, or newly authorized for sale
- Whether a client, agency, or contract will allow that drone on its work
As of March 10, 2026, there is not a general federal rule that makes all current DJI flight operations illegal. That is consistent with Aerotas’ existing position and with current federal materials.
The FCC’s December 2025 guidance is especially important here. The FCC states that updates to the Covered List do not prohibit the continued use of previously purchased devices and do not ban consumers from continuing to use lawfully purchased devices. See: FCC fact sheet on Covered List updates.
Practical conclusion: existing lawful DJI operations are not the same thing as unrestricted future purchasing, importation, or government-contract acceptance.
What is changing
The restrictions are moving through communications-equipment and procurement channels, not through a simple FAA statement that “these drones are banned from the sky.” FCC Covered List actions can affect equipment authorization for new devices and future market access. Federal and state agencies can also impose procurement or contract restrictions that effectively block certain equipment from funded work.
That is why two operators can both be “right” while saying different things. One can truthfully say, “My existing DJI aircraft is still legal to fly under Part 107.” Another can truthfully say, “My client contract does not allow DJI on this job.”
How Aerotas thinks about it
Aerotas’ existing blog position is still the useful one: do not confuse procurement policy with airspace law, and do not play games with clients about what aircraft was used. If a public client or prime contractor bars a Chinese-made aircraft, listen to the contract and price the operational consequences honestly.
In the private sector, DJI often remains the practical default because the hardware is still easier to use and more cost-effective than many alternatives. But on government and infrastructure work, contract language increasingly matters as much as airspace legality.
What to do on real projects
- Check the contract before assuming a drone is acceptable
- Separate “legal to fly” from “allowed on this project”
- Assume procurement rules may tighten faster than airspace rules
- Be explicit with clients about what aircraft you intend to use