Ever watched a drone zip overhead and wondered who’s making sure it doesn’t crash into a helicopter or veer off course and smack into a building? Congratulations: you’re thinking about the problem regulators call “uncrewed traffic management,” or UTM. Now, Europe just took a massive step toward solving it — and the implications of these changes to European airspace stretch far beyond the continent.

At Airspace World in Lisbon this week, ANRA Technologies, a Virginia-based company with deep roots in drone airspace software, became the first company ever certified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as a U-space Service Provider — or USSP, in the industry’s alphabet soup.

The U.S. drone industry doesn’t typically use the term “U-space” — that’s Euro-speak. But conceptually, it’s similar to what the FAA calls “UTM” (Uncrewed Traffic Management). It’s all a term for the type of digital infrastructure that allows drones to safely operate in low-altitude airspace alongside each other, and alongside traditional aircraft. Think air traffic control, but for thousands of autonomous flying robots.

With its new certification, ANRA now has EASA’s blessing to manage drone traffic across Europe. This change to European airspace marks a huge shift in how commercial drones could operate on the continent. It opens the door for BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations, complex drone delivery networks, emergency response missions and even autonomous air taxis. In short, we’re one step closer to the kind of Jetsons future we’ve been hearing about for more than a decade now.

Related read: Part 108 set to change future of BVLOS drone operations

EASA’s evaluation of ANRA Technologies before certifying it was a two-year process. ANRA underwent testing of its cybersecurity, operational readiness, safety protocols, incident response, and even business continuity. In short, ANRA had to prove it could run a miniature air traffic control system for drones, safely and securely, across an entire continent.

Why this matters for more than just European airspace

In the U.S., we’ve been inching toward similar goals. NASA’s UTM research laid some groundwork, and the FAA’s Remote ID rule is a step toward better drone accountability. But we’re still stuck in pilot projects and fragmented regulation. There’s no centralized certification system for companies to manage airspace like there now is in Europe.

U.S. drone projects, including delivery efforts from companies like Wing (Google), Zipline, and Amazon Prime Air, have all struggled with scaling drone delivery due to a patchwork of approvals and regulatory hurdles. While pilot programs exist, they often rely on waivers, limited geographies and extensive human oversight. Many drone delivery projects today function somewhat like a high-tech science project, and it’s largely not the fault of the companies themselves. For example, I got to experience a Matternet drone deliver me some chocolate. But since the drone was legally required to remain in a Matternet employee’s line of sight the whole time, the whole flight was only about a mile/

If the U.S. government American drone companies to lead in drone innovation — or even just keep pace — it may need to borrow a few pages from Europe’s playbook.

With that, could ANRA’s EASA certification function as a de facto global gold standard? After all, it’s use in European airspace will demonstrate what a functioning UTM ecosystem could look like.

Keep in mind that ANRA is a U.S. company. That might put some additional pressure on American regulators to catch up.

What are the other names to know in the air traffic control space?

ANRA isn’t the only company in this race. Its rivals include Altitude Angel, a UK-based firm that recently launched its “Arrow” UTM system across a 265km corridor in the UK. Another major player is OneSky, a Boeing-backed spinoff that’s also building UTM infrastructure in countries like Australia and Switzerland.

But unlike its competitors, ANRA now holds the first official EASA-issued USSP certification — a sort of “You’re cleared for takeoff” for commercial drone airspace management. And that could give it a first-mover advantage as European countries prepare to launch U-space zones.

What’s next?

The ANRA certification comes at a critical time. The European Commission’s Drones Strategy 2.0 — essentially a 10-year roadmap for integrating drones into society — hinges on the rollout of safe, scalable airspace systems. ANRA’s approval provides a blueprint for others to follow, giving EASA a test case it can replicate with new applicants.

More importantly, it offers a taste of what the public might expect in the near future: packages delivered by drone without a line-of-sight operator, smart cities with drone infrastructure baked in and real-time airspace coordination that doesn’t require human controllers staring at radar screens.

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So the DJI Mavic 4 Pro has been officially announced. But unless you live outside the U.S., good luck getting your hands on DJI’s spiffiest new camera drone yet. You currently cannot buy the DJI Mavic 4 Pro in the U.S.

As I shared yesterday, the Mavic 4 Pro is not currently available for sale in the U.S. Well, technically you can pre-order it from some retailers, such as B&H Photo, which allows you to lock in your drone does for $2,700. However, it’s unclear when it’ll ship, and DJI itself has said it has no estimated timeline for if or when it will be. That leaves a lot of American drone pilots in limbo — especially creative professionals eager to get their hands on that 100MP Hasselblad camera or game-changing 360° Infinity Gimbal.

So what can you do right now if you’re in the U.S. and itching to fly the Mavic 4 Pro? Here’s your roadmap for how to cope — and how to possibly (legally) get your hands on one.

1. Don’t import without doing your homework

It might be tempting to try and order a Mavic 4 Pro from a reseller overseas. But tread carefully before you buy the DJI Mavic 4 Pro outside the U.S. There are a number of considerations to be made before trying to import a drone sold by a company that’s not DJI.

• Customs: The DJI Air 3S recently ran into trouble clearing U.S. customs. There’s a real risk your drone could be held — or rejected outright — at the border.
• Firmware updates: DJI drones sold outside the U.S. may not be compatible with U.S.-specific firmware or geofencing policies.
• Support and repairs: DJI’s U.S. repair centers may not service drones not officially sold here, and it may be difficult to get replacement parts should you need them.

In short, think twice before buying from a third-party “gray market” retailer.

2. Traveling internationally? You might be able to buy it abroad

If you’re traveling internationally — say to Canada, Mexico, or anywhere in Europe or Asia — you might be able to walk into a DJI-authorized store and purchase a Mavic 4 Pro there.

But even that comes with heavy caveats. Again, do your research before you buy the DJI Mavic 4 Pro abroad.

You’re legally required to declare the drone at customs upon returning to the U.S. (yes, really). From there, you’ll have to pay a Customs Duty, which is a tariff or tax on goods transported across international borders, aka your drone. Learn more about paying Customs Duty from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.

Sure, there is all sorts of information online about dodging the import tax, but The Drone Girl does not recommend you do that.

Buy it abroad, and pay the tax. This is currently the most legitimate way for U.S.-based pilots to buy a Mavic 4 Pro. It’s just not the easiest. Flying the DJI Mavic 4 Pro in the U.S. is not banned in the U.S. It’s just that DJI isn’t selling the drone here.

Here are the DJI Mavic 4 Pro prices in other countries:

Note that prices vary by country, but also considered that some of the prices in that table include tax, while others don’t. For reference, €2,099 (which is what you’ll pay to buy a DJI Mavic 4 Pro in countries that use the euro) is about $2,400.

3. Wait it out

No one wants to hear “be patient,” but it could pay off. According to sources at DJI, they want to sell the drone in the U.S. — and they’re actively working to make that happen. Sure, there is all sorts of red tape holding things up, but this could change quickly.

If you want to be among the first people to get the drone shipped in the U.S. (whenever that happens), you can pre-order the DJI Mavic 4 Pro for $2,700 from B&H Photo. Just understand that we don’t know when it’ll ship.

4. Max out what you’ve got (or buy one of DJI’s other drones)

It might not have a 100MP sensor or a rotating gimbal, but that drone already in your bag can still create amazing footage. Here are a few tips to get more from what you already own:

• Use ND filters to create cinematic motion blur
• Practice manual gimbal movements to mimic that new Infinity Gimbal fluidity
• Film in D-Log or HLG and color grade for a pro look
• Use third-party apps like Litchi or DroneLink for advanced mission planning

Skill matters more than gear — and you can level up while you wait.

For what it’s worth, DJI drones like the DJI Mini 4 Pro and DJI Air 3S are still available in the U.S., and they’re excellent alternatives while we wait. If you’re already on the Mavic 3 Pro, you’re still flying with serious power.

• Order the DJI Air 3S drone from Amazon, starting at $1,099.
• Order the DJI Air 3S drone from Drone Nerds, starting at $1,099.

If you’re bummed that you can’t buy the DJI Mavic 4 Pro, you’re not alone. And if you’re hopeful? You’re in good company.

And how’s this for my hot take of the day: You don’t need the newest drone to be a great drone pilot. You just need to keep doing what you do best: telling stories from the sky.

The post Can’t buy the DJI Mavic 4 Pro in the U.S.? Here’s what to do next appeared first on The Drone Girl.