HoverAir’s modular drone halted in US after launch
▼ Summary
– The FCC’s drone ban has halted US orders for the HoverAir Versa, a camera-drone hybrid, just three days after its Indiegogo debut, and its FCC authorization entry has been removed from the database.
– HoverAir claims shipping delays for the drone “Flight Kit” are due to “logistics updates,” but the FCC’s action suggests the authorization was pulled because the camera is classified as a critical drone component.
– The FCC approved the Versa as a camera on August 9th, but Zero Zero Robotics’ argument that it wasn’t on the covered list for cameras failed, as the FCC’s drone list automatically includes cameras as components.
– If the camera authorization is rejected, HoverAir cannot legally import, market, or sell either the camera or the Flight Kit in the US, leaving US backers unable to receive orders and facing potential refunds.
– HoverAir has not responded to requests for comment, and the FCC declined to comment, while the company previously delayed refunds for months after failing to certify the HoverAir Aqua.
American gadget enthusiasts, I have some unwelcome news: the FCC’s drone restrictions appear to have claimed another victim. The HoverAir Versa, a compact steadycam that attaches to snap-on propeller wings for drone functionality, has already suspended US orders just three days after its Indiegogo launch. Worse, the company may have to scrap its American shipping plans entirely.
HoverAir is currently informing backers that only the camera component will ship to the US, while the drone-converting Flight Kit is held back “due to a few remaining logistics updates.” That phrasing, however, might be a polite cover for something more serious: a federal ban. The FCC’s database no longer lists the HoverAir Versa at all, which strongly suggests its authorization has been revoked.
Earlier this week, I pointed out that attaching wings to a camera probably wouldn’t fool regulators. While the Versa did receive FCC approval on August 9th, that clearance applied to the camera alone, not the drone. Chinese manufacturer Zero Zero Robotics argued to the FCC’s agent that the camera shouldn’t be blocked, since the company isn’t on the Covered List for cameras. Technically, that’s accurate.
Yet here’s the catch: every company automatically lands on the FCC’s covered list for drones and essential drone parts, and the agency explicitly classifies cameras as one of those components.
If HoverAir’s camera authorization gets rejected, the problem extends beyond the Flight Kit accessory. The camera itself would become illegal to import, market, or sell in the US, since it also requires FCC approval.
Right now, HoverAir’s Indiegogo page hides the Flight Kit option for US visitors, though it still advertises the accessory, and backers can order the camera separately. When I switched my VPN to a Canadian IP address, bundles including the Flight Kit magically reappeared.
That won’t help American customers, though. One backer who ordered the camera noted in the Indiegogo comments: “When looking at my pledge, it shows that they can’t ship to my address.”
HoverAir hasn’t responded to requests for comment. We’ve asked whether the company will offer faster refunds this time, especially given its track record. When the waterproof HoverAir Aqua failed to gain certification last December, the brand spent months assuring backers that shipping was imminent rather than disclosing the real situation.
I reached out to the FCC for clarification, but once again, a spokesperson declined to comment on the record.
(Source: The Verge)
