- The HoverAir Aqua will ship from February 2026
- FCC rules on foreign-made drones changed on December 23, 2025
- Unapproved drones are effectively banned in the US.
Late last year, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) added any foreign-made drones that were not approved for sale to its “Covered List,” essentially banning the sale of all such future drones.
Although informally referred to as the “DJI ban” by much of the world, this decision applies to any non-US drone manufacturer, a worrying reality that Zero Zero Robotics may be trying to negotiate at the moment.
The Chinese company was set to start shipping its highly anticipated HoverAir Aqua drone in February 2026. For the uninitiated, the Aqua is a unique camera drone as it is completely waterproof and designed to fly autonomously alongside surfers, kayakers, and water skiers to capture their escapades in a way that other drones simply aren’t made for.
The Aqua raised more than $2 million from more than 1,800 backers through an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, but since it doesn’t currently appear on the FCC’s list of approved devices, it appears destined to run afoul of the same rules that prohibit all future DJI drone releases from being sold in the US.
Already approved for sale in the US, Zero Zero Robotics’ existing range of drones, such as the HoverAir X1, HoverAir X1 Pro and HoverAir X1 ProMax, will remain in stores. But the fate of future releases, including the Aqua, is murky at best.
Of course, it’s bad news for Zero Zero Robotics, but think about the hundreds of US-based backers of HoverAir Aqua’s Indiegogo campaign. They’ve already paid money for a product they assumed they could receive in December 2025 (the original expected shipping date), only for it to first be delayed to February 2026 and then released into “possibly never” territory.
Raining at the Aqua parade
Currently, the prospect of backers receiving anything – potentially even a refund – seems distant. On January 8, 2026, a Zero Zero Robotics representative posted the following comments on Aqua’s Indiegogo page:
“Due to a sudden regulatory change in the United States, we have temporarily suspended accepting new orders for shipping to US addresses. We are actively exploring all avenues for fulfillment and engaging in relevant communications. Once we have a clearer understanding and concrete conclusions, we will share them with you immediately. In accordance with Indiegogo rules, backers are not allowed to refund their orders once payment has been completed. If you need assistance, please contact our support team at [email protected]. We will be here! happy to help you!”
“With regard to the new FCC rule and its impact on Aqua, we are actively exploring all avenues for compliance and engaging in relevant communications. Please be assured that we are committed to keeping you informed of any impact on the US market and will continue to communicate and evaluate the situation closely. Once we have a clearer understanding and concrete conclusions, we will share them with you immediately.”
Look
The FCC rule includes an exemption process through which specific drone models can be determined to be risk-free and can be effectively authorized for importation and sale. However, this must be done by the US Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security, who may have higher priorities than evaluating and approving the sale of consumer drones.
The HoverAir Aqua should still launch in other territories and we’re keen to get our hands on a review sample as soon as possible.
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