Controversial drone deregulation: Why there's concern in the industry and what models are available

The National Civil Aviation Administration ( ANAC ) took a key step toward modernizing unmanned aircraft in Argentina, but at the same time sparked a heated debate among instructors and the Argentine Chamber of Drone and Related Companies (CAEDyA) about the safety and responsible use of these devices.

The Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger , promoted the project that culminated in Resolution 550/2025, published on August 8 in the Official Gazette . This simplified the technical and operational requirements for drone use throughout the country, making them accessible to everyone and aligning them with international standards.

The recent deregulation of drone use in Argentina represents a substantial change compared to previous regulations. Previously, pilots had to comply with a series of requirements, such as mandatory equipment registration , obtaining operating licenses , and submitting flight plans in certain cases.

However, with the new regulation, these requirements are relaxed, allowing recreational and commercial drones to fly without prior procedures , as long as they respect basic air safety restrictions, such as not operating near airports or over crowds.

This opens the door to a more dynamic and accessible market for hobbyists, content creators, and businesses using drones for photography, inspections, or deliveries.

This change in regulations now means that drones weighing less than 250 grams can be flown in urban areas and up to 25 kilos in rural areas , provided basic safety rules are followed.

As for models, on the other hand, the local drone market offers all types, both autonomous and manned. This is geared toward enthusiasts, content creators, and professionals. It can also be used to perform a variety of tasks, both in urban and rural areas.

They are mostly small, ultra-light, and have cameras configured to record high-resolution video regardless of weather conditions or settings.

The X1 PRO model, from the Chinese brand HOVERAir, is one of many designed for easy-to-use users, without the need for experience or having taken a course to pilot this type of unmanned aerial vehicle. It is ideal for travelers, content creators, and photography enthusiasts.

Its design features an updated aerodynamic frame that reduces air resistance, while custom motors and propellers balance efficiency and power, allowing for faster speeds of up to 42 km/h (26 mph). This allows the user to always stay in the frame when recording video, even during dynamic activities.

Its menu includes several pre-programmed flight modes to automatically follow the user (Follow me), rotate around a subject (Orbit), capture wide shots while moving away (Zoom Out) or stay in the air to take still photos or videos (Hoover).

The key lies in the neural processing unit (NPU), which is 15 times more powerful than the previous model, which significantly improves the AI-based positioning and tracking algorithms, keeping the user in the frame even at high speeds.

It's optimized for creating fast, high-quality content for social media , with dedicated modes for selfies and dynamic videos. Therefore, the drone can record videos in 8K resolution at 30 frames per second (fps) and in 1080p at 120 fps for slow-motion shots.

Weighing less than 250 grams, it does not require registration or special licensing for use in Argentina.

Among its limitations, it is worth highlighting its very short flight time, only 16 minutes, so it is advisable to carry an external battery to extend its usage time.

DJI Neo is the brand's lightest drone, weighing 135 grams, entering Argentina's new category. Its features include stable 4K Ultra HD video recording, photos with its 12-megapixel camera, and palm-mounted takeoff/landing without a remote control .

It can be controlled by gestures, voice, app up to 50 meters, RC-N3 remote control (10 km) or with FPV glasses and motion control.

It also features propeller guards and features like smart tracking and social media-ready vertical recording , making it ideal for content creators and recreational use.

While the DJI Neoo offers a short flight time of just 18 minutes , its 22 GB of storage can hold up to 40 minutes of video recorded at 4K resolution (30fps) or 55 minutes of 1080p video (60fps).

While not completely autonomous, the DJI Mini 3 is an ultralight drone that offers 4K UHD video recording. Its 38 km/h wind resistance and a 3-axis gimbal for added stability allow it to broadcast in HD quality up to 10 kilometers in altitude.

Its compact design is easy to pilot for content creators on the go, and it boasts surprising autonomy: it can fly for up to 51 minutes on a single charge . The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus is sold separately, but the aircraft weighs over 250 grams.

In addition, DJI Mini 3 incorporates several intelligent functions that facilitate capturing content in vertical format, to publish it on Instagram or TikTok.

The Gadnic XP7 (DRGAD005) model incorporates a 1080p HD camera with adjustable angle, automatic stabilization and flight modes that include 3D flips, altitude hold and automatic return to the takeoff point with the push of a button.

Its 15-minute battery life is complemented by an included extra battery, allowing for longer flight sessions.

Like other models in its style, the compact, ergonomic design makes it easy to transport, and its remote control offers three speeds and safety features like emergency stop.

Another alternative is the VStarcam SG700 , a foldable drone with a 720p HD camera and Optical Flow system for smoother, more stable flight. It offers automatic takeoff, landing, altitude hold, and return to home functions, as well as 360-degree flips and real-time Wi-Fi transmission for viewing and recording from your phone.

It has a range of up to 80 meters and a battery life of approximately 10 minutes, with USB charging.

Its foldable structure and LED lights make it ideal for both day and night flights, and it is designed for those looking for a simple and fun piloting experience without sacrificing great aerial shots.

In local stores, the Gadnic XP7 is around $80,000 and the VStarcam SG700 starts at $60,000, which positions them as economical options compared to professional drones, but sufficient to take advantage of the new regulations.

Although Argentina's new drone regulations —Argentine Civil Aviation Regulations 100, 101, and 102—make operations more flexible, opening up competition for trainers and eliminating the monopoly on authorized centers , the Argentine Chamber of Drone and Related Companies (CAEDyA) warns that it's not all about "flying wherever and however you want."

The open category, the most liberal, maintains limitations : even without requiring a license, insurance, or registration for drones under 250 grams in rural areas, there are prohibited areas such as national parks, roads, railway lines, airfields, or controlled airspace.

Furthermore, RAAC 100 classifies drones weighing 250 grams to 25 kg only for registration purposes, but the operation is still governed by specific rules depending on the type of use—open, specific, or certified.

In aerial work, all drones are considered unmanned aircraft and must comply with insurance, compensation limits, and the Aeronautical Code .

"We support any regulatory change that promotes greater productivity, market opening, and the development of new jobs, but we are concerned about regulations that have legal force but lack technical knowledge, which is what we can contribute as a chamber with more than 100 companies that work with drones daily," acknowledged CAEDyA spokesperson Carlos Palumbo.

For its part, CAEDyA warns about the misinterpretation of deregulation: some operators might think that they can fly without restrictions, which implies risks of collision, damage to infrastructure, or invasion of critical areas .

"While many will be able to fly freely, which is perfectly fine, no one will bother to look into the regulations to see where flying isn't allowed, and that's where, due to ignorance , I hope we don't have an accident ," he warned.