The HoverAir Versa, a new $750 gadget from Zero Zero Robotics, is now available in the US through a crowdfunding campaign, but its status hinges on a potential loophole in a federal drone ban. The company claims the device is not a drone but a handheld steadycam with optional snap-on propellers. HoverAir has stated that its marketing director, Anita Facundo, confirmed the company believes the product is in full compliance with US regulations because the Flight Kit accessory merely extends the Versa’s capabilities. The FCC approved the device’s radio certification on August 9th, and the company launched it on Indiegogo this week, telling customers it is cleared for sale.
However, the approval may not be as solid as it appears. The FCC’s December 2025 ban blocks automatic approval for radios in foreign-made drones, requiring companies to prove their products do not pose a national security threat or are made in the US. The ban specifically targets drones and their critical components, and the FCC has explicitly listed cameras as one of those components. Since the Versa’s camera contains radios, it falls under FCC jurisdiction. HoverAir submitted paperwork only for the camera, reasoning that HoverAir is not a banned entity like DJI or Autel Robotics, which were named in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
The propellers themselves likely contain no wireless radios, as they connect to the camera through physical copper contacts, so HoverAir may not have been required to submit them for FCC review. That is the core of the loophole. But the FCC’s ban covers more than just complete drones; it also covers the critical components that make a drone fly, and the Versa’s camera clearly contains many of those components. The FCC outsourced its initial decision to a private certification body, which signed off based on the camera-only submission, but the agency is expected to take a second look given the public nature of this gambit.
The FCC has a tool to reverse certifications within 30 days, and that window has not yet closed for the Versa. This means the approval could be withdrawn if the agency determines the device qualifies as a UAS critical component. HoverAir previously offered refunds to customers when its Aqua drone was blocked from shipping to the US, one of the first products affected by the ban. The company is also selling the Versa camera by itself, though only a dozen Indiegogo backers have chosen that option so far.
For US consumers, the situation creates uncertainty about whether the Versa will remain legal to use or sell. The device is designed to fold flat and offers features like landing on water and charging in its case, but its fate now rests on how the FCC interprets its own rules. The agency’s decision will likely set a precedent for other dronemakers seeking to avoid the ban. Until the 30-day review period passes, potential buyers face a risk that the certification could be annulled, leaving them with a product that may not be permitted in the US market.
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