Jovistar FCC Drone Approval Dismissed: DJI Shell Exits

Jovistar Inc., a California company suspected of being a DJI front, has had its own FCC drone approval dismissed. The FCC file shows a "Dismissal By TCB Request" dated October 8, 2026, after Jovistar told its certifier it never imported, marketed, sold, or shipped the drone. The grant had been issued on September 25, 2025, three months before foreign-made drones joined the FCC Covered List.

What Happened to Jovistar's FCC Grant?

Jovistar's FCC authorization was dismissed on October 8, 2026, at the company's own request, DroneXL reports. In a September 24 letter to TÜV Rheinland of North America, the certification body that issued the grant, CEO Haifeng Ding wrote that Jovistar never imported, marketed, sold, or shipped the drone. The letter gives no reason.

Jovistar's approval covered two FCC IDs, both tested at TÜV's Shenzhen lab and granted on September 25, 2025. The dismissal notice cited here is for the aircraft:

The aircraft letter replaces an earlier surrender request dated September 15, 2026, and cites no FCC rule. Jovistar held the grant for just over a year.

Background: Why Front Companies Matter

An FCC ID is the authorization number that lets a radio-emitting product, such as a drone or controller, be legally marketed in the US. A TCB (Telecommunication Certification Body) is a private organization the FCC authorizes to issue those grants.

In December 2025, the FCC added foreign-made drones to its Covered List, which blocks new equipment authorizations. Since then, the agency has moved against brands accused of selling rebranded DJI hardware, including a proposal to stop sales of already-approved devices. DJI has said 25 planned 2026 products are blocked from the US market.

Jovistar was not among the eight suspected front companies the FCC proposed fining $25,000 each in July, or the nine whose approvals the FCC proposed cutting off in a July 17 notice. The FCC's letters of inquiry are not public, so it is unknown whether Jovistar received one.

Who Can Dismiss an FCC Grant?

Under 47 CFR 2.962(f), a certification body can set aside a grant at the applicant's request only within 30 days of issuance. After that, only the FCC can revoke it. The public file does not say which authority was applied here.

The Verge reported on October 16 that TÜV asked the FCC to block Jovistar's applications and the FCC agreed. DroneXL says the filed exhibits instead show TÜV acting on Jovistar's own written request.

No public enforcement action forced the withdrawal, according to DroneXL. The outlet notes the filings link Jovistar to other suspected front brands, including Skyany and Fikaxo, whose own approval the FCC has already targeted.

What This Means for Drone Pilots

For pilots shopping in the US, the practical lesson is that an FCC ID on a label is no longer proof a drone is safe to buy. Check the grantee, and be wary of unfamiliar brands whose products resemble a DJI model. The FCC has shown it will act against approvals it believes were obtained through a front company.

Existing drones keep working. The Covered List blocks new authorizations, not the use of equipment you already own, as our DJI ban explainer details. The Jovistar drone, by DroneXL's account, was never sold in the US, so owners are unlikely to be affected.

For brands still on the market, expect more grants to be withdrawn or revoked. If you own a lookalike drone, keep your receipt and watch FCC notices for your brand.

Sources: DroneXL | FCC dismissal letter via FCC ID | eCFR 47 CFR 2.962