Trends / Technology
Unmanned aircraft
22 Federal Register documents matched this search in the 12 weeks through the week of October 26, 2026, down 12 percent from the 12 weeks before.
- Reading
- HoldingLess than 25 percent up or down from the 12 weeks before
- Last 52 weeks
- 104, against 100 in the 52 before (+4%)
- Share of all documents
- 0.4 percent over the last 52 weeks, against 0.4 percent in the 52 before
Latest 12 weeks
Documents per week 12-week average
Enlarged, same height scale
The last 52 weeks as a table
| Week of | Documents |
|---|---|
| October 26, 2026 | 3 |
| October 19, 2026 | 1 |
| October 12, 2026 | 1 |
| October 5, 2026 | 1 |
| September 28, 2026 | 0 |
| September 21, 2026 | 1 |
| September 14, 2026 | 2 |
| September 7, 2026 | 2 |
| August 31, 2026 | 2 |
| August 24, 2026 | 1 |
| August 17, 2026 | 2 |
| August 10, 2026 | 6 |
| August 3, 2026 | 1 |
| July 27, 2026 | 3 |
| July 20, 2026 | 5 |
| July 13, 2026 | 1 |
| July 6, 2026 | 1 |
| June 29, 2026 | 5 |
| June 22, 2026 | 2 |
| June 15, 2026 | 2 |
| June 8, 2026 | 0 |
| June 1, 2026 | 1 |
| May 25, 2026 | 3 |
| May 18, 2026 | 1 |
| May 11, 2026 | 0 |
| May 4, 2026 | 1 |
| April 27, 2026 | 1 |
| April 20, 2026 | 4 |
| April 13, 2026 | 6 |
| April 6, 2026 | 1 |
| March 30, 2026 | 1 |
| March 23, 2026 | 4 |
| March 16, 2026 | 2 |
| March 9, 2026 | 3 |
| March 2, 2026 | 1 |
| February 23, 2026 | 1 |
| February 16, 2026 | 1 |
| February 9, 2026 | 5 |
| February 2, 2026 | 2 |
| January 26, 2026 | 4 |
| January 19, 2026 | 2 |
| January 12, 2026 | 1 |
| January 5, 2026 | 2 |
| December 29, 2025 | 1 |
| December 22, 2025 | 1 |
| December 15, 2025 | 4 |
| December 8, 2025 | 1 |
| December 1, 2025 | 2 |
| November 24, 2025 | 2 |
| November 17, 2025 | 2 |
| November 10, 2025 | 0 |
| November 3, 2025 | 2 |
The search
"unmanned aircraft"
Run against the full text of the Federal Register, published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives. One document counts once, however many times the words appear, and a passing mention counts the same as a whole rule.
This is the wording federal rules use. It leaves out documents that say only drone or drones: 18 from August 10 to November 1, 2026, against 22 here, and about a third as many since 2016.
Run this search for August 10, 2026 to November 1, 2026Download every count
On the list since November 5, 2026. Through the week of October 26, 2026, retrieved November 5, 2026. Corrections to the searches.
Who published it
- Transportation Department7
- Federal Communications Commission4
- Commerce Department2
- Homeland Security Department2
- Interior Department2
- Executive Office of the President1
- Justice Department1
- Regulatory Information Service Center1
10 top-level agencies in the latest 12 weeks, the top 8 shown. A document can carry more than one agency, and a document the source does not link to an agency is left out of these counts.
Micro or macro
- Micro: no. It needs 3 rises in a row and has 1. It has 10 publishers, and the test here is fewer than 10.
- Macro: not possible here. It appeared in 11 of the latest 12 weeks and came from 10 publishers, where 10 are needed, but nearly every publisher here belongs to one government.
The tests are in Method 1.3. A topic is a subject. It carries no claim, so nothing here says what any document argues.
In company filings
A separate count from SEC EDGAR full-text search, in six report forms. Through the week of October 26, 2026, 56 documents matched in the latest 12 weeks, and 222 in the latest 52, against 82 in the 52 before (+171%). These are not added to the Federal Register count above.
Latest 12 weeks
Documents per week 12-week average
Enlarged, same height scale
- The test in company filings: passes. It appeared in 12 of the latest 12 weeks, from 30+ filers in 4 regions. Passing here alone is not a macro trend, under Method 1.3.
"unmanned aircraft"
Run this search for August 10, 2026 to November 1, 2026All topics in company filings
In state bills
A separate count from Open States, of bills and resolutions with the phrase in their title or summary. Through the week of October 19, 2026, 2 bills matched in the latest 12 weeks, and 56 in the latest 52, against 78 in the 52 before. These are not added to the other counts above.
Latest 12 weeks
Bills per week 12-week average
Enlarged, same height scale
- The test in state bills: does not pass. It appeared in 1 of the latest 12 weeks, from 1 legislature in 1 region. Passing here alone is not a macro trend, under Method 1.3.
unmanned aircraft
Latest rules and presidential documents
- Space Modernization for the 21st CenturyProposed Rule, Federal Communications Commission
- Unleashing Unlicensed Spectrum for Direct-to-DeviceProposed Rule, Federal Communications Commission
- Establishment of Special Air Traffic Rules in the Vicinity of President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT)Proposed Rule, Transportation Department
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Modification of Civil Aircraft To Incorporate Aircraft Survivability EquipmentRule, State Department
- Adjusting Imports of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Unmanned Aircraft Systems Components Into the United StatesPresidential Document, Executive Office of the President
Any notices in the count are left out of this list because they can name private people.