Recent content by wco81

Yes it is. But does the US federal government care or is it using it as an alibi to target the products of a certain company? What else has it done to address the issue? Not like they're not importing a lot of other goods from China.

$2000 just for the drone? What if you want extra batteries and props?

Given that this ban would be based on claims of spying, which nobody believes, you have to question the claims of using political prisoner labor to manufacture. It's not like China has some shortage of workers.

Article identifies Elise Stefanik and Rick Scott as the main proponents of banning DJI. They also have aspirations for higher office so remember them.

Yeah this is the reason I didn't even take my drone when I visited last year. There are services who will do it for you and it's not too expensive but just isn't worth jumping through all those hoops.

You're going to be bringing in an Air 3S which you purchased in a foreign country but want to use on your visit in the US? Shouldn't be a problem. You have nothing to declare, though if you still have it sealed in the box, customs agents might suspect you plan to sell it to someone in the US...

I mean they're talking about banning existing drones too aren't they? Not just future shipments of DJI in the US?

I downloaded AutoPylot.

Was that an official Pentagon spokesman saying that they will manufacture drones? Where will they source parts, like lithium batteries, motors, etc.? Aren't most of the supply chain for such components mostly in China? For the same reason it's near impossible to make iPhones in the US...

Most or all of the components would be sourced from China. Not just motors and batteries but perhaps chips or whole logic boards? These could have spyware embedded and actually phone home back to China, even if assembled in the US by American companies! Well that's about as plausible as DJI...

Currently the FCC is composed of 3 commissioners instead of the usual 5. Two are Republicans, one is Democrat. Normally it's 3 to 2 depending on which party is in the WH. One party is demonstrably worse on most issues but for drones, both parties are awful. NDAA was passed by both parties...

What happened to "enhanced" RTH with the lidar and all those videos without using GPS, even going inside parking garages?

987 gram drone puts it in the C2 category so the places you fly will be more limited.

I read an article about a reporter trying that vehicle. It's basically a drone which can carry people. The flight controls are highly automated, like GPS lock to give it stability like drones. Also these eVTOL vehicles don't require FAA training or license if they weigh under 254 pounds and...

If a pilot saw a weather balloon or a glider, can he or she maneuver those giant airliners in time to avoid a collision? By the time they are able to spot one in their path, they may be very close to it. Maybe that would be the only objection to drones, that they're too small for pilots to...