Are We Crewed or Screwed? Your Thoughts?

[The Droning Company]

Are We Crewed or Screwed?

 

[mavic3usa]

Good article. Very nearly to the top is the piece about investment. Good people, smart people....America is wide open for you to do anything you set your mind to. Somehow, building a successful business around drones doesn't seem like such a good idea for now. Who is starting fresh and going to put all their hard work and brainpower and maybe even their life's savings into an industry that can turn on a dime, is subject to the which way the winds blow, depends on if China and US get along....not that you are not smart enough to navigate the course or have a passion for drone but there are government rules and regulations (with major penalties) that you simply can't beat and with no voice, it's double the work for half the gain. I'd rather open an ice cream parlor in a vacant strip mall in Missoula, MT in January.

 

[Dave Pitman]

Are We Crewed or Screwed?

will corporations take a leap of faith to relocate manufacturing when a policy change within the Trump administration could make it all for naught

Of course we are. Because this quote goes to industry far beyond UAS and music gear. And this is just the financial part.

Much more concerning is that you or I can now be sent to a third world prison without due process and apparently, there is nothing that can be done about it.

So, yes. We are most definitely screwed.

 

[Cafguy]

This hobby is already a very expensive one and even tho I have the good fortune to have a decent Hobby Budget, It's not unlimited, and Honestly, I am only a few percentage points in "cost of parts" to just throwing up my arms in confusion and dismay and dusting off the balsa Table. (Of course the cost of Flying planes will go up too), but Drones sheesh...If i had a dime for every dime..lol, well... . The FPV side is a money sponge as it is. Upgrade a few DJI Camera Drones Wow!
I am Sorry to say that if the Price of DJI go's up considerably I will have to opt out of any future DJI models and stick with open source Drone companies. I'll be flying the old DJI stuff still I hope.
Its a darn shame really, My favorite Video system is OccuSync and I Have the gear to fly the Air units 3 and 4 But with the price going up like I am hearing.....Hello Walksnail. The O4 air unit "ready to Flies" are pretty steep without the tariff thing.

Having a Drone Business as a "minor" guy is Difficult to impossible as it is. The simple purchase of a Drone won't make you a surveyor or inspector and actually pulling off "turning a profit" doing this even if you already Have the tons of Knowledge......Is quite the feat indeed.
If you are an educated and talented photographer or cinematographer and you have the Funds and your own business, You can make a small profit. If you can get a very rare gig as a cinematographer/Drone pilot or Pilot for a cinematographer, You can pay the rent lol. If you have a second job.
I know a few, After ones initial 80,000 Dollar investment (Drone and Camera setup (You have to have your own stuff)) She is making 80% of her money Renting her expensive equipment to others.Sadly, What needed a Drone even a few years ago can be Done with Maya by that irritating kid in a cubicle.
..................And all this is before we discuss upcoming rules for 107 pilots!
This Is A hit for DJI's Drone business FOR SURE!! It will effect prices for all other Drone related products of course BUT, DJI is already costly and now There is some anger about DJI changing the mounting of the air units making lifter owners come up with thier own 3-D printed solutions (WHY! DJI!)
I think many FPV hobbyist and Pro's will be replacing the Air units they fly with now with HD zero or Walksnail units if the DJI price goes up.
These other systems will go up too of course but they are already much cheaper, Open, and some say better suited.
WE'LL SEE..............

 

[mb34928]

The deeper concern here isn’t just the economic impact of tariffs, but the strategic missteps being made in the process. U.S. companies like Skydio actively supported the political targeting of DJI under the premise of national security. Now, with China restricting access to key components and raw materials, those same companies are struggling to support their existing products.

This outcome was foreseeable. Without a comprehensive plan to build a self-sufficient supply chain and invest in domestic production, the result was always going to be disruption—not progress. We’re not seeing a shift toward American manufacturing. We’re seeing increased costs, limited access, and instability across the industry.

If the goal is to strengthen U.S. capabilities, this approach needs to be rethought. Policy built on retaliation and market disruption, without a long-term foundation, only weakens the very sectors it’s meant to support.