The FCC ban on all foreign made UAS and UAS "critical components"

[Riptide]

There is nothing (currently) stopping DJI from making the current, FCC approved, models for as long as it benefits them. The rest of the world will get the new models and we will be like Cuba and their cars. But, you'll likely be able to purchase a Mavic 4 Pro, or Mini 5 Pro for years.

There is nothing stopping them from manufacturing them, but customs is stopping them from importing them here.

 

[Dave Pitman]

Exactly the reason the FCC will push for a Retroactive DJI ban.

I find it difficult to believe that a retroactive ban would work out well. The rules could be on the books, but only a small percentage of DJI uav owners would comply.

 

[Dave Pitman]

There is nothing stopping them from manufacturing them, but customs is stopping them from importing them here.

Customs is illegally seizing them from DJI now. But they are still readily available.

 

[Riptide]

Customs is illegally seizing them from DJI now. But they are still readily available.

Yes they are available without a warranty or the option of DJI care from 3rd party sellers that manage to get them into the states. In most instances it's cheaper to buy from a South Korean seller. I would say this situation is less than ideal.

 

[Meta4]

Exactly the reason the FCC will push for a Retroactive DJI ban.

If they wanted to go that way, why wouldn't they have done that already?

 

[Meta4]

The rest of the world will get the new models and we will be like Cuba and their cars.

A good analogy.
Who would have ever thought the USA would go that way by choice?
Meanwhile the rest of the world has no concern about the purely imaginary security issues of DJI.
Is this a new Macarthyism?

 

[zocalo]

If they wanted to go that way, why wouldn't they have done that already?

One little bit of outcry at a time. Wait for the new normal to settle in and things to quieten down, then take another bite.

There are still quite a few non-federal agencies and US companies using non-US-made drones. If they bring out the retrospective ban hammer before they have a viable US-made, or at least whitelisted foreign-made, alternative, there might be a bit too much outcry. Especially so where there are life safety implications, like emergency services being impacted.

If they're going to use that approach, then I'd expect them to start coming for models almost exclusively used in the consumer space first, while continuing to put pressure on those companies and agencies that still use them. They're already naming and shaming; expect tactics like that to ramp up. Over time, products will either be discontinued by the manufacturer in favour of the next model or, if they continue to make it specifically for the US market, they can consider the impact of a model-specific ban because reasons. Once the expected level of outcry is within acceptable levels, then down comes the hammer.

 

[Dave Pitman]

One little bit of outcry at a time. Wait for the new normal to settle in and things to quieten down, then take another bite.

There are still quite a few non-federal agencies and US companies using non-US-made drones. If they bring out the retrospective ban hammer before they have a viable US-made, or at least whitelisted foreign-made, alternative, there might be a bit too much outcry. Especially so where there are life safety implications, like emergency services being impacted.

If they're going to use that approach, then I'd expect them to start coming for models almost exclusively used in the consumer space first, while continuing to put pressure on those companies and agencies that still use them. They're already naming and shaming; expect tactics like that to ramp up. Over time, products will either be discontinued by the manufacturer in favour of the next model or, if they continue to make it specifically for the US market, they can consider the impact of a model-specific ban because reasons. Once the expected level of outcry is within acceptable levels, then down comes the hammer.

I think you are giving 'them' way too much credit. I doubt 'they' put any thought into this at all except how can they force more $$ into their accounts.

 

[zocalo]

I think you are giving 'them' way too much credit. I doubt 'they' put any thought into this at all except how can they force more $$ into their accounts.

Oh, I'm pretty sure that is the actual end game here. Remove the competition, then funnel the funding needed to re-equip towards companies in which they have a vested interest. Since the competition's products are both cheaper and have superior performance that requires the removal of any choice in the matter, and once that's done, well, there's no need to be competitive (on price or performance) any more, is there?

Any additional grift that happens as well is purely coincidental, of course.

 

[MS Coast]

They are out there but they are not near as cheap as DJI can make them. So yes in that regard there is no competition.

I'm curious about what US manufacturer makes drones comparable to the Mavic 4 Pro and the Mini 5 Pro.

 

[DayTrip]

Yes they are available without a warranty or the option of DJI care from 3rd party sellers that manage to get them into the states. In most instances it's cheaper to buy from a South Korean seller. I would say this situation is less than ideal.

I bought an Air 3S from BH. 300.00 retail I didn't buy the added insurance since I THOUGHT I could still get DJi Car refresh. I was wrong. Now looking int aftermarket insurance

 

[Riptide]

I bought an Air 3S from BH. 300.00 retail I didn't buy the added insurance since I THOUGHT I could still get DJi Car refresh. I was wrong. Now looking int aftermarket insurance

Squaretrade or State Farm are basically your only options post purchase. Within 30 days for the first one.

 

[Cafguy]

I'm curious about what US manufacturer makes drones comparable to the Mavic 4 Pro and the Mini 5 Pro.

https://pyrodrone.com/collections/cinelifters

NOTE: These are not all U.S. Manufactured Drones but will all be readably available to those who can manage it.

BE AWARE:
These are FPV CAM Ready Drones...They come with a pilots FPV Cam only! (The preference of all cinematic Pilots and cinematographers) and you would need to install the camera of your choice on them to produce what a DJI will out of the Box, you can use any cam you wish tho.. Also these Drones do not rely on "modes" so you need to know how to fly a Drone in ACRO (These Drones don't hover unless you have some practice). They are flown in ACRO or Horizon Mode exclusively for the best possible maneuvering and speeds (100 mph easy) during filming. Most of the ones listed from this supplier ARE the industry Standard in Hollywood cinematography. In Particular the Iflight Taurus and the GepRC Cinelog Whoop, They are the most used Drones for filming in the motion picture industry, followed a close second by custom built Cinelifters.
When flying these Drones you are simply the pilot and you will follow the directions of the Camera operator while you fly FPV.
The Major expense when Filming things such as Motion Pictures is the Camera and Video Feed setup you will use, The Standard is RED and you can buy a house for what a RED system will cost you.
A "starter" RED cam alone will run in the 60 thousand Dollar range.
I have a good friend that works as a Drone pilot in Hollywood, She went to a vast number of filming schools and took out a huge six figure loan for her Drone and RED setup. She gets to use it at times and everyone on this forum has seen her work at some time I am sure..But to keep the payments up she mostly rents her Drone and RED film System to other cinematographers.

The costs can be enormous at the start BUT a plus to going with these open system Drones is that every part and Battery is interchangeable with just about all the others... and if you crash one, you can be up and running again in minutes! ( I can fit 3 more unassembled Tauras Drones in a backback along with a soldering iron and build them in about 30 min!! These drones can also be "Tuned" with software such as Betaflight making them almost feel like a part of you while flying. Also, Because of this ability Components such as Motors can also be exchanged for Faster ones in a pinch, This is something Consumer Drones such as DJI do not allow.
The above example is the very reason the DJI ban will hit so many small businesses so hard..This stuff aint cheap.
DJI gave people the illusion of Affordability in the Drone world with a stellar product with a great camera at an affordable price. (It sure was a fun while it lasted Tho!)

 

[Cafguy]

If they wanted to go that way, why wouldn't they have done that already?

The outcry from current owners of older DJI Models would have "Muddied" the waters of support for such a ban initially.

 

[anotherlab]

https://pyrodrone.com/collections/cinelifters

NOTE: These are not all U.S. Manufactured Drones but will all be readably available to those who can manage it.

BE AWARE:
These are FPV CAM Ready Drones...They come with a pilots FPV Cam only!....

...The costs can be enormous at the start BUT a plus to going with these open system Drones is that every part and Battery is interchangeable with just about all the others... and if you crash one, you can be up and running again in minutes! ...

... The above example is the very reason the DJI ban will hit so many small businesses so hard..This stuff aint cheap.
DJI gave people the illusion of Affordability in the Drone world with a stellar product with a great camera at an affordable price. (It sure was a fun while it lasted Tho!)

DJI protected the general public from people flying drones that require actual flying skills.

 

[Paul2660]

It will be a very very long time before any company US based can create a drone with the flying/software qualities of the DJI fleet. Note, no company I know of in the US even makes the motors that are used, along with the various chips and the like for the internals. Now the software part. Good luck on a US based software company getting close the quality of the Go4 app, or Fly app. Also their market would only be based on US customers as the DJI is still the dominant company for the rest of the world.

Paul

 

[anotherlab]

It will be a very very long time before any company US based can create a drone with the flying/software qualities of the DJI fleet. Note, no company I know of in the US even makes the motors that are used, along with the various chips and the like for the internals. Now the software part. Good luck on a US based software company getting close the quality of the Go4 app, or Fly app. Also their market would only be based on US customers as the DJI is still the dominant company for the rest of the world.

Paul

The software would be the easiest part. Keeping a quad drone flying was a problem solved years ago. Litchi did apps with more features, and they are based in the UK. Their app used DJI libraries, but none of it was rocket science.

You do make a valid point that a "Made in the US of A" drone wouldn't be able to compete in the global marketplace.

 

[Paul2660]

Good point on Litchi. I sold a Mavic 2 pro to a guy who had an android phone. DJIgo4 and latest android software don’t play well. He pulled down Litchi and was up in the air.

Paul

 

[Mike2Fst]

...which makes me think they have other plans for us that we don't know about. Actually, I have a pretty good idea how they plan to act on their thoughts about this being a serious threat to national security but I know the drone community won't believe me. Which means we'll be caught off guard....again.

This is the usual "death by a thousand cuts." No batteries, no flying and if this doesn't work quickly enough, they'll expand the list covering previously owned drones.