NewsFCC put DJI on the Covered List. Small operators, what's your plan?

Joined because I need to talk about this with people who aren't just doom posting on Facebook.

I run a small real estate photo business in Houston. Two drones, a Mavic 3 Pro and a Mini 5 Pro I bought literally last week (thank god). As I understand it, yesterday the FCC added DJI and other foreign drone makers to the Covered List, which means NEW models can't get FCC authorization. Existing models like the Mini 5 Pro and Mavic 4 Pro can still be sold.

So my current fleet is fine. But what happens when these wear out in two or three years? Is anyone actually flying a non-DJI drone for paid work that doesn't cost 3x as much and fly half as well?

I'm not panicking. I'm a LITTLE panicking.

UK here so it doesn't affect us directly, but from everything I've read your current drones keep working. Nobody's switching off anything you already own. It's new models that can't come in.

Keep the Mavic 3 Pro serviced, look after the batteries (store them at storage charge, not full, if you're not flying for a couple of weeks) and you've got years in it. Most of the operators I know in Cornwall get three or four seasons out of a drone before the batteries are the thing that retires it, not the airframe.

flightpath_uk said:

Nobody's switching off anything you already own

That's what I keep telling myself. App and firmware updates are what worry me. If the app stops getting updates, or a new iPhone update breaks it, I'm flying on borrowed time. Half my business is listings that need aerials by Friday. I can't tell a realtor sorry, the app's broken.

Not a drone guy, but I sub out aerials for a couple of commercial clients and my guy said exactly what you're thinking: buy spares now, batteries especially, and props, and a second controller if you can find one.

From the business side, the question I'd be asking is what your turnaround looks like if a drone goes in the lake next spring and you can't buy the same model. If the answer is 'I lose a month of listings', that's the risk to price for, not the FCC thing in general. Clients won't care what drone it is as long as the shots show up on time.

honestly the americans are going to end up flying the most expensive drones in the world lol. nobody here in aus is even talking about it, everyone at the beach has a DJI. good luck with the buisness tho mate, sounds stressful

Removed a post. Keep the politics out of it please, there are other places for that. - Ash

Thanks Ash.

Also worth saying for anyone in the UK reading this and panicking: none of this changes anything here. Flyer ID and Operator ID as normal, same rules as last week. Please stop asking me about it at the club.

Update: bought 4 extra batteries and a spare set of props for each. Also a second RC for the Mavic in case the controller is the thing that dies first. Feels like stockpiling toilet paper in 2020 but whatever.

skyward_tx said:

Feels like stockpiling toilet paper

That's just good business. Spare everything.

Also, DJI has sued the FCC over it apparently. No idea where that goes or how long it takes, my guess is years. Meanwhile I've got two listings a week that need aerials, so I'm just flying. Will update if anything changes.

skyward_tx said:

No idea where that goes or how long it takes

These things take years. Fly what you have.

Small update for anyone finding this later. Heard the new beginner DJI drones won't be sold here, as expected. My Mavic 3 Pro and Mini 5 Pro are still flying fine and the app is still updating. So far so good.

For what it's worth I priced up the non-DJI options for a backup and it's about 2.5x the money for something that, from the reviews, flies like a Mavic from four years ago. So I'm babying what I've got. Business is actually up this spring so I'm not complaining.

Heard DJI got a partial win in court but new models are still blocked. If anyone has read the actual ruling and understands it better than me, please explain it like I'm five.

skyward_tx said:

please explain it like I'm five

Not a lawyer and not American, but that's how I read the coverage too. Partial win, nothing new on your shelves yet.