It adds DJI to the FCC Covered List, meaning they can't get new FCC approvals. The FCC could choose whether or not to revoke existing FCC Equipment Authorizations for existing DJI drones.
If they do revoke the existing Equipment Authorizations, then the drones become illegal RF transmitters and wouldn't be legal to fly, although enforcement would border on impossible.
This was a given from the moment the ink dried on the regulation - it's a clear violation of the actual law that gives the FCC it's powers and authority.
It may or may not be a good idea for the legislature to change those laws so that the FCC (or another agency) can regulate hobby drones and model aircraft, but unless and until that happens this is dead in the water.
They shouldn't be; they use DJI basebands, so banning DJI and their affiliates using the FCC Covered List should also prevent Anzu from getting new FCC equipment approvals. It's unclear whether the FCC would revoke existing approvals, although it certainly seems like what Congress wants. And if they do, it's unclear if they'd go to the effort to hunt down Anzu and Cogito, but on paper, they certainly should.
By the way, there's no US-written software on Anzu drones. They're just green Mavic 3 Enterprises with a phone app that integrates the DJI SDK. Flying a DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise and an Anzu Raptor using Aloft Air Control will produce exactly identical results in terms of American-ness and data transfer.
I haven't followed drone stuff closely in a while. any idea how this affects an older drone like a DJI spark that wasn't designed with these requirements in mind? is it just impossible to fly legally now?
It sounds like DJI is now opposing the rules because their AeroScope won't be enough to comply with them. Like they were trying to perform regulatory capture and it backfired...
Nothing, they could even buy it in US... the ban is on Chinese company using Federal Communications Commission frequencies and they have all the good ones or even all of them.
I can't imagine what it would take for them to enforce the ban, so people would highly likely continue using and buying DJI products.
Does this just ban importing DJI products (bad enough) or does it also ban owning and/or flying a DJI drone you already own? (really bad if that's the case, but also would be difficult to enforce)
DJI is on the "Entity List", which means that US companies are required to have a license to export certain controlled export items to them. It doesn't ban anyone from buying or possessing DJI products.
Sure, but DJI drones already weren't eligible for procurement in US defense anyway, so there's not a major net change there (barring weird edge case loopholes with third-party modifications). Skydio already got their protectionism in the federal space, this is a step beyond.
DJI can prevent you from flying near airports, they can try the same thing with conflict zones. I assumes they do this already and this check has to be bypassed.
DJI isn't just a drone company. They've been actively moving into audio/video production very rapidly. If this ban sticks, they will lose their FCC license, and your Pocket 3 camera (or any DJI device) will no longer be able to connect to your phone.
It seems like the only solution will be for the FAA to flex it’s regulatory muscle on this, and become the sole authority on where you can fly a drone. Much like the FCC did with small satellite dish prohibitions. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/installing-consumer-own...
Since a drone can potentially violate restricted airspace, I could see some regulatory body eventually requiring approval/certification before a drone aircraft can be sold. I can imagine private pilots aren't too keen on running into some out of control flying piece of garbage at a few thousand feet.
Yikes. Was kinda hoping to see it just be an NFC sticker you have to slap on your drone after registration, but this reads like they want an active radio and per-flight generated IDs, the devices need internet connections and all kinds of business that precludes entire categories of lightweight UASes. This is definitely going to be stifling to the market if it's enforced in the slightest.
It also rules out using ADS-B on drone aircraft entirely, which is a bit perplexing.
Not really. It just means the FAA has to come up with rules just like for any other flying planes. No one wants drones flying into protected airspace, crashing into things, etc. It's not a sudden free for all. They just can't refuse to come up with rules because it's a drone. The rules could still be hard to meet.
Very cool! I wonder how DJI justifies the R&D costs of this drone when it (and their existing lineup) could possibly be banned overnight by the looming UAS regulations?
Where does this drone sit with regard to the current set of regulations? It will certainly at least need operator ID markings, yes?
One key take away is that all DIY drones will be illegal to fly the way people use drones today if the proposed FAA Remote ID rules goes into effect -- I think this is excessive regulatory overreach. The DJI post is excellent. Further reading here: https://fpvfc.org/remote-id-talking-points
If they do revoke the existing Equipment Authorizations, then the drones become illegal RF transmitters and wouldn't be legal to fly, although enforcement would border on impossible.
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