Next up in our “Ask Drone Girl” series is a timely question about buying a drone amid uncertainty around a possible DJI ban. If you have a question for Drone Girl, contact her here.
Brand new Part 107 here and huge fan of your blog! I’m a construction safety officer consultant looking to get a drone for safety audits and to expand into mapping, real estate and lost pet search.
With the upcoming DJI ban in the US, I honestly have no idea what drone I should get. I’d love your input. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
— A very confused new 107
First off, congrats on the Part 107! That’s a big step, especially coming from a construction safety background where drones actually make a lot of sense.
You’re also not alone. Right now, a lot of pilots — especially new ones — are frozen by the same question: Should I buy a DJI drone at all right now?
We are one day away from a critical deadline tied to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Under that law, DJI must undergo a federal security audit. If no agency completes that audit by Dec. 23, DJI is set to be added to the FCC’s Covered List. That’s the same list that effectively blocked Huawei and ZTE from selling new wireless products in the US.
As of now:
- No audit has been completed
- No agency has publicly taken responsibility for performing one
- DJI has said it’s willing to undergo the audit but hasn’t been able to get one started
That’s why so many headlines say a ban looks “inevitable.” From a legal standpoint, DJI is running out of runway.
What this deadline does not mean
This part is crucial for new pilots to understand (and yes, it’s frequently misunderstood). Even if DJI is added to the FCC Covered List:
- Your existing DJI drone would not suddenly become illegal to fly
- The restriction applies to sales and approvals of new DJI drones, not use of your existing DJI drones.
- Neither recreational nor Part 107 pilots would be grounded overnight
Rather, the real risks to American drone pilots would materialize over a longer term, including that:
- New DJI products may not launch in the US (DJI already has not shipped its newest products directly from its own site, forcing drone pilots to shop through third parties such as Amazon and B&H Photo, or authorized retailers such as Drone Nerds.
- Retail availability could shrink
- Repairs, replacements and long-term support could become harder
So while Dec. 23 is important, it does not mean your drone will instantly be banned.
So what happens tomorrow? We don’t know yet
As of today, we don’t know for sure what will happen with DJI in the U.S.
What is clear is that DJI is under intense scrutiny, and unless a required federal security audit is completed, DJI is set to be added to the FCC’s Covered List. That would prevent DJI from introducing new products in the US, and could eventually affect availability of existing models.
What’s not clear:
- Whether the audit will happen
- Whether deadlines will be extended
- Whether existing product approvals will be revoked
- How quickly (or aggressively) enforcement would roll out
Another thing: DJI being added to the Covered List does not automatically revoke existing FCC equipment authorizations, though the FCC has given itself the power to do so later.
The hard reality: DJI still dominates on value
Here’s the part people don’t always want to hear: There are currently no American-made drones that compete with DJI when you factor in camera quality, safety features and price.
Yes, there are plenty of U.S.-made drones. There are plenty of NDAA-compliant drones. Many are used for government work where having secure data (such as inspection of government facilities) is of utmost importance. But for a solo consultant paying out of pocket:
- American-made drones are dramatically more expensive
- They often lag in camera performance
- They can be harder to fly and maintain
- The software ecosystem often isn’t as mature
Even certain government agencies have complained about rules that they must purchase U.S.-made or NDAA compliant rules, citing them as overkill. A Department of the Interior report basically called the rules overkill for use cases such as wildlife monitoring, and police departments who use drones to catch thieves have also spoken out against such a ban. The argument largely boils down to the fact that DJI drones better fit into their small budgets (which are taxpayer-funded, no less).
And I’ll go ahead and assume for someone like you who is brand new to Part 107 and working as a consultant, cost-to-capability matters.
My advice for now: don’t rush this decision
Given where things stand right now, my strongest recommendation is this: If you can afford to wait, sit tight.
The next few weeks are likely to bring clarity one way or another. There’s a chance that DJI gets either a reprieve or extension. Buying an expensive, non-DJI drone in a panic is how people end up with gear they don’t actually enjoy flying or using.
And on the flip side, it’s unlikely existing DJI drones will be grounded. It might actually make sense on some metrics to purchase a DJI drone, as it may be harder to get your hands on them in the future. Then again, even that might not be the best decision, as you might not have access to purchasing backup parts (spare batteries, props, etc) or getting support, should there eventually be an actual ban.
For construction safety audits, documentation and general visual inspections, DJI still offers the best blend of image quality, reliability and ease of use today. For your work (and your budget), I’ll cross my fingers that you can get your hands on a DJI drone.
The post Ask Drone Girl: what drone should you buy with a possible DJI ban looming? appeared first on The Drone Girl.