While Red Cat Holdings issued a triumphant press release calling the FCC’s foreign drone ban “a major moment for the American drone industry,” thousands of American drone pilots are facing a drastically different reality — one where their businesses might not survive the next two years.
How drone pilots feel about the FCC ban on foreign drones
Pilot Institute, which is a widely regarded education group that offers courses on drones and airplanes, surveyed 8,056 drone operators nationwide from December 9-15, 2025 about how they might feel about a ban on DJI drones.
Coincidentally, that survey occurred just days before the FCC dropped the ban announcement on December 22. These operators didn’t know the regulatory hammer was about to fall, yet they were already deeply anxious about potential DJI restrictions. Here are some highlights of what the Pilot Institute survey (which you can read in full here) found:
- 83.8% of survey respondents said if affordable consumer drones became harder to obtain, the number of new people entering the drone industry would decrease significantly.
- 57.8% were “extremely concerned” about potential federal actions restricting DJI drones, with another 25.5% “very concerned.”
- 43.4% said losing access to new DJI drones would have an “extremely negative/potentially business-ending impact” on their operations.
These operators were worried about hypothetical restrictions, with nearly half worried that their businesses could cease to exist under such a ban. Now those restrictions are real, with a 12-month timeline to achieve 65% domestic content or lose market access entirely.
Why the DJI impact hits hardest
The survey reveals near-complete market concentration around DJI platforms.
- 96.7% of operators use DJI drones.
- 70% operate fleets that are 100% DJI.
- 87% learned to fly on a DJI drone.
- 72.5% learned on a DJI consumer drone specifically.
This isn’t a market with healthy competition and easy alternatives. Alas, this is a market where DJI has become the de facto standard because nobody else has delivered comparable products at competitive prices.
Breaking down by sector shows the dependence is even more extreme in critical areas:
- 97% of public safety agencies use DJI drones (only 13% use Skydio)
- 70% of agriculture users have fleets made solely of DJI drones
- 56% of agriculture, utility, and public safety users said not being able to buy DJI drones would potentially end their operations
Supply issues have already been happening
Even before the ban, drone operators were experiencing significant disruption due to issues such as the CBP blocking DJI shipments under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Other issues such as tariffs or even DJI not shipping their drones to the U.S. for various reasons have caused issues, including:
- 45.6% said prices for DJI drones or parts were noticeably higher than before
- 41.8% were unable to purchase a specific DJI model they wanted
- 33.3% could not get needed DJI parts or accessories (batteries, gimbals, etc.)
And these supply disruptions had real financial consequences:
- 18.2% lost jobs or contracts
- 37.9% had to delay jobs or deliverables
- 22.8% said it made their work more difficult
Among those who lost or delayed work, the financial impacts ranged from under $1,000 to over $50,000, with 15% of companies with 6-20 employees reporting losses of $50,000+. Notable 25% of agricultural users reported lost jobs or contracts
Will drone pilots be able to use legal alternatives?
Initially, the FCC rule banned all foreign-made drones. Then in January 2025, the FCC ruled out opportunities for exemption, including both drones and components on the Department of Defense’s Blue UAS Cleared List, as well as those that meet the “Buy American” standard (meaning it’s at least 65% U.S.-made by cost).
Still, that likely won’t be good enough for American drone pilots. Based on the Pilot Institute survey:
- 29% said no platforms are currently available that fit their needs.
- 36% said they would start evaluating alternatives soon (but hadn’t yet).
- 58% of recreational users said they don’t have plans to switch to a non-DJI platform.
Among those who evaluated non-DJI alternatives, the barriers were overwhelming:
- 64.2% cited higher purchase costs
- 64.3% cited lower performance
- 54.9% cited less reliable or mature hardware
- 53.3% cited lack of features they depend on
What’s next since the FCC drone?
Perhaps the most telling data point in the Pilot Institute survey is when it asked “If a DJI ban were implemented, what would you most likely do?” None of the answers feel all that ‘America-first’:
- 23.8% would shut down their drone-related business or side business.
- 26.4% would continue operations but with higher costs and lower margins.
- 16.7% would reduce the amount of drone work they do.
- 11.3% would shift their work away from drones to other services.
- Only 9.7% said they would invest heavily in non-DJI alternatives.
Alas, investing in non-DJI alternatives is purportedly the goal of this whole thing, but it seems unlikely that there’s a customer base willing to do it.
Meanwhile, American drone comapnies aelebrating
Now contrast those operator surveys with Red Cat Holdings’ triumphant December 23 press release:
“This is a major moment for the American drone industry,” said Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat in a prepared statement. “We applaud the Administration’s decision to act with urgency. The FCC’s action sends a clear signal that the U.S. is serious about securing its airspace, backing trusted technology, and leveling the playing field for U.S. manufacturers competing with foreign-subsidized products.”
Where Red Cat CEO Jeff Thompson sees the ban as leveling the playing field, the 8,056 operators surveyed see it as ending their businesses.
Red Cat emphasized “the availability of trusted alternatives” and their “NDAA-compliant platforms such as the Black Widow, which are designed and built in the United States.”
Now tell the agriculture operator with a 100% DJI fleet who’s facing business closure how the Black Widow — a tactical military drone designed for defense applications — is going to help them monitor crop health at an affordable price point.
What drone operators want
The survey asked operators about their preferred policy approach (again, before the ban was announced):
- 49.8% wanted no additional restrictions on DJI beyond current rules.
- 47.0% supported targeted restrictions only for sensitive government or critical infrastructure uses.
- Only 2.3% supported broad restrictions on new DJI purchases, which is largely what we ended up with.
Clearly the government didn’t ask what drone operators needed, but instead caved to what American drone manufacturers wanted.
The ultimate irony
Here’s what makes this whole situation even more darkly comical: The FCC ban was announced December 22, 2025. DJI got FCC approval for the Avata 360 on November 19, the Lito series in late November/early December, and multiple other products on December 19 — three days before the ban.
So DJI’s 2026 product lineup is completely legal to sell in the United States. American manufacturers just got handed regulatory protection from future competition while DJI gets to sell their newest products for at least another year.
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