By Free Republic | Created at 2024-09-25 16:53:45 | Updated at 2024-09-30 23:47:07
5 days ago
DJI Drone Ban Stalls Out In Senate As First Responders Come To The Rescue
Hot Hardware ^ | July 29, 2024 | Tim Sweezy
Posted on 09/25/2024 9:28:43 AM PDT by fireman15
The ban of DJI drones in the US has stalled out in the Senate, at least for for now, as emergency responders came to the rescue. The Senate Armed Services Committee recently released its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA FY25), and it does not include the Countering CCP Drones Act, which aimed to ban and ground all DJI drones in the US.
Whether it be a drone made by a Chinese company, or a trained pigeon, governments around the world are always worried about how other countries can spy on them. Such is the case with DJI drones. While the incredibly popular Chinese-made drones are used in a wide variety of use cases, such as filmmaking, agriculture, and for the pure joy found in flying a quality drone, the US government has expressed concerns, with the House of Representatives including a potential ban on the drone company in its version of the NDAA FY25 it passed last month. Now, however, it seems DJI has been given a reprieve from the Senate, if only a temporary one.
The Senate’s decision to not include the ban may have been fueled by blow-back from first responders, who expressed their concern shortly after the House passed its version. Representatives from over 6,000 public safety agencies, mostly police and fire departments, wrote to the Senate Armed Services Committee in opposition to the Countering CCP Drones Act. It may have also been from everyday drone pilots as well, who tend to be very passionate about their hobby, as well as owners who use the drones for business purposes.
While the Senate’s version of the NDAA FY25 did not name DJI, it did mention drones. In its version, the Senate mentions drones in terms of: A report on military drone funding.
(Excerpt) Read more at hothardware.com ...
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Hobbies; UFO's
KEYWORDS: dji; drone; senate
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This is from about three weeks ago. No compromises that might have made the DJI ban real have surfaced since then. In other words the "DJI ban" whatever its merits might be... is looking more and more like it is currently dead in the water.
I have been farting around with cheap Chinese toy drones for about 10 years. Most of them cost less than $40. Some of them came with GPS and cameras that claimed to have decent specifications.
About 3 months ago I bought a DJI Mini 3 drone on sale for $300 at Costco. This was close to what I spent on all of my other drones combined over the previous 10 years. But the thing is a completely different animal than what I am used to. Cheap toy drones can be challenging to fly and build your skills inside and outside. The pictures and videos that come from them are cheesy.
The DJI drone is not really even like flying a toy drone. It is a pretty decent camera on a very steady tripod that flies. It is possible to crash it into something especially when you live in the middle of a bunch of trees. But if you are paying attention and you get it into a hairy situation all you have to do is just take your hands off the controls and it will just sit there in one place even when the wind is blowing a bit. Then you can decide the best way to get it out of the mess that you got it into.
And of course, the videos and pictures are incredible. There just is no comparison to a cheap toy drone. It actually is arguably a useful tool. Apparently, there is nothing made in the USA that is even close to being affordable for a normal consumer. I thought that $300 was a lot to pay, but as far as I can tell there are no camera drones made in the USA for close to that price that have features that are comparable.
https://www.thedronegirl.com/2023/03/20/best-camera-drones-made-in-the-usa/
1 posted on 09/25/2024 9:28:43 AM PDT by fireman15
To: fireman15
I have a BWINE and it’s held up to my abuse learning how to handle it.
A DJI is on the short list.
Maybe I will get something out of that FAA 107 eventually.
2 posted on 09/25/2024 9:32:02 AM PDT by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
To: fireman15
I bought one, too, when the mini 3 came out with collision avoidance. However, I really have spent no time with it and maybe flew it once or twice in my backyard.
-PJ
3 posted on 09/25/2024 9:41:05 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too ( * LAAP = Left-wing Activist Agitprop Press (formerly known as the MSM))
To: wally_bert
Maybe I will get something out of that FAA 107 eventually.
Yes, if you want to do anything that is useful with a drone you are supposed to have the 107 license. I have had a private pilot license for over 30 years, so all I had to do was pass a very easy test online and get a signature in my logbook from a flight instructor.
4 posted on 09/25/2024 9:46:08 AM PDT by fireman15 (Irritating people are the grit from which we fashion our pearl. I provide the grit. You're Welcome.)
To: fireman15
Just keep on saying DJI without saying what it means. We all know that it stands for Dow Jones Index. Right?
5 posted on 09/25/2024 9:46:14 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
To: fireman15
DJI makes the best ready-to-fly drones on the consumer market. IMO.
They also like to phone home. A lot.
6 posted on 09/25/2024 9:48:31 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
To: fireman15
But Chinese spy “weather” balloons going across the US esp. at military bases is A-OK? We have the best Congress money can buy. Doesn’t Tampon Timmy have an interest in a Chinese spy balloon business?
7 posted on 09/25/2024 9:53:06 AM PDT by BipolarBob (You may call me blind, deaf and dumb but I'm a Pinball Wizard.)
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