Possible DJI/Autel Ban ?

[Falconeer]

There are reports that the Trump administration is preparing executive orders that could restrict Chinese drone manufacturers like DJI and Autel from selling their drones in the U.S. These orders might be signed as early as next week.

However, the administration is not calling for an outright ban but rather directing the U.S. intelligence community to accelerate reviews of potential national security risks posed by these drones. Additionally, the orders are reportedly expected to encourage investment in the domestic drone industry and update federal regulations governing commercial drone usage.

 

[harleydude]

For me, the elephant in the room has always been that the 107 test does nothing to prove or improve UAV pilot skill. It seems weird and strange to me that there's never been a practical test. Without ever touching a drone, any housewife can pass the 107 if she studies for it. The elephant in the room.....

In addition, forcing UAV pilots to learn METARs (arguably, completely and utterly useless to any UAV pilot) and airport nomenclature (again, completely useless since we're not allowed within 5 miles of any airport) is a complete waste of time. I've been flying UAV's for over 10 years and have never used a single METAR or airport signage. Not once. I use NOTAM's, pilot nomenclature and sectional charts all the time. THOSE skills are worth having.

Hopefully, the orders to "invest in the drone industry" will allow for a practical test. I would make it mandatory that potential 107 UAV pilots would have to use their OWN drone for the practical test.

My test would consist of:
1) Telemetry loss. Unplug the tablet/phone and bring the drone home via line of sight only.
2) GPS loss. Bring the drone home and land it sans GPS lock.
3) Directional acuity. Pilots must return the drone to the launch site with the camera facing forward (toward the launch site).
4) Catastrophic systems failure test: A combination of 1, 2 and 3.

D

 

[DAVE J CANADA]

ive been around for awhile myself you make a good point but i have been flying missions with litchi most of the time and alot in spring you probably wouldn,t approve of having 4 mavics in the air at a time taking off and then landing them then looking at the videos at the house on the big screen to see if they found any sheds all this is done where there is no one around of course

 

[Mike2Fst]

Without ever touching a drone, any housewife can pass the 107 if she studies for it. The elephant in the room.....

I'm not sure your wife would appreciate you referring to her as an elephant

 

[harleydude]

Without ever touching a drone, any housewife can pass the 107 if she studies for it. The elephant in the room.....

I'm not sure your wife would appreciate you referring to her as an elephant

My girlfriend doesn't mind. She hates my wife.

D

 

[harleydude]

ive been around for awhile myself you make a good point but i have been flying missions with litchi most of the time and alot in spring you probably wouldn,t approve of having 4 mavics in the air at a time taking off and then landing them then looking at the videos at the house on the big screen to see if they found any sheds all this is done where there is no one around of course

2 drones in the air has been my limit. I did a pair of traffic analysis gigs that just happened to be next to each other. Jobsite time was cut in half by utilizing 2 drones. I just offset the takeoffs and landings. I had LOS of both drones at all times.

D