Looming Federal Ban On DJI Drones Sparks Concerns For Local Pilots And First Responders

A looming federal ban on DJI drones, a leading brand of Chinese-made unmanned aerial vehicles, threatens to disrupt the operations of local drone pilots and first responders. The Federal Communications Commission is set to add DJI Technologies to its list of banned companies, effectively halting sales of the most widely used brand of drones in the United States. The ban, stemming from concerns about DJI’s ties to the Chinese government, has left local commercial pilots and first responders scrambling for alternatives.

Despite DJI’s claims that it is not controlled by the government and has no ties to the Chinese military, lawmakers remain skeptical. John G. Duesler Jr., Ph. D., founder of the Pittston Twp.-based Pilot Mind Drone Academy and aerial production company Kaze Aerial Production, is among those affected. His company employs 15 to 20 people who use drones to film over 60 events worldwide each year, including high-profile sporting events such as the NFL, NCAA, PGA Tour, and NASCAR. Duesler, also the president of the PA Drone Association, has been an early adopter of drones, obtaining his first in 2012. He notes that the lack of American-made competitors to replace DJI drones poses a significant challenge for local drone pilots and first responders ← →