The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned Chinese-based drone manufacturer DJI from importing new drones into the United States. However, a significant portion of existing DJI drone models is still available for purchase on Amazon and other online retailers.
To clarify, only new drones released by DJI will be affected by this ban. Existing models that have already been sold and are in use can continue to be flown without any issues. There has also been no announcement from the FCC regarding the importation of future DJI drone components.
The ban was implemented due to concerns over radio frequency components, which are necessary for drones to operate. Since none of the drone manufacturers have had their products thoroughly vetted by a US agency prior to being sold in the country, they were all placed on the Covered List. This list includes companies that do not have approval to import products into the US.
However, some recent developments may offer a glimmer of hope for drone enthusiasts. In an attempt to lift restrictions, the FCC amended its list to exempt certain drones and components already approved by the Defense Contract Management Agency's Blue UAS list.
Given the uncertainty surrounding this ban and its potential implications on future drone sales, it is recommended that consumers who are in the market for a new drone purchase one immediately. However, importing unauthorized grey-market drones into the US could be considered illegal and may result in trouble.
To clarify, only new drones released by DJI will be affected by this ban. Existing models that have already been sold and are in use can continue to be flown without any issues. There has also been no announcement from the FCC regarding the importation of future DJI drone components.
The ban was implemented due to concerns over radio frequency components, which are necessary for drones to operate. Since none of the drone manufacturers have had their products thoroughly vetted by a US agency prior to being sold in the country, they were all placed on the Covered List. This list includes companies that do not have approval to import products into the US.
However, some recent developments may offer a glimmer of hope for drone enthusiasts. In an attempt to lift restrictions, the FCC amended its list to exempt certain drones and components already approved by the Defense Contract Management Agency's Blue UAS list.
Given the uncertainty surrounding this ban and its potential implications on future drone sales, it is recommended that consumers who are in the market for a new drone purchase one immediately. However, importing unauthorized grey-market drones into the US could be considered illegal and may result in trouble.
. I mean, we've all seen those fake reviews on Amazon and it's easy to imagine they might have gotten away with some shady stuff 
. But still, a ban? That's pretty serious news for drone enthusiasts like me 
. I'm curious to see how this plays out - will the FCC crack down on grey market sellers or is this just a warning shot across the bow 
? Either way, it's definitely making me think twice about buying a new drone... maybe I'll wait and see what happens with those components 
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... like I know some of my mates who are total drone enthusiasts and they've been eyeing those new models for ages! So, now they're basically out of luck 
. It's kinda crazy that existing drones that have already been sold are still good to fly though... I mean, what's the point of buying a new one when you can just keep using the old one? 
But at the same time, it's a bit worrying that there aren't any clear guidelines for drone safety in general. I've got some friends who own drones and they're always worried about flying them near airports or power lines... maybe this ban will finally bring some clarity to the whole thing 
That's kinda shady considering it was already sold before the ban. And what about all the grey-market stuff that might pop up afterwards? 
. And now they're trying to pull the wool over our eyes with these 'approved' components? Gimme a break! 
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anyway, good luck trying to navigate this whole ban thing, fam 