DJI Expects New FAA Drone Rule Will Spur American Innovation

News2016-08-26

DJI Expects New FAA Drone Rule Will Spur American Innovation

Streamlined Process For Legal Professional Drone Use Begins Monday

August 26, 2016 – DJI, the world’s leading maker of unmanned aerial vehicles, expects new streamlined drone regulations taking effect Monday will lead to rapid innovation as American businesses, farmers, government agencies, educational institutions and nonprofits use drones to make their operations safer, less expensive and more efficient.

“The new federal drone rule unlocks the potential of drone technology to save lives, help businesses and improve educational opportunities,” said Brendan Schulman, DJI Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs. “The FAA has opened America’s skies to safe and responsible drone use, which will bring creative uses and real benefits to people all across the country.”

Beginning Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will issue remote pilot certificiates to professional drone pilots who pass an aeronautical knowledge test and a Transportation Security Administration background check. That will allow them to put drones to work in construction, surveying, agriculture, firefighting, search and rescue, conservation, academic research, film and video production and countless other fields that will benefit from an affordable aerial perspective.

The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy earlier this month announced a series of federal government actions to encourage drone innovation, which it expects will create 100,000 new jobs and $82 billion in economic activity by 2025. 

The FAA is continuing to explore new ways to safely integrate drones into the national airspace. The new rules contain important safety protections that prohibit flights at night, more than 400 feet above ground level, in restricted areas or busy controlled airspace, or directly over people not involved in the drone’s operation. However, the FAA intends to issue waivers of some portions of the rules if operators demonstrate they can do so safely.

DJI offers a range of aerial platforms for new professional pilots to begin exploring the potential of drone technology, including the affordable and compact Phantom drones, the more maneuverable Inspire drones, and the M600 drone for heavy film cameras and other substantial imaging payloads. DJI’s enterprise website offers case studies for how pilots can best use DJI products to accomplish critical tasks at greater speed, less cost and lower risk.

DJI has also launched partnerships with leaders in many different industries to offer the best aerial solutions for users in those fields. They include the Zenmuse XT thermal imaging camera developed with FLIR, the precision agriculture package developed with PrecisionHawk, and the A5D 50-megapixel camera developed with Hasselblad.

The new rule does not change the safety requirements for operating drones for recreational purposes. Recreational users should continue to operate safely under the guidance developed by the FAA and explained in the “Know Before You Fly” campaign supported by industry leaders including DJI. DJI’s software includes many protections to help users fly safely and avoid inadvertently straying into areas that raise concerns.