BROADCASTS.com

Welcome to your weekly UAS news update, we have 3 stories for you this week: Drones for First Responders Act Introduced, Drone Pilots Can\u2019t Map in NC, and DJI Air 4 Rumors.\n\nhttps://droneadvocacyalliance.com

First up, a follow up on the misleadingly named Drone For First Responder act from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York.\nAs we mentioned last news update, the bill introduced last week would increase taxes on drones imported from China by 5% per year, up to 50% + $100. This means pricing recreational pilots out of the hobby. And pretty much ending the ability for FPV pilots to build their own drones... Why? Let's see.\nIf a cheap toy drone costs $130 today, it will cost 50% more in 4 years, plus $100. So you'll pay $300. The alternative? A US drone that doesn't exist from a company that we don't know about, because no American manufacturers are currently building this kind of drone.\nA Mavic 3 Pro that costs $2200 today would cost $3400 in 4 years. Of course until a year later where you wouldn't be able to buy it because it will be banned from import.\n\nIn 5 years, the bill would BAN drones that contain a Flight Controller, Radio, Data Transmission Device, Camera, Gimbal, software, network connectivity hardware, or data storage manufactured in China.\nThis would effectively ban all DJI, Autel but also EXO, Holy Stone, Ruko, EMAX, BetaFPV, and more premade drones.\nSo what about the FPV pilots that I mentioned before? Well, drones that utilize systems manufactured in China, such as Team Black Sheep, T Motor, iFlight, and even Spektrum would also be banned.\xa0\nIt gets better, and of course I'm sarcastic. Funds from these new tariffs would be used to fund First Responders purchasing new drones. 60% of the funds collected would go to first responders, 20% to farmers and 20% to critical infrastructure pilots. But in 5 years, all the funds end. Meaning first responders, farmers and critical infrastructure pilots will be left on their own to buy drones that have been over-inflated, without any grants.\nThis would decimate the entire hobby. Many thought the FAA was interested in killing the hobby. They were never interested in that but it certainly seems like Stefanik's office is, along with the supporter of the bill, including AUVSI.\nWe\u2019ve included a link to the DAA, where you can reach out to your representative and let them know this is not okay.\n\nhttps://dspalliance.org/the-u-s-drone-industry-is-under-attack-again/\nhttps://droneadvocacyalliance.com/\n\nNext up, an appeals court said that the North Carolina Surveyors Board didn\u2019t violate a drone pilot\u2019s rights by telling them to stop advertising and offering aerial mapping services.\xa0\nIf you haven\u2019t heard of this story, A drone pilot in NC received a cease and desist letter from the state\u2019s surveying board for engaging in \u201c mapping, surveying and photogrammetry; stating accuracy; providing location and dimension data; and producing orthomosaic maps, quantities, and topographic information.\u201d.\nThe current court decision effectively bans mapping in NC for those who aren\u2019t a surveyor.\xa0\nMichael Jones of 360 Virtual Drone Services plans to further appeal the decision.\xa0\nLet us know what you think about this in the comments.\n\nhttps://finance.yahoo.com/news/drone-pilot-cant-offer-mapping-215413201.html\n\nFinally, we have some DJI Air 4 Rumors.\nLeaked images show possible Air 4 batteries and rumors include some specs.\nSpecs include 1\u201d sensors, Mechanical shutters, Variable Aperture, two cameras, and O4.\nInterestingly the leaks seems to suggest the drone may come with the ability to map, which would likely cater to entry-level drone pilots looking to get their feet wet without spending $3500 on a Mavic 3 Enterprise.\xa0\nWe\u2019ll have to wait and see if these rumors are true!\n\nhttps://dronexl.co/2024/05/18/dji-air-4-rumors-what-we-know-so-far/\n\nHave a great week, remember, no Live on Monday this week.