CDA, DSPA (which is affiliated with CDA), and AUVSI were all in on the DJI RID and the repeal of Sec. 336. Of course, there were more companies like AirMap, Kitty Hawk, and some of the other members of the various “advocacy” groups who will surface later. They all argued that surging hobbyist numbers made the exemption a safety hazard. What was really going on is that, without the hobbyist, the commercial drone numbers aren’t large enough to support the investment to overcome the shortcomings of poor regulation and policy.
Rest assured, the FAA has strict rules for ARC and advisory committees that preclude members from pushing products or using public un-memorialized meetings to develop goods and services. I guess Kenji didn’t get the memo when he filed for a relevant patent. Then we had the poor old AMA that got the Hail Mary CBO bait-and-switch. That one was sad to witness as “leadership” was repeatedly tipped off to FAA aims since 2009. It got so pathetic that DJI employees who were self-proclaimed RC Hobby advocates were able to shaft the AMA without ramifications. The domestic aviation pipeline and workforce development opportunities have evaporated. Last time I heard, the AMA numbers are under 90K. Not just hobbyists; according to the FAA’s own data, the numbers are headed in the wrong direction.
When folks talk about frustration for the hobbyist that just wants to fly around for fun, they must remember who stabbed them in the back, for profit. Every one of these groups and businesses had a financial stake in shafting the domestic drone industry. The cabal was going to cash in on it. Instead of offering the membership a benefit, AUVSI dug deeper into the membership to make more money. CDA used it as a recruiting tool for VC-funded startups looking to pivot into a chance at profitability the industry could never support. DSPA is swimming in the DJI ecosystem downstream. Again, the feds know who the CCP shills are, and lining up behind them is only adding insult to injury at this point.
The kiddies, cellphone app apers, Best Buy flyer and selfie droners have no idea what is coming down the pipe. Write all the letters you like, but there is little profit in it.
I remember thinking the same in 2007 when LE and US domestic drone companies were put out of business with the arbitrary Federal Aviation Administration policy clarification. No one gave a rat's nest about saving lives, first responders, or economic and/or national security.
Yes, digging up buried treasure like this gets you deplatformed.
@TheDroneDealer on X