Bear with me, please, I am not prone to conspiracies (smile), and I am new here. I almost didn’t post this because of that. I have an unusual point of view, I figured I should share it… If you don’t agree, OK.
Has anyone noticed what appears to be a sickening, pathetic, stomach wrenching, well you get the idea … relationship between the FAA and DJI? I’ll bet they have monogrammed towels in their baths.
Successful corporations usually show great loyalty to the customers that fund their product. Not DJI. I can tell you from personal experience as well as observation on their forum that they operate as though they have a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card from Parker Brothers. The latest genre of firmware that they call updates appear to be, incrementally, employing the FAA agenda. These updates also dumb down other subtle capabilities.
The realities are such that the feds have huge exposure over these drones. The biggest exposures can’t be discussed publicly for security reasons. That is the US perspective, but it is true internationally, as well. I guess the FAA ended up taking the lead role in managing drones in the US.
I have always been surprised at the general availability and access of these drones without a background check, or competence verification. I am a retired toolmaker that serviced the defense industry. I am fully aware of the significance of these drones, beyond cinematography. I am very sympathetic of the drone safety issue. I lost my sympathy for the FAA recently – I will explain…
Something crazy started happening to this country (USA) starting just before the turn of the century. It was caused entirely by a Chinese desire to expand and modernize. Technically, they wanted to Westernize, but heaven help you if you used those words when talking to an Asian… Domestic manufacturers, complete with embedded technology were made offers they couldn’t refuse to relocate to China. Much of this technology, btw, was government subsidized. Right, tax dollars intended to keep local citizens employed in high-tech jobs went straight to China. Again, I will explain.
There are trade agreements designed to maintain a level playing field between the US and China. Unfortunately, the US was hit by 911 in 2001. Our Pres, George W. responded by chasing the terrorists in Afghanistan. That probably would have been fine, but for some reason, Mr. George decided there were WMD’s somewhere in Iraq, and made it the US job to find them. That turned out to be a ridiculously expensive thing to do. Speaking of expensive….
None of this is partisan, btw. I am independent. Back then it was a Rep. watch. Now it is a Dem. Watch. According to reports, Bush resorted to Chinese financing to pay for this excursion into Iraq using the latest smart weaponry. He couldn’t risk casualties with conventional weapons and troops on the ground.
I’m going somewhere with this – I promise. The only way I can illustrate what I know is with recent history. Please bear with me. This is relevant. You can draw your own conclusion, but it can be informed. (I’m older than you – ha!)
This is where it gets personal with me, and I get rubbed the wrong way by the FAA.
To continue describing the awful, almost abrupt way domestic manufacturing migrated to China. Companies like the tooling company that my father and I had been running in S. CA for over 50 years, companies that serviced domestic manufacturing were abruptly left without clients. We simply had to shut down. This was during the period Mr. George was chasing WMDs in Iraq.
The trade agreements between China and US went unenforced since those assaulting it were the new, US, (Chinese) financiers. When there is something resembling a war taking place the incumbents have a built in smoke screen and do what they want under the emergency of war. Anyone questioning it will have their patriotism questioned and accused of putting American troops in harm’s way. There is a reason why you now see so many ‘made in China’ tags.
The FAA/drone parallel is that anyone questioning what the FAA is doing is subject to criticism and considered irresponsible and not being good for the sport or hobby.
Like the Chinese financiers of the past that assaulted the hell out of our trade agreements, does DJI enjoy some sort of a special relationship with the FAA that none of the other drone manufacturers have? (but soon will)
Like the emergencies of war used by the Bush admin, the FAA gets to claim public safety and take shortcuts when desired. Instead of doing something proactive to control something placed in their jurisdiction, they seem to have chosen to rely on unproven automation. Those paying the price are, once again, civilians. Victims of some sort of an arrangement between feds and Chinese that may or may not be appropriate.
MY POINT:
Actually, how about I just put down a few things I believe to be true. Just call it food for thought.
1) FLY-ZONE (only) As opposed to NO-FLY-NONE being the final goal for the FAA
2) The FAA registration is more of a diversion than anything constructive, #1 above is the FAA solution
3) The ability to downgrade P3 firmware will solve consumer problems and force the FAA to do its job
4) DJI’s loyalty is clearly directed toward the FAA. If the consumer regained control of the hardware they own, maybe this would change.
5) The technology making smart drones possible was invented in the West. By the ‘West’ I mean America, Europe and Japan but not China. Chinese developers are consumers of Western, low-level technology that they probably don’t understand.
6) A national US emergency would shut down civilian GPS and be the HS, post-response to something major. I guess that would satisfy safety issues there.
· Btw I noticed this posting was moved from the P3 area. I understand why, but understand that this was written specifically about the P3. I doubt that it will apply to any other model. Also, please don’t think I dislike Asians, either. That would not be true. The reality is that I don’t look for, nor care much about ethnicity in people – this is the 21’st century after all. My comments are directed at my government. Please do enjoy your drone!
Has anyone noticed what appears to be a sickening, pathetic, stomach wrenching, well you get the idea … relationship between the FAA and DJI? I’ll bet they have monogrammed towels in their baths.
Successful corporations usually show great loyalty to the customers that fund their product. Not DJI. I can tell you from personal experience as well as observation on their forum that they operate as though they have a Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card from Parker Brothers. The latest genre of firmware that they call updates appear to be, incrementally, employing the FAA agenda. These updates also dumb down other subtle capabilities.
The realities are such that the feds have huge exposure over these drones. The biggest exposures can’t be discussed publicly for security reasons. That is the US perspective, but it is true internationally, as well. I guess the FAA ended up taking the lead role in managing drones in the US.
I have always been surprised at the general availability and access of these drones without a background check, or competence verification. I am a retired toolmaker that serviced the defense industry. I am fully aware of the significance of these drones, beyond cinematography. I am very sympathetic of the drone safety issue. I lost my sympathy for the FAA recently – I will explain…
Something crazy started happening to this country (USA) starting just before the turn of the century. It was caused entirely by a Chinese desire to expand and modernize. Technically, they wanted to Westernize, but heaven help you if you used those words when talking to an Asian… Domestic manufacturers, complete with embedded technology were made offers they couldn’t refuse to relocate to China. Much of this technology, btw, was government subsidized. Right, tax dollars intended to keep local citizens employed in high-tech jobs went straight to China. Again, I will explain.
There are trade agreements designed to maintain a level playing field between the US and China. Unfortunately, the US was hit by 911 in 2001. Our Pres, George W. responded by chasing the terrorists in Afghanistan. That probably would have been fine, but for some reason, Mr. George decided there were WMD’s somewhere in Iraq, and made it the US job to find them. That turned out to be a ridiculously expensive thing to do. Speaking of expensive….
None of this is partisan, btw. I am independent. Back then it was a Rep. watch. Now it is a Dem. Watch. According to reports, Bush resorted to Chinese financing to pay for this excursion into Iraq using the latest smart weaponry. He couldn’t risk casualties with conventional weapons and troops on the ground.
I’m going somewhere with this – I promise. The only way I can illustrate what I know is with recent history. Please bear with me. This is relevant. You can draw your own conclusion, but it can be informed. (I’m older than you – ha!)
This is where it gets personal with me, and I get rubbed the wrong way by the FAA.
To continue describing the awful, almost abrupt way domestic manufacturing migrated to China. Companies like the tooling company that my father and I had been running in S. CA for over 50 years, companies that serviced domestic manufacturing were abruptly left without clients. We simply had to shut down. This was during the period Mr. George was chasing WMDs in Iraq.
The trade agreements between China and US went unenforced since those assaulting it were the new, US, (Chinese) financiers. When there is something resembling a war taking place the incumbents have a built in smoke screen and do what they want under the emergency of war. Anyone questioning it will have their patriotism questioned and accused of putting American troops in harm’s way. There is a reason why you now see so many ‘made in China’ tags.
The FAA/drone parallel is that anyone questioning what the FAA is doing is subject to criticism and considered irresponsible and not being good for the sport or hobby.
Like the Chinese financiers of the past that assaulted the hell out of our trade agreements, does DJI enjoy some sort of a special relationship with the FAA that none of the other drone manufacturers have? (but soon will)
Like the emergencies of war used by the Bush admin, the FAA gets to claim public safety and take shortcuts when desired. Instead of doing something proactive to control something placed in their jurisdiction, they seem to have chosen to rely on unproven automation. Those paying the price are, once again, civilians. Victims of some sort of an arrangement between feds and Chinese that may or may not be appropriate.
MY POINT:
Actually, how about I just put down a few things I believe to be true. Just call it food for thought.
1) FLY-ZONE (only) As opposed to NO-FLY-NONE being the final goal for the FAA
2) The FAA registration is more of a diversion than anything constructive, #1 above is the FAA solution
3) The ability to downgrade P3 firmware will solve consumer problems and force the FAA to do its job
4) DJI’s loyalty is clearly directed toward the FAA. If the consumer regained control of the hardware they own, maybe this would change.
5) The technology making smart drones possible was invented in the West. By the ‘West’ I mean America, Europe and Japan but not China. Chinese developers are consumers of Western, low-level technology that they probably don’t understand.
6) A national US emergency would shut down civilian GPS and be the HS, post-response to something major. I guess that would satisfy safety issues there.
· Btw I noticed this posting was moved from the P3 area. I understand why, but understand that this was written specifically about the P3. I doubt that it will apply to any other model. Also, please don’t think I dislike Asians, either. That would not be true. The reality is that I don’t look for, nor care much about ethnicity in people – this is the 21’st century after all. My comments are directed at my government. Please do enjoy your drone!
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