WASHINGTON — In a move with the potential for significant impact in the rail industry — and one certain to be felt by railfan photographers — the Federal Communications Commission this week announced a blanket ban on new foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems, or drones.
The ban also covers foreign-made drone components, but does not affect drones currently in use or those previously approved for sale.
The decision announced Monday blocks the sale of new drones by China’s DJI, widely used by commercial and public-safety operators, as well as rail photographers and other hobbyists. The Washington Post reports that in 2020 — the last year for which figures are available — DJI drones accounted for 77% of the hobby drone market, and 90% of drones identified in a database of equipment used by public safety agencies. Another Chinese firm, Autel Robotics, is a major manufacturer of larger drones used for commercial and security purposes.
The rail industry has also increasingly adopted the use of drones for a variety of tasks. BNSF Railway has pioneering the effort to use drones for beyond-line-of-sight flight for track inspection [see “Drones are shaping the future of railroading,” Trains.com, Aug. 12, 2024]. And CSX introduced drone use for track inspection at its Rice Yard in Waycross, Ga., in 2024 [see “CSX aims to boost throughput …,” Nov. 13, 2024].
Information on the makers of drones used by those railroads is not immediately available. Trains has asked both railroads about the potential impact of the ban on their operations, but a response may be delayed because of the holidays. Trains has also asked the AAR for comment, given its support for expanded use of drones for beyond-line-of-sight use.
In a press release, the FCC said the decision followed a determination by an Executive Branch interagency review that foreign-made drones and parts pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.” Exceptions can be made only if the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security specifically determines that a given drone type, class, or component does not pose such risks.
“I welcome this Executive Branch national security determination,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said, “and I am pleased that the FCC has now added foreign drones and related components, which pose an unacceptable national security risk, to the FCC’s Covered List.”
DJI said in a statement that concerns about the security of data from its drones “are about protectionism, not evidence. DJI products remain among the safest and most secure on the market, backed by years of reviews by U.S. government agencies and independent third parties. While we are disappointed by this development, we remain committed to our U.S. customers and are actively exploring paths forward.”
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