A decision by the US FCC has shaken the country’s drone industry, leaving many commercial pilots worried about how long they can keep their businesses afloat.
The FCC just announced it would add foreign-made drones and key components to its “Covered List,” citing national security concerns. The move prevents most new foreign drone models from receiving the FCC approvals required for sale in the US.
While existing drones remain legal to use, and previously approved models can still be sold, future imports are effectively blocked. The decision is expected to hit DJI hardest, as the Chinese company dominates the US drone market.
Estimates suggest DJI controls between 70 and 90 percent of the commercial, government, and hobbyist drone space in the US. For many pilots, there is simply no comparable alternative.
The backlash has been immediate. Nearly 500,000 commercial drone pilots are registered in the US, and many rely on DJI equipment for work in construction, agriculture, real estate, infrastructure inspection, and public safety. Pilots argue that American-made drones are often more expensive and lag behind in performance.
“I’m a die-hard American-made advocate and drive a Chevrolet pickup truck,” said Eric Ebert, owner of Falcon Unmanned, a construction monitoring firm in Indiana. “But American drones are simply not competitive.”
Some operators are now stockpiling drones, batteries, and spare parts. One pilot working on solar and wind projects said he has already stored dozens of drones to keep operating through the next few years. “We know very well what 2026 means for us,” he said.
A recent survey by Greg Reverdiau of the Pilot Institute, based on responses from around 8,000 commercial pilots, paints a grim picture. About 43 percent said the ban would have an “extremely negative” or “potentially bankrupt” impact, while 85 percent said their businesses could survive two years or less without access to new foreign-made drones.
As petitions reach Congress and the White House, pilots warn that without viable domestic alternatives, the FCC’s move could cripple an industry that has become essential to modern infrastructure and emergency response.
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