Prairie Village passes new city ordinance that affects hobby drones, funny drone fishing story, new Skydio R2 drone updates, DJI increases prices by 15%, Phantom 4 Pro availability and much, much more….

Our first story this week about Prairie village, Kansas. A new city ordinance has introduced regulations that places stringent restrictions on hobby drones. And, any non-compliance shall be treated as a Class C demeanor. This is not the first time that towns and cities have attempted to set up their own rules (think the Michael Singer case).

As we have repeatedly discussed on Ask Drone U, cities and towns can place restrictions on takeoff and landing. But, no one but the FAA has the right to regulate navigable airspace. So, how can drone pilots advocate against this unjust ordinance? Watch this video to learn how. Downloading our Drone Advocacy Field Kit will also help you greatly in this regard.

Our next story is a light-hearted one about drone fishing (with a twist) in Australia. An Aussie man, Sam Foreman decided to have some fun with his large custom-built drone. In this video that went viral last week, you can see Sam (who is sitting in a chair) being lifted by his drone over the Upper Coliban Reservoir in Central Victoria state. With a beer in one hand and a fishing rod in another, Sam certainly seems to be enjoying his ride. As far as we can tell, no laws were broken. But it seems that Sam might get into trouble with CASA, the Australian regulatory authority for his little joyride.

Next, we move on to some interesting DJI news. The long-drawn US-China trade wars and the ensuing rise in tariffs have forced market leader, DJI to increase drone prices by 15%. Along with drones, prices of drone accessories and DJI Care Refresh have also been affected. While many manufacturers have absorbed this increased cost, DJI has decided to pass this increased cost to the consumer.

Was it possible for DJI to absorb this increased cost? Or, are they taking undue advantage of its market dominance?

Other topics discussed on this show include the new Skydio R2 drone, drones for search and rescue and Phantom 4 Pro updates. Tune in now!

Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now!

Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community.

Looking for simple, fast, and transparent coverage that gives you peace of mind? Our friends at Skywatch are offering affordable on-demand drone insurance that rewards YOU for flying safely. Check them out NOW! Both hourly and monthly options available.

Follow Us