China’s DJI drones flying high among US companies

GOOD ENOUGH: Industry experts say basic drones such as DJI's Phantom drones are likely to drive the US commercial market for the foreseeable future, meeting business demand for uses such as aerial photography for site inspections, real estate promotions and video production.

WASHINGTON: Chinese drone maker SZ DJI Technology Co Ltd has established a strong early lead in the US commercial market as companies turn to its inexpensive, light-weight flying devices for a host of uses from shooting films to mapping and site inspections. 

Sixty-one of the 129 companies that received regulatory approval to use unmanned aircraft are using DJI drones, or 47%, far ahead of its nearest rival, a Reuters review of federal records as of April 9 shows. Nearly 400 other companies, more than half of the 695 businesses still awaiting approval, have applied to use DJI drones.