The House Passes the Countering CCP Drones Act: What It Means for Us Locally in Washington Co. Ohio
The recent passage of the Countering CCP Drones Act by the House signals a significant shift in the U.S. drone industry. This legislation seeks to limit the use of Chinese-manufactured drones, particularly in critical sectors like public safety, emergency response, and agriculture. As someone deeply involved in local drone operations, I’ve seen firsthand how this legislation could affect us here in Washington County.
Current Drone Assets in Washington County
In Washington County, drones are an essential part of our public safety and emergency response efforts. We currently have three teams equipped with advanced thermal drones, which allow us to operate effectively even in challenging weather conditions.
The Washington County Sheriff’s drone team leads with their DJI M300 thermal drone, a crucial tool for search and rescue missions and law enforcement operations.
The Reno OH Volunteer Fire Department, where I serve as the Pilot in Command, uses a DJI M30T to improve firefighting strategies, conduct aerial assessments, and assist in locating missing persons.
The Devola Fire Company recently acquired a DJI M30T as well, which includes a drop kit that can deliver life vests, radios, or water bottles in emergency situations.
While these teams benefit from advanced thermal drone technology, other departments in Washington County utilize smaller drones without thermal capabilities. Even without this advanced tech, these drones are still highly effective. However, as thermal drones become more accessible, we anticipate more departments will adopt this crucial technology, enhancing their emergency response efforts.
The American Drone Manufacturing Challenge
I’ve been advocating for years for American-made drones to catch up to their Chinese counterparts, especially DJI, which dominates the global drone market. Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to fly an American drone—the Skydio 2+ Enterprise—and it’s truly impressive. For a time, Skydio outperformed DJI in autonomous flight, and their latest model, the Skydio X10, is an elite-class drone primarily used and sold to the Department of Defense (DoD). Skydio is also a major lobbyist pushing to ban DJI in the U.S.
However, despite Skydio's innovation, the X10 is unfortunately way out of my price range. For my commercial operations, I can get nearly the same functionality from other drones at half the cost, making it difficult for smaller agencies like ours to justify the investment in high-end American drones.
That being said, the American drone industry still faces several critical challenges:
Higher Costs: U.S.-made drones typically cost twice as much as Chinese models, making them less accessible for smaller agencies and volunteer organizations like ours.
Limited Supply: Even when agencies want to support American-made drones, inventory shortages often delay purchases.
Dependence on Foreign Components: Many U.S. drone manufacturers still rely on Chinese-made parts, such as DJI electronics, which complicates efforts to fully transition away from foreign technology.
Subscription Models: Skydio and other U.S. manufacturers require ongoing software subscriptions for premium services, creating additional expenses for agencies and forcing them into a "customer for life" model that can significantly increase long-term costs.
How the Act Will Impact Us Locally
Many public safety agencies, including the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), have already begun phasing out DJI drones due to concerns over security and this evolving legislation. More U.S. startups are entering the market, but for now, the gap between Chinese and American-made drones remains significant, especially in terms of cost and availability.
The restrictions could also impact sectors like agriculture, where drones have been transformative for crop monitoring, irrigation management, and yield optimization. China has been using drones in agriculture for years, and if American manufacturers don’t catch up soon, we risk falling behind in this crucial area.
One possible solution I support is the imposition of tariffs on Chinese drones. This could give American manufacturers the time and financial support they need to innovate and catch up to their competitors. With new microchip plants being built in places like Ohio, there’s hope that U.S. drone production will ramp up in the coming years, making us less reliant on foreign technology.
What’s Next for Washington County?
While we wait to see how this legislation evolves, we’re continuing to push forward with local initiatives. I’m currently helping organize the first county-wide rapid response team for Washington County. If you live in the area and want to help your community by becoming a volunteer drone pilot, now is the perfect time to get involved.
Looking Ahead
On a personal note, I have about 12 more months of service left on my high-end thermal drone, and I’m hopeful that by then, we’ll have more clarity and better options from American manufacturers. Until then, we’ll keep utilizing the technology we have to serve our community as effectively as possible.
Call to Action
If you’re a local business or organization in need of drone services, whether for aerial photography, videography, social media content creation, or even website development, I’d love to help. Contact me today to discuss how we can support your projects using cutting-edge drone technology.
Let’s continue working together to keep Washington County at the forefront of innovation and community service. Reach out if you’re interested in joining the rapid response team or want to learn more about how the Countering CCP Drones Act could impact your operations!
