China's DJI drones flying high among US companies

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.

Some 61 of the 129 companies that received regulatory approval to use unmanned aircraft are using DJI drones, or 47 per cent, far ahead of its nearest rival, a Reuters review of federal records as at April 9 shows. Nearly 400 other companies, more than half of the 695 businesses still awaiting approval, have applied to use DJI drones.