As had promised DJI, the height limit of 120 meters is back on DJI Fly, with update 1.12.3, for mini 4 pro. This is in fact a regulatory obligation imposed on the manufacturer by European regulations for a device with class C0 indication, DJI could therefore not escape it.
What is interesting ?
After updating DJI Fly, it is possible to choose whether :
- we want to move to the regulatory limitation of 120 meters. In this case, the Mini 4 Pro is in class C0.
ou - we want to maintain the possibility of going higher (up to 500 meters). In this case, it loses its C0 class. It becomes a drone without class indication.
DJI warns that moving to a limitation of more than 120 meters is irreversible, so once class C0 is lost, the Mini 4 Pro cannot regain it. DJI assures that it will later be able to obtain class C1 (but the regulations will not impose it on you).
The procedure for removing class C0, described in the Viewpoint document published by DJI, is quite restrictive since it involves removing the C0 label, taking a photo of the removed marking and sending it to the manufacturer.
So, C0 or not C0?
What I recommend to you is… do nothing at first! Wait quietly until the update is deemed fully functional before applying it, then wait before making a decision regarding C0 class confirmation or C0 class abandonment.
For my part and based on my knowledge, I will keep the limitation at 500 meters and therefore choose to lose the C0 class. Because the Mini 4 Pro is a drone placed on the market before January 1, 2024, it is therefore usable in subcategory A1 before January 1, 2024 AND will remain so after January 1, 2024. We gain absolutely nothing, neither now nor from 2024, until it is classified C0! Or rather if: we win... a painful blockage facing a cliff or climbing a slope on a mountain bike... (and since I mainly fly in the mountains, this is important).
There will also be no regulatory obligation and strictly no interest in upgrading the Mini 4 Pro to class C1 when DJI offers it: because in class C1 it will lose the possibility of flying freely above people, and will have to satisfy additional requirements (geovigilance, remote electronic identification, training and A1/A3 exam, etc.).
And for the Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro?
They are without class indication at the moment. DJI does not yet offer a retroactive classification, but this will probably be the case in the coming weeks or months. Keep in mind that, as with the Mini 4 Pro, since these models were all released to the market before January 1, 2024, there is NO regulatory obligation to upgrade them to class C0 (nor C1) nor now , nor in 2024, and that there is and will be no advantage in doing so.
Hack (but it's not legal)
Author of Drone Tweaks, Florin Andries confirmed that his DJI Fly hack already made it possible to pass the limit from 120 to 500 meters, even having chosen to keep the C0 class for the Mini 4 Pro. Please note, this hack makes the use of the Mini 4 Pro C0 illegal in Europe (because the device must be blocked at a maximum height of 120 meters from the take-off point to be C0).
Regulatory nitpicking
If you are not interested in regulatory details, you can stop here. Otherwise, hang in there! because DJI's Viewpoints document contains some very bizarre claims.
For example ?
With a C0 class drone, DJI indicates that there must be “ No flying over uninvolved people (if this occurs, overflying should be minimized) ».
-> However, this is precisely the whole point of the C0 class: it allows flights over people! What DJI's phrase describes is class C1!
“It is important to note that – according to regulations – the general altitude limit for operations in the Open category is 120 meters above the ground even though drones can theoretically fly higher! »
-> European regulations say that in the Open category aircraft must fly at “120 meters distance from the nearest point on the Earth's surface“, and that is not the same as “120 meters above the ground"!
« All drones purchased from January 1, 2024 will carry a mandatory class identification label that cannot be removed ».
-> DJI talks about “drones purchased from January 1, 2024“. However, European regulations specify that all drones “put on the market” after January 1, 2024 must include a class indication. “Marketing” is defined in European Regulation 2019/947: “the first making available of a product on the Union market“. It is therefore not at all the same thing as “bought”! For example, a drone without class indication placed on the market in 2023 (like the Mini 3 Pro for example), purchased in July 2024, can be used without problem in subcategory A1! Furthermore, drones placed on the market after January 1, 2024 without class indication may be marketed, but they cannot be used in Europe in the Open category.
« After January 1, 2024, once the C0 label is removed (without Cx label), the drone will only be able to fly in the Specific category (by requesting a flight authorization via SORA) and will no longer be authorized to fly in the A1 subcategory ».
-> The remark is the same as in the previous paragraph: since the Mini 4 Pro has been “put on the market” in 2023, it can therefore continue to be operated without indication of class in Open category subcategory A1 in 2024 and after!
And to complicate all this?
The document " Acceptable Means of Compliance and Guidance Material to the Annex to Regulation (EU) 2019/947 — Issue 1, Amendment 2 » dated September 28, 2022 specifies that in the case of invalidation of class conformity, “ The class identification label must be removed from the UAS identification label and the modified UAS can only be used in the Specific category ". If we follow the recommendation of this document, a C0 class drone cannot lose its class indication and continue to be used in the Open category, whether now or after 2024! So the Mini 4 Pro is no longer usable in the Open category since its height limit increased to 500 meters with the previous update! Fortunately, this recommendation does not have the force of law but simply good use of European regulations by EASA...
Hello Fred, if he goes to C1 will he need remote identification or not? Or does it remain mandatory only for drones weighing more than 800 g.
Regulation is the surest way to kill a hobby, aeromodelling is almost dead today…..
@AUDOYE: If it goes to C1, DJI will have to distribute remote identification (European), this is imposed on C1 C2 C3 drones. As it weighs less than 800g, it is however exempt from electronic reporting (French).
You have to excuse Dji.
Given the “simplicity” of the regulations, we should not be surprised by the few erroneous interpretations.
Once all these transitions have passed, we should see things more clearly.
@fred I have two questions,
The advantage of c0 is hovering over people, so if I remove c0 I lose this advantage?
For the transition to c1 electronic reporting will require an external module or DJI can simply activate it via update?
Thank you in advance.
@ Stéphane: It’s certain, the regulatory millefeuille is perfect for drowning in texts.
It is likely that usage overrides certain regulatory provisions if they are not functional.
@Kesa15: If you remove the C0, it becomes “drone without class indication placed on the market before January 1, 2024”. In 2024 and after, it will be able to evolve above people, this is a provision of regulation 2019/947, paragraph UAS.OPEN.020 point 2)
And so it doesn't change anything regarding hovering over people.
If DJI offers CE marking with class C1 retroactively and you do so, you lose the ability to fly over people – in fact the rule changes to this very ambiguous “can reasonably estimate that no person not involved in the operation will be overflown. In the event of an unplanned overflight of persons not involved in the operation, the remote pilot reduces as much as possible the time during which the aircraft without a crew on board flies over these persons“. Basically, you can't skim, but if you do and you notice it, you need to stop doing it.
In C1, it is not electronic reporting (French measure imposed on >800g), but remote identification (European measure). And yes, normally DJI will automatically activate this identification with its integrated module through a software update and entering your UAS operator number, no need for an additional module.
Note that the Open category guide indicates that electronic reporting is required on class C1 C2 C3 C4 devices. There is no regulatory basis for this, DGAC and DSAC have never responded to my requests for details. So no reason to impose reporting on devices <800g.
You have to ask yourself the right questions.
Who benefits from such a mess (to remain polite)
A few years ago I had a bepop2 which gave me a lot of pleasure. Then came the successive drone laws... which even managed to kill the pleasure I had in my hobby since I was little on the aeromodelling fields.
I currently have a mini 2 and this will be my last. When the pleasure is no longer there at all I will drop the club and I will go back to the simulators hoping that no one will come and give us a simulation law with classes according to screen sizes, processors used, memory size etc. These decision-makers are very capable of it... they are paid for that!!
@Fred > If we declassify our mini 4 pro via the DJI procedure, what about future firmware updates related to feature additions and bug fixes? DJI remains completely vague on this in its blog post. I don't want to end up with a drone which certainly will no longer have 120m restrictions but which potentially will not benefit from functional developments like the basic C0 version. What will happen? Have you had an official response on this?
@Fred > Regarding the declassification process, knowing that you give your DJI identifier (email, etc.), what do they do with it afterwards at DJI? Is this sent to the local aviation authorities? Are we stuck? Without falling into paranoia, there is reason to ask questions.
Furthermore, in the event of resale of a declassified mini 4 pro, what happens to the buyer given that the declassification was done with the ID of the previous owner? Will the buyer still benefit from declassification? It's really not clear. If related to the drone serial number, I assume the declassification is for life, but what about the impact of the user ID (email)? Given that the new buyer will log into their RC with a different ID, what are the consequences in this case? If declassification based solely on the serial number, no problem, but if it is serial number + ID, I don't see how it could work for me to plan the move in advance with a generic ID that we will give to the purchaser.
It's really totally unclear. DJI acted too quickly I think... some say that since we modify the drone it will no longer be able to fly in the open category (DJI say it themselves and others say that this text has no legal value and that suddenly the mini 4 pro will be like a mini 3 pro) with all this I don't know what to expect. Official communication would be good. Because in the case described by @Fred everyone would have an interest in decommissioning the drone, this only has advantages, but if the authorities wish to take decommissioning into account in this case we end up with a brick that is difficult to use. There will always be the possibility of going to C1 to limit damage but there again... on certain text the C1 and from 250g so it may be necessary to have a battery more necessarily and perhaps a remote identification module even if It seems it will be activated via update. The situation should be clarified quickly.
@Tom: I'll ask the question. But if the downgraded version were to no longer have an update, I doubt they would tell me 😉
@ Tom: As DJI indicated that it would not be possible to reverse the declassification, the declassified firmware is permanently installed, regardless of the user.
For personal information, yes, you are recorded in their database (like when activating a new drone). I doubt they will pass this address on to anyone – but I don't know the regulatory obligations of manufacturers in the event of a request from the police in France.
If this seems inconvenient to you, which is understandable, you can give a “garage” email address which no one will be able to use and which cannot be traced back to you.
@Kesa15: There will inevitably be a period of uncertainty in the coming months, while the “wolves” are flushed out.
Most cases are regulated by European and French texts. Others are described by the AMCs, but these are only recommendations. For those who remain, you will have to wait for an update of the AMC or texts.
@Fred personally I think I'll wait until early December to make a decision to see if the vagueness clears up a bit. It seems risky to me to unblock the drone if there is some sort of blocking applied at the goose level to penalize this bypass. And the classification in C1 is penalizing because of no one's overview even if in practice no one really knows how to implement the two variants in c0 and C1 ^^ moreover still 0 information on them. Condition of this classification and its implementation. If DJI ever tells you more, I'm interested.
Just like @Tom I remain on the lookout for information regarding future updates even if I think that the firmware will not be different just that the DJI Fly receives different altitude unlock information. A bit like when you change zones without there being a different firmware. Just a permanent unlock independent of firmware and features.
@Kesa15: Yes, my recommendation in this post is to take the time to decide! 🙂
@Fred > Thank you for your answers. In the meantime I chatted with DJI technical support (EU) yesterday. Here are the answers to my questions:
– The declassification will not prevent the mini 4 pro from continuing to receive firmware updates to add new features such as version C0.
– The declassification process is only based on the serial number of the drone. The user ID does not come into play although it is requested during the process. So no problem in the event of resale, the new buyer will still benefit from declassification despite their own user ID.
– Moving to class C1 will be possible for declassified mini 4 pro and C0. The C1 doesn't interest me but good to know.
Anyway, I think I'm going to declassify. Basically, the situation is simple in fact: if you bought your drone in 2023 you are just not concerned by this C0 thing on January 1, 2024 and you have no obligation to switch to C0 on that date. Personally, I bought my mini 4 pro in 2023, except that DJI imposes a C0 pre-classification on me by default in 2023 but I am temporarily given the choice until December 31, 2023 to declassify the mini 4 pro so that it is definitely in basic cat A1 like a mini 3 pro purchased in 2023 or before. Perfect ! What will happen on January 1, 2024 if my mini 4 pro is declassified before December 31, 2023? Nothing, you are in good standing as for any drone purchased in 2023 or before and thus not having a C0 classification.
@Tom: Thanks for returning the questions to DJI.
Note that European regulations are clear on the need to be C0 from 2024 for use in the Open category: it does not speak of purchase but of “placing on the market” and defines this placing on the market. So the Mini 4 Pro, and all the other Minis that preceded it, do not need to be identified C0, even if they are purchased after January 1, 2024. What matters is the date of placing on the market: it is before January 1, 2024 for all these models…
@Fred > Thank you for these details. That said, and apart from this notion of “placing on the market”, the user has no other choice than to request declassification of his mini 4 pro before January 1, 2024, which de facto implies having purchased and activated your mini 4 pro in 2023 and not in 2024! In fact, the declassification procedure will no longer be possible from January 1, 2024.
@Tom: Yes, the declassification procedure is to be carried out in 2023.
I simply wanted to clarify that a Mini from the current range will be usable without class and without restrictions, in 2024 and later, so that declassification does not pose a problem. On the other hand, remaining classified as C0 adds the height restriction in relation to the take-off point, and moving to C1 adds other restrictions.
@Fred > Total in phase! Everything is quite clear now :-). It wasn't easy given the complexity of the subject, lol.
That being said, it would be nice if other people could also contact DJI support with the same questions as mine in order to cross-check the information. In fact, it is generally not uncommon for support agents to say everything and the opposite. In fact, a double check would not be a luxury!
The only thing that worries me is the interpretation concerning the fact that a Cx drone cannot be modified otherwise it will evolve into a specific category. A priori it only has the value of advice but what if by January it changes a bit and has the effect of a rule more than advice. In this case the mini 4 pro will no longer be really usable. DJI themselves say that without a class it will be usable in a limited category, so I imagine that they must have inquired and collaborated with the competent authorities, which pushes me to be cautious.
It is clear that if you can use the mini 4 pro unrestricted without any restrictions you would have to be stupid not to do so, it only brings advantages but doubt still lingers.
The ideal would be that someone is in contact with the easa in order to have clear information and with official values. Because even DJI seems to be in the wrong. Concerning the overview etc. it doesn't even give the right information from c0 but instead from c1 etc it's a mess without all that 😂
@Kesa15: The AMC paragraph which deals with loss of class allows modifications in accordance with the manufacturer. This is what allows a machine to evolve, particularly its firmware. Voluntary loss of class (by the manufacturer) is therefore provided for by the AMC.
On the other hand, the loss of class by the operator's wishes (by adding a load and take-off weight >250g for example) is not. The manufacturer's loss of class like the recent one of firmware >120m is not either. But he has a deadline to react when his notified body or the competent national authority warns him.
EASA has already answered me about the possibility of using a classless drone after 2024, it is “yes if it was put on the market before 2024”. The EASA site had an error in its graphs, which was taken up by quite a few sites and YouTubers. It has since been corrected, after requests from Danilo to Quadcopter News (the visuals of which I reproduce here). There was another error regarding hovering over people!
EASA before correction
EASA after correction
@Kesa15 > The specific category is if and only if you no longer operate your DJI mini according to the rules of the open category. In other words, if you have a declassified mini 4 pro or a mini 3 pro and you fly above 120m, you are in violation of the open category unless you have obtained authorization to fly in a specific category. In short, nothing new, this rule already exists.
I note comments or videos here and there which are misleading by suggesting that if you declassify your mini 4 pro now you will only be in a specific category on January 1st. It's just completely false. As already said, you will not fall under the specific category if and only if you no longer respect the rules of the open category (A1 in the specific case). So yes, knowing that a declassified mini 4 pro or a mini 3 pro can go beyond the 120m limit, if you exceed it, in fact you will then theoretically fall under the rules of the specific category. In short, it has nothing to do with the transition to C0 on January 1, 2024.
Everything is explained on the EASA website:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/civil-drones-rpas/specific-category-civil-drones#What%20is%20a%20specific%20UAS%20(drone)%20operation?
“A drone can be operated in the 'specific' category when it is operated outside of the operational limitations laid out under the 'open' drone category."
We couldn't be clearer!
@Tom: Pay attention to the reason for the declassification. If it's in accordance with DJI's procedure, no problem (it's expected). On the other hand, the loss of class C0 by the will of the UAS operator implies use in the Specific category. For example, adding an accessory that makes the device weigh more than 250g (Plus battery, feet, heavy filters, propeller protections, etc.), or modifying the firmware to exceed the 120m limit.
Well, since this is only an EASA recommendation on the one hand, and since the hacks are probably difficult to detect in the event of an inspection, this will probably not pose a problem. Except, as always, in the event of an accident with insurance that tries to avoid coverage by proving the lack of use...
@Fred. > Yes, well seen for the modification on the EASA website!
To finish responding to Kesa15, I add that a mini 4 pro would indeed be 100% in a specific category if and only the C0 label is removed from a non-declassified mini 4 pro from January 1, 2024. Conversely, any C0 label removed and followed by declassification via DJI process before January 1, 2024 causes the mini 4 pro to fall under the A1 category, the same as the mini 3 pro today.
This is officially stated on the DJI blog post in step 4:
https://viewpoints.dji.com/blog/dji-mini-series-altitude-limit-eu
Image:
https://viewpoints.dji.com/hs-fs/hubfs/C1-Viewpoints-Content-5.png?width=1200&height=614&name=C1-Viewpoints-Content-5.png
In short, to fall under the specific category the following scenarios would be required:
– Remove the C0 label from a non-declassified mini 4 pro from January 1, 2024.
– No longer respect the rules and limits laid down by the open category (120m limit, weight > 249g, etc.) by operating a declassified mini 4 pro.
It's not that complicated to understand in the end, lol, you just have to take the time to read all the paperwork laid out by Brussels!
It seems clearer to me. I'm thinking of taking the plunge from here then ^^
Thank you
Well thank you for this great job of presentation and explanation. And thank you to the contributors too who greatly help to understand the ins and outs.
I bought a mini 4 pro for precise filming and was thinking of reselling it straight away but it proved to be so useful and much less annoying (hello metal masses that make the Mavic 2 freak out) and so reliable that I think keep.
As a professional working mainly in the mountains but never away from an urban mission, I see no reason not to declassify this drone as a result.
Clear, clear… It still has to be said quickly!
I admit to having a little difficulty assimilating all these notions of classes.
Some sort of multiple choice table or graph could possibly be more meaningful (probably not easy to do).
But this would allow us to see according to the criteria which classes we fall into.
I too am wondering very hard what I should do with my Mini 4 pro? It's great, I love how it evolves over the versions. I've had them all.
But it's certain that the 120m from the take-off point is limiting, moreover, I don't understand why DJI removed the evolving Home Point???
We have a drone that does great follow me work but if the battery is low it comes back to land 3km further away. We can update it but it's a manual action... It's pretty stupid!
Hello
Thank you for all this information but it remains quite vague and what a circus all these categories C0 C1 ETC the weight this legislation is a real mess between the laws dictated by Brussels plus the legislation of France, in the end we will abandon the drones, seen all this gibberish!!!!!!
Well I will wait to see if this legislation evolves or not as you say in these comments.
cordially
Jean Paul
@ Leblanc jean paul: Yes, you just have to wait a little for things to settle down. As the texts have piled up, customs have most often taken precedence over certain regulatory requirements.
That's it, I have just declassified my mini 4 pro via the official DJI process. Ultra fast, no bugs. Altitude limit of 500m max available in my RC2 after having carried out all the manipulation. So moving from category C0 to A1. No more constraints. There was really no point in making a big deal out of it and procrastinating for 107 years, lol. The best of both worlds now!
@Tom: Yes, that’s what I did personally. I don't recommend it yet, I haven't put this firmware to the test enough (due to lack of nice weather).
@Fred > There is no reason for there to be any problems with this firmware. On the contrary, the latest Aircraft firmware v01.00.0210 dating from November 8 fixes bugs. So staying on hold also means unnecessarily depriving yourself of the latest fixes. In any case, and being in the mountains, this declassification was just vital to properly enjoy my mini 4 pro. A good thing done :)
@ Tom: There is always a risk of discovering a bug in a firmware, I paid the price a few years ago with previous models, it earned me intense moaning 😎 Which means that now , I no longer recommend doing the update directly except for those who are aware of the potential problems, I prefer to suggest waiting for the geeks to take care of the debugging :)
Hi Fred, so if I understand all this “gibberish” of laws correctly, the dji mini 4 pro is c0, that is to say that it is limited to 120m altitude and that it is authorized to fly over isolated people but when we execute the dji procedure to remove the c0 standard, the drone therefore becomes a drone without class indication. In this case, is the drone allowed to fly above 120m and above isolated people? If so, what are the regulations to follow? Thank you for your response 😉
@Charles:
If the Mini 4 Pro loses its C0 class, it becomes a drone without class indication placed on the market before January 1, 2024. Concerning the flight height (and not the altitude), the pilot must ensure that it i.e. always 120 meters at most from the closest point on the Earth's surface. It can fly over people (as long as it's not a gathering of people). The rest of the requirements of the Open category, which apply to it, are indicated In this post.
Hello, first of all, thank you for all the information and answers provided.
I don't have a drone yet, but I've been itching for 2 years, and the mini pro 4 seems very good for my leisure use. That said, I'm still confused about the flight height. Unclamping allows you to fly at 500 meters, but in practice, it is prohibited. I don't realize the difference between a shot taken at 120 m altitude and the same one at 500 m.
The 120m is in Europe, but what about the
England and Switzerland which are geographically in Europe of course but not necessarily at the regulatory level.
I looked on geoportal, 90% of the places I go are in red, even in Cantal and Normandy
Is geoportail reliable, because in my case, it had the effect of a cold shower.
My house is in a red zone, but does the drone take off anyway, in order to practice. Since I have 7000m2 of land?
@Laurent: It's normal that you're confused, it's not easy when you get into the details...
500m height for shooting, most often, it's useless, you get the most beautiful images at 120m or even less.
Tell yourself that 500m (not necessarily as much, but more than 120) are interesting in two specific cases: when you raise the drone along a rocky wall in the mountains, and when you do automatic tracking on a beautiful coast, on a mountain bike for example.
England and Switzerland have adopted texts very close to those of the EU countries, but I have not checked what exactly their texts say regarding height, and the words are important (so it is worth checking 🙂 )
There are indeed many prohibited areas in Normandy and Cantal.
And at home, I can't tell you if you can fly in your private space if it is in a red zone: it depends on the location.
Because no, Geoportail is not reliable, it is a start, it must be supplemented with other sources.
To understand the reasons, I recommend read this post which is not very young, but which is still relevant today. This will give you the keys to knowing if you can fly home or not. Then you can read this post on Facebook which explains how to know if it is possible or not to fly in Auvergne – you have to hang on a bit, but it's worth trying to understand the logic of the bans 😉
@Fred: thanks for the info and links. It's even worse than I thought 😱
So if I understood correctly in the zone d18 a1, on the island of Ouessant or d18 a2 on the island of Belle île it is indicated: “Possible H24 activation” and on r 205 / 3 it is indicated: “H24”
Authorization must therefore be obtained, but from whom? In these areas I see drones quite regularly and I am almost sure that people are flying.
Is there an application that allows you to obtain authorization in real time? Because in leisure use, if you have to wait several days, it's doomed in advance.
Thank you for this blogpost, it has the merit of being very clear and the comments are a wealth of additional details.
Personally, I was keen on the idea of doing the C0 declassification then the C1 classification with DJI in 2024 as their disclaimer indicated (in fact, the fact of being able to put Plus batteries in the M4P legally would have really interested me) but according to 3 different people in the DJI chat, once the drone has been declassified, there is no longer any way to request any sort of classification a posteriori, C0 or C1.
What *should* be available in 2024 is a C1 request, probably from C0 (but the DJI guys are so caught up that they haven't really responded).
So I have two possibilities:
– if I declassify, I fly in A1 in 2024 but if I put Plus batteries, I would move to A3 (see the Open cat. 3.7 guide). Be careful though, chapter 5.4 says that from 2024, you need A1/A3 training (the 40-question quiz) to fly on a declassified aircraft. Well, in my case, that’s good, I have it.
– if I don't change anything, I fly in C0 and I hit the 120m limit at the starting point. On the other hand, with a little luck, if DJI upgrades the C1 to existing drones, then I could happily put Plus batteries and hope that DJI removes the 120m restriction from the start, since the C1 standard allows a limit to 120m ATS . But that's a lot of conditionals...
In short, I'm going to procrastinate and above all hope that DJI communicates a little more (ideally on the C1 process) by December 31. Failing that, I will take the simplest: I declassify.
@ Sylvain: To clarify, if you declassify the Mini 4 Pro and you do not modify the rest of its characteristics, it is in A1 from now and the rest in 2024. No need for A1/A3 training (because in A1, training is only required for class C1 devices cf 2019/947 UAS.OPEN.020). If, on the other hand, you put the Plus battery on it, it goes to A3 in 2024, and A1/A3 training is necessary (see 2019/947 UAS.OPEN.040 3).
@Fred, ah right point 3.7 of the open category guide is precise for after 1/1/24, if less than 250g then training recommended but not obligatory.
Well, basically, that means that if I declassify, I have a drone authorized in A1 and that I can even fly with Plus battery, provided I stay 150m from people (A3). It seems to me an acceptable compromise, but the ideal would be a C1 classification. I just hope that DJI will give more visibility on this possibility for C0 aircraft, because it still seems better to me than flying in A3 if you want to put Plus batteries (or a wetsuit, or propeller protection, etc. .)
@ Sylvain: Yes, wait and see to find out what DJI will offer in terms of classes…
@Fred, obviously DJI has a procedure in the works to request a C1 only from January 2024 and only for C0 drones:
https://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=300851&pid=3170695
If it's the same procedure as the Mavics, I'm willing to wait.
@ sylvain: Yes, that’s what I said in the text 🙂 “DJI assures that it will later be able to obtain class C1”
I'm starting to make a small comparative list between flying in C1 (if I wait until 2024) and flying in A1/A3 (if I request declassification now).
Let's see if I have just:
+ in both cases, DJI will allow me to go up to 500m, and the regulations will force me to stay at 120m ATS. No difference from this point of view.
– in both cases, I lose sight of isolated people (but I have mourned that)
+ with a C1, I will be able to add accessories weighing more than 250g (like a Plus battery)
– with a C1, my drone must have “direct remote identification” and a geovigilance function.
+ with an unclassified drone, no need to register it or activate these identification and geovigilance functions
– with an unclassified drone, any change in its weight will require me to fly “far from people”, therefore 150m from any home.
Concretely, the more I think about it, the more difficult it is for me to see the point of the C1, at least as long as DJI does not market the Plus batteries in Europe. It seems to me to add a lot of constraints whereas currently it's more freestyle...
Other points of view?
@ Sylvain: Yes, that’s right.
And yes, the C1 is not fancy – unless you want to fly close to buildings and people with added accessories (feet, propeller protections etc. knowing that it is the Plus battery the most interesting, obviously).
In any case, you can declassify and, when DJI offers the move to C1, you can always decide at that time. Assuming that they really offer the C1, as long as it is not available they are not obliged and I imagine that they will have other priorities at the start of the year…
@Fred, yeah, but as said, I have the impression that DJI is only going to offer the move to C1 for drones that have not been declassified. Strange but several times, the support guys (on the chat as well as on the forums) all respond with the same automatic response now (and it's fun, because the chat responds exactly the same thing in French):
“For DJI Mini 4 pro, which has already applied for the removal of the 120m height limit in 2023, there will no longer be a mandatory label requirement after 2024, and you can still fly the drone up to 500m, so there is no need to apply for a C1(C0) label and the C1(C0) application is not supported”
https://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=298464&pid=3190885
https://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=redirect&goto=findpost&ptid=300851&pid=3185664
In short, it's cheese or dessert, but not both, hence my comparison C1 vs. A1 (otherwise, it would be too simple, I'm declassifying now and I'll wait for C1 to decide)
@ Sylvain: Well in any case the formulations are sufficiently imprecise for them to be able to go back on what they said 8-D
@Sylvain
When you see how we... Drone pilot keeping informed of the laws and regulations have a hard time understanding these things!
Imagine the poor guy or local policeman who sees you taking some souvenir photos, they won't care about your classification C0, C1, A1 2 or 3... They don't think anything of it or even know of its existence.
Declassify if you want more than 120m or stay in C0, but do it for you not for the regulations.
For me, the only watchword is Common Sense!
@jbtniko, I admit that even by taking the time to understand all the rules and by consulting all the NOTAMs and other SUP AIS, in addition to Geoportail (and by telling myself that sometimes certain temporary R zones are downright nonsense what for a poor reason), I find that the risk of being in violation is really too simple.
So, I don't really know if it's better to be in C1 than in subcat A1 and worse if tomorrow DJI sells its Plus batteries, to be in C1 vs. A3.
With the C1, I have an obligation to register the drone on AlphaTango and incidentally a remote identification system (it's not for nothing that DJI is taking time to release its C1, probably via a firmware update). So, far be it from me to go and do things willy-nilly (I'm the type to respect the laws to the letter) but if they really want to blame me, they'll find it (like a ceiling of 50m AGS poorly respected). So, I'm tending to declassify the drone, but once again, if tomorrow DJI releases its Plus batteries in Europe, I would have the risk of having to fly in an A3...
Well, otherwise, first adventure with my drone from home, which lives at the foot of a hill and next to an aerodrome. I am therefore in the <50m AGS zone but my house being on the edge of the municipality, I can fly towards the forest. So I make sure to stay under the 50m ceiling when going up to observe a tower, but boom, I quickly get stuck… Thanks C0. Note: the drone remained in sight throughout…
The kind of thing that almost made me unconsciously click “I want to increase my ceiling”. It's also stupid that DJI doesn't give an (approximate) altitude of the drone when you fly (with ideally an altitude at the base of the drone obtained by maps), that would allow you to check at a glance.