Hello,
It was my first time REALLY flying the mavic (typically I would fly it on a field of some sort but nothing crazy). I was flying it off the side of a mountain 1200ft in the air and all of a sudden the mavic air disconnected and needless to say I was losing it with anxiety. It was about 500ft away from me and maybe 75ft up from home (I was on the top of the mountain) but 1200ft off the bottom of the mountain. Luckily, it returned to home. How common is this problem and is there something I can do before I lose my mind with anxiety every time I fly? Also, will it always return to home and does it assign home automatically?

Thank you!

Check the channel page before flying in a new area.  Make sure the wifi channels aren't over run with interferrence and users.  You need an open channel to fly.  Was there a cell tower near you?  Likely, you just lost the video feed from the drone.  

Also get good at flying by the icon in the lower left that shows where the drone is pointing, as related to you, and its tilt (Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI)).  That way you can fly it home without video feed and turn it to unmask the antennas that are in its front feet.  Turning it might restore video feed.  I have never used RTH.

Good day. I am sorry that that happened to your Mavic. The reason why the drone losses its connection with the RC is because of the loss of GPS signal and if there are lots of interference and obstacle in the area.

Please upload your relating flightrecord to this site and share the link with us: http://www.phantomhelp.com/LogViewer/Upload/
This might help for a better understanding of what has happened.

I've only used the drone a few times, and it has disconnected at least twice.
I was in the desert and I assume there was little interference; the drone was also within a hundred feet.
If anyone has insight, I'd appreciate it.

Log 1
Log 2

Make sure you keep an eye on your settelites.  Make sure you always have 10 sattelites or more before and during flights if it starting to drop sattelite hit the RTH, but it looks like you have the auto RTH when you loose connection which is always a good idea.

Fly safe!

cthue Posted at 2018-6-2 19:25
I've only used the drone a few times, and it has disconnected at least twice.
I was in the desert and I assume there was little interference; the drone was also within a hundred feet.
If anyone has insight, I'd appreciate it.

What do you precisely mean by "disconnected"? Loss of the video link? Unless I have overlooked something, I do not see any disconnects in your flightrecords.

Gunship9 Posted at 2018-6-1 07:14
Check the channel page before flying in a new area.  Make sure the wifi channels aren't over run with interferrence and users.  You need an open channel to fly.  Was there a cell tower near you?  Likely, you just lost the video feed from the drone.  

Also get good at flying by the icon in the lower left that shows where the drone is pointing, as related to you, and its tilt (Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI)).  That way you can fly it home without video feed and turn it to unmask the antennas that are in its front feet.  Turning it might restore video feed.  I have never used RTH.

There is no Telemetry on the Mavic Air

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-3 00:33
What do you precisely mean by "disconnected"? Loss of the video link? Unless I have overlooked something, I do not see any disconnects in your flightrecords.

It is disconnected in both these logs. I would look at how the controller is pointed to the drone or what channel is used in WiFi.

G_Sig Posted at 2018-6-3 02:30
It is disconnected in both these logs. I would look at how the controller is pointed to the drone or what channel is used in WiFi.

Yes, sorry, now I noticed it. Both times the record just stops before end of flight. I had focussed on the parts before only.

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-3 02:38
Yes, sorry, now I noticed it. Both times the record just stops before end of flight. I had focussed on the parts before only.

Yes might also bee some background app which cause this as there is no reconnect in the log.

Simmo1 Posted at 2018-6-3 00:40
There is no Telemetry on the Mavic Air

Bold statement considering the posted log.

Sorry I meant on the RC. (versus the pro)

G_Sig Posted at 2018-6-3 02:57
Yes might also bee some background app which cause this as there is no reconnect in the log.

Thanks for your input. I am new to drones and am not familiar with the hardware or software.
That being said, I am suspicious of my phone (Samsung Galaxy S7) or the OS having issues that impact the DJI app.

My question for the experts, if the connection is lost between the app and the drone, how can I reconnect?

cthue Posted at 2018-6-7 13:06
Thanks for your input. I am new to drones and am not familiar with the hardware or software.
That being said, I am suspicious of my phone (Samsung Galaxy S7) or the OS having issues that impact the DJI app.

First of all, do not shut down the RC. But you can shut down the DJI GO 4 App in such a situation and make sure that all other Apps that might be running in the background get also shut down. Then restart DJI GO 4. This will hopefully save the situation.

The RC should reconnect automatically when aircraft return closer if signal is weak or with interference. However, in some case the connection just broke and unable to reconnect again even aircraft return in front. Don’t know what caused this problem and only way to reconnect is restart the RC and Aircraft.

cthue Posted at 2018-6-7 13:06
Thanks for your input. I am new to drones and am not familiar with the hardware or software.
That being said, I am suspicious of my phone (Samsung Galaxy S7) or the OS having issues that impact the DJI app.

Samsung S7 is one of the best  working Android phones.
There is something else which is wrong. I have newer had any trouble with my S7.

Hi, Did you find the problem and a solution?

cthue Posted at 2018-6-7 13:06
Thanks for your input. I am new to drones and am not familiar with the hardware or software.
That being said, I am suspicious of my phone (Samsung Galaxy S7) or the OS having issues that impact the DJI app.

Hi, Did you find the problem and a solution?

Anyone on this post still? I have same issue. New to droning. Twice this has happened.
First time it came back after a few minutes
Yesterday on fraser island not so lucky. It simply never returned. Distance wasn't far away at all. No wired interference in area. Only about 20 humans around the beach. Just disconnected over the ocean and suggested to return home but never did. I tried pressing rth on phone and on rc... both no luck. Is this sometbhing that mavic covers in warranty?

djiuser_r2Mwk79uA98K Posted at 4-27 01:54
Anyone on this post still? I have same issue. New to droning. Twice this has happened.
First time it came back after a few minutes
Yesterday on fraser island not so lucky. It simply never returned. Distance wasn't far away at all. No wired interference in area. Only about 20 humans around the beach. Just disconnected over the ocean and suggested to return home but never did. I tried pressing rth on phone and on rc... both no luck. Is this sometbhing that mavic covers in warranty?

Drone was found today washed up on the shore
This is where i was flying.

djiuser_r2Mwk79uA98K Posted at 4-27 01:54
Anyone on this post still? I have same issue. New to droning. Twice this has happened.
First time it came back after a few minutes
Yesterday on fraser island not so lucky. It simply never returned. Distance wasn't far away at all. No wired interference in area. Only about 20 humans around the beach. Just disconnected over the ocean and suggested to return home but never did. I tried pressing rth on phone and on rc... both no luck. Is this sometbhing that mavic covers in warranty?

Hi,

sorry for your loss!

Best to get advice/help what happend is to upload your flightlog, using > https://www.phantomhelp.com/LogViewer/Upload/

Or just put a cloud-link to your flightlog on here.

After a full disconnect not possible to activate RTH by yourself as the comms to the drone is broken....

cheers
JJB