Anyone else had enough of this restriction? This has made me take other measures to work around this. The FAA doesn't restrict us to 500 meters in the USA.
Am i missing a setting or something?

The FAA restricts our flight in the US to no higher than 400 feet above the ground don't they?

500 meters = 1,640 feet
US FAA drone altitude limit = 400 feet
===============================
Yes, you are missing something.

wait, I thought the  400' was a guild line not a law, for recreational flyers?

Mittens Posted at 2018-8-7 10:57
wait, I thought the  400' was a guild line not a law, for recreational flyers?

https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/
Please do some research/homework on the rules and requirements before you continue flying. Thx.

Masemoto Posted at 2018-8-7 11:12
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/
Please do some research/homework on the rules and requirements before you continue flying. Thx.

yea I was actually on that page before posting... so what about my statement was incorrect.  if not a 107, then 400 foot is not a rule.

Under FAA rule Part 107 The maximum allowable altitude is 400 feet above the ground, higher if your drone remains within 400 feet of a structure.
Masemoto made a good suggestion (post#5)

again your assuming everyone is a 107... not req

and I would bet there is a larger number of req vs 107s flying

Looks like you opened a tin of worms :-)

Could be a bit of a nuisance if you want to fly up a steep mountainside.

I do not think you have to have a FAA 107 cert to fly over 400' if you are flying up to the top of a tall tower or building or mountain etc. Correct me if i am wrong.

I suppose once you go up above 500m you are now in manned airspace, difficulties with maned aircraft, first responders etc, is it prudent to allow for this potential danger if it can be avoided ?

you guys are talking all over the place.  107 or not, 400 FOOT vs 500 M.

in the USA, which this thread is directly about.  400 foot is the limit for 107 holders... if you are the average joe, and no 107 there is not technical limit.  just the 500M/ 1640foot one DJI puts on all its drones.

FAA rule for Registered drone owners for recreational use is 400 feet.
You are not required to have a Part 107 certificate for recreational use But you must fly by some of their rules.

This is a DJI post on the subject. 400 FT Rule FAA 107

DJI made a sensible safety policy.  It's their product.  They can do what they like.  If you don't like it, nobody is forcing you to buy DJI.  You're perfectly entitled to go buy a different one.

ok have a look at this video. You do have to be in Class G airspace

B1houdini Posted at 2018-8-7 12:01
FAA rule for Registered drone owners for recreational use is 400 feet.
You are not required to have a Part 107 certificate for recreational use But you must fly by some of their rules.

Yes i am familiar with this too. It just burns me that DJI has taken away from us the ability to fly 400' above structures now.

gnirtS Posted at 2018-8-7 12:02
DJI made a sensible safety policy.  It's their product.  They can do what they like.  If you don't like it, nobody is forcing you to buy DJI.  You're perfectly entitled to go buy a different one.

Didn't i mention USA in the OP? You are in the UK so it is probably different there. I don't live in the UK

Mittens Posted at 2018-8-7 12:01
you guys are talking all over the place.  107 or not, 400 FOOT vs 500 M.

in the USA, which this thread is directly about.  400 foot is the limit for 107 holders... if you are the average joe, and no 107 there is not technical limit.  just the 500M/ 1640foot one DJI puts on all its drones.

Well not technically

You take the 400' rule away you will see more drones flying into airplanes and helicopters then you will see strict height limit, like 2 feet.....lol

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-8-7 11:58
I suppose once you go up above 500m you are now in manned airspace, difficulties with maned aircraft, first responders etc, is it prudent to allow for this potential danger if it can be avoided ?

G airspace only so you're kind of right but they do have to apply for FAA waivers just like we do.

Aardvark Posted at 2018-8-7 11:32
Looks like you opened a tin of worms :-)

Could be a bit of a nuisance if you want to fly up a steep mountainside.

I love them cans of worms lol and i think you know what i am getting at

Mittens Posted at 2018-8-7 11:31
again your assuming everyone is a 107... not req

and I would bet there is a larger number of req vs 107s flying

No 107 cert needed

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibr ... /AC_91-57A_Ch_1.pdf specifically covers hobbists outside of Part 107.

"Model aircraft operators should follow best practices including limiting operations to 400 feet above ground level (AGL)."

Dewey3 Posted at 2018-8-7 10:49
500 meters = 1,640 feet
US FAA drone altitude limit = 400 feet
===============================

Nope you are wrong sorry

Hedsic Posted at 2018-8-7 10:44
The FAA restricts our flight in the US to no higher than 400 feet above the ground don't they?

Nope not yet i am afraid.

This is what makes me so mad. For us in the USA the FAA has it drilled in our heads 400' 400' 400' and no one realizes we can fly higher in G airspace than 400'. Now DJI has taken that ability away from us and everyone just let it go idly by and no word was said here. Come on people they just slipped a fast one on you and you just say oh well 400' is the rule? Well no it isn't

Well I thought it was 400 foot or 400 above things, and then THIS forum 3 weeks ago got me thinking it was only for 107 people... and then now more reading and its 400 for req.. so confused...

Mittens Posted at 2018-8-7 12:25
Well I thought it was 400 foot or 400 above things, and then THIS forum 3 weeks ago got me thinking it was only for 107 people... and then now more reading and its 400 for req.. so confused...

Well it is 400' above everything but only in G Airspace. BUT now we cannot do that anymore with the newer DJI Go 4 apps. You don't need a FAA 107 cert to fly that high in G airspace.

I don't have anything high enough to try this out but i don't know how the DJI Go 4 app can recognize a building/structure unless i land on the building and then reset my home point and then go higher?

rolling56 Posted at 2018-8-7 12:14
Didn't i mention USA in the OP? You are in the UK so it is probably different there. I don't live in the UK

Doesnt matter.  DJI made a risk assessment and decision and decide to cap the drones at 500m.  Clearly they had reasons for doing that.
Perfectly entitled to do it and its far from a stupid restriction.

  Like i said, nobody is stopping you going with any of the competition.

Personally id rather DJI take firm action to stop the idiots before the authorities step in heavy handedly and over-regulate it.

man now your contradicting your self.


2 posts up its 400 foot UNLESS in G air space, and not 1 post up its 400 foot only in G air space

rolling56 Posted at 2018-8-7 12:02
ok have a look at this video. You do have to be in Class G airspace

Yes the rule applying here is the rule , dji  are not preventing flying above this building tower,  we see here, but you will find almost every building that rises above 500m will almost certainly be a NFZ I could be wrong but can you point to many 500+ M buildings that won’t have NFZ , so really your not restricted, put into the mix VLOS at distance 400 ft altitude 1640 ft , how much further and higher can you fly without being beyond BVLOS. along with the can of worms this would open , ask yourself is it worth it.
Why do you need to fly above 500m ? Can you find a safer way of flying to the height you need to fly to ? How far and high can you fly within VLOS while flying spark MavAir Mavic Pro and both be in control of aircraft taking note of all telemetry. Common sense should prevail me thinks.

There are more than one way to skin a cat... (;+).."

gnirtS Posted at 2018-8-7 12:34
Doesnt matter.  DJI made a risk assessment and decision and decide to cap the drones at 500m.  Clearly they had reasons for doing that.
Perfectly entitled to do it and its far from a stupid restriction.

If you use your drone for work then i have a problem with it! and a lot of us do have a problem with it.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-8-7 12:36
Yes the rule applying here is the rule , dji  are not preventing flying above this building tower,  we see here, but you will find almost every building that rises above 500m will almost certainly be a NFZ I could be wrong but can you point to many 500+ M buildings that won’t have NFZ , so really your not restricted, put into the mix VLOS at distance 400 ft altitude 1640 ft , how much further and higher can you fly without being beyond BVLOS. along with the can of worms this would open , ask yourself is it worth it.
Why do you need to fly above 500m ? Can you find a safer way of flying to the height you need to fly to ? How far and high can you fly within VLOS while flying spark MavAir Mavic Pro and both be in control of aircraft taking note of all telemetry. Common sense should prevail me thinks.

Did you watch the video? and ya i know what you are getting at

B1houdini Posted at 2018-8-7 12:01
FAA rule for Registered drone owners for recreational use is 400 feet.
You are not required to have a Part 107 certificate for recreational use But you must fly by some of their rules.

Which brings up another issue.

Supposedly, flying between 30-minutes after sun set and 30-minutes before sun rise only requires a permit if you fly under Part 107 Cert.  If you fly under Recreational rules you can legally fly even at night.

However, two lawyers argue that all rules of Part 107 Cert also apply to recreational flyers too.  Which does not make logical sense, (like lawyers ever make logical sense), being there would be no point in having separate regulations and Licesening for Recreational vs. those flying under Part 107 if all same rules apply.

I'm not wanting to start an argument. I just wanted to discuss this. No one seemed to care and i don't understand why no one noticed. Ya it may be for the best bla bla bla but people use their drones for different things and not just flying around for enjoyment. I don't want this to be a short lived hobby and livelihood.

rolling56 Posted at 2018-8-7 12:39
Did you watch the video? and ya i know what you are getting at

I did watch it and am well aware of the rule, a big problem certainly at the moment is while drone user may have no problems seeing manned aircraft, we must consider, that pilots in manned have no way only visual of spotting small drones, so all things must be considered.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-8-7 12:56
I did watch it and am well aware of the rule, a big problem certainly at the moment is while drone user may have no problems seeing manned aircraft, we must consider, that pilots in manned have no way only visual of spotting small drones, so all things must be considered.

oh ya i totally agree and "SAFETY" is above all the utmost main concern. The FAA pushes SAFETY like no other word.

Are not all 107 pilots entitled to fly recreational and if so the argument that 107 qualified are somehow discriminated against is wrong. It just puts a higher standard of safety on them when flying professionally, which is exactly how it should be. Professionals don’t have problems with this and also will have much less problems getting the necessary permissions, simply because they are professionally trained , again exactly as it should be. So really there is not a real problem here.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-8-7 13:03
Are not all 107 pilots entitled to fly recreational and if so the argument that 107 qualified are somehow discriminated against is wrong. It just puts a higher standard of safety on them when flying professionally, which is exactly how it should be. Professionals don’t have problems with this and also will have much less problems getting the necessary permissions, simply because they are professionally trained , again exactly as it should be. So really there is not a real problem here.

Yes you pick one or the other before you start your drone up. You cannot switch while you're in the air.

ok you say no problem and that is what you are entitled to.