From Philip Blooms initial impressions:-
Philip Bloom - Following on from yesterday’s post… DJI MINI 4 PRO... | Facebook



EU HEIGHT RESTRICTION

In April 2024 in the EU any drone under 250g needs to be labelled C-0 and is banned from going over 120m for anything. DJI has decided to do this early for the Mini 4 Pro.

From April 2024 every new Mini 3 Pro will also have this restriction, and they will also bring out firmware for current Mini 3 Pros to add this restriction ALTHOUGH you do not have to update your drone. It's optional; you just won't be able to get any new features if they add any.

This info is direct from my DJI guy.


So forget flying higher if next to cliffs, hills, obstacles.  Its a flat 120m.  

That's very bad. They do not have to do that to the Mini 3 Pro. This means firmware freeze for me. Hopefully it hasn't been done in yesterdays update V01.00.0700.

Just checked it, height limit still is 500m.
I will now opt out on any future firmware updates for the M3P.

He needs to go more in details :
120m AGL or 120m Above takeoff altitude makes a huge difference.
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/do ... tegory-civil-drones

Applyable from 1st Jan 2024 is 120M AGL, and now if above takeoff height. It makes a great difference.

Which, if you could be bothered (were the words too long for you?) to read you'd see is (i) exactly what he said and (ii) an official DJI employee confirmed would be introduced for C0.

sorry for being a bit rude, actually I corrected.

I bet yesterdays Mini 3 Pro firmware included this and its date bound,  so as soon as we reach April it will activate.  If someone has updated already perhaps you could change the date to next April and see what happens.

I visit northern Norway reguraly, their drone code is clear, see infographic, its keep within 120m from the earths surface. You could be 300 metres up from your take off point as long as your less than 120 metres from the earths surface.

No mention of changes on their websites.

Mavic57pro2 Posted at 9-27 11:58
I visit northern Norway reguraly, their drone code is clear, see infographic, its keep within 120m from the earths surface. You could be 300 metres up from your take off point as long as your less than 120 metres from the earths surface.

No mention of changes on their websites.[Image]

But you won’t know if you are 120m AGL if flying up a mountain or hill because altitude is measured from the take off position

Its how I read it, it does say in the rules "Earths surface".

Hi there. Thank you for reaching out. In accordance with the new European Drone Regulation that will come into effect on 1 January 2024, DJI's Mini 4 Pro will be launched with a C0 class identification label and therefore be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m that cannot be increased to any scenario (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- ... ri=CELEX:32019R0945 - ANNEX, Part 1). This measure has been introduced by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to allow safe flight operations for drones weighing less than 250 grams. In accordance with the same European Drone Regulation, all other currently-available drones of the DJI Mini series (e.g. Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro) will be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m later this year via a DJI firmware update. Customers of the above-named, currently-available DJI Mini-series drones (before Mini 4 Pro) will be able to apply retroactively for C0 class identification labels in Q4 this year via a process we will share in due course. Thank you for your understanding and support.

DJI Paladin Posted at 9-27 19:17
Hi there. Thank you for reaching out. In accordance with the new European Drone Regulation that will come into effect on 1 January 2024, DJI's Mini 4 Pro will be launched with a C0 class identification label and therefore be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m that cannot be increased to any scenario (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- ... ri=CELEX:32019R0945 - ANNEX, Part 1). This measure has been introduced by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to allow safe flight operations for drones weighing less than 250 grams. In accordance with the same European Drone Regulation, all other currently-available drones of the DJI Mini series (e.g. Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro) will be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m later this year via a DJI firmware update. Customers of the above-named, currently-available DJI Mini-series drones (before Mini 4 Pro) will be able to apply retroactively for C0 class identification labels in Q4 this year via a process we will share in due course. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Will The Air 3  be capped at 120m as well?

SeehawerB Posted at 9-26 21:25
That's very bad. They do not have to do that to the Mini 3 Pro. This means firmware freeze for me. Hopefully it hasn't been done in yesterdays update V01.00.0700.

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. If your drone is doing all you want don’t update it.

If this 120 height is true that is a reason that I won’t buy it. DJI are not the policemen in this and should not act so

gnirtS Posted at 9-26 22:49
Which, if you could be bothered (were the words too long for you?) to read you'd see is (i) exactly what he said and (ii) an official DJI employee confirmed would be introduced for C0.

What on earth is an official DJI employee. Cos DJI never get it wrong or give bad advice do they

DJI Paladin Posted at 9-27 19:17
Hi there. Thank you for reaching out. In accordance with the new European Drone Regulation that will come into effect on 1 January 2024, DJI's Mini 4 Pro will be launched with a C0 class identification label and therefore be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m that cannot be increased to any scenario (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- ... ri=CELEX:32019R0945 - ANNEX, Part 1). This measure has been introduced by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to allow safe flight operations for drones weighing less than 250 grams. In accordance with the same European Drone Regulation, all other currently-available drones of the DJI Mini series (e.g. Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro) will be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m later this year via a DJI firmware update. Customers of the above-named, currently-available DJI Mini-series drones (before Mini 4 Pro) will be able to apply retroactively for C0 class identification labels in Q4 this year via a process we will share in due course. Thank you for your understanding and support.

You don’t say where the 120 m is measured from

Another very good reason not to buy new drones and not to update.

DJI please be aware that the U.K. is not an EASA country and stop being the drone police it is not your place to do that

SeehawerB Posted at 9-26 21:28
Just checked it, height limit still is 500m.
I will now opt out on any future firmware updates for the M3P.

You said that the last time as well...

Good willpower...

https://forum.dji.com/forum.php? ... 016&pid=3072387

I know how hard it is to resist to a new firmware...

Bigplumbs Posted at 9-27 21:17
You don’t say where the 120 m is measured from

Go read the text he linked. DJI didn't invent anything, the law imposes a maximum restriction of 120m from the takeoff point for category C0. That's all !

So where do we go from here? If the smallest drone is only allowed to 120 metre and you already have all the other limitations for the bigger drones, does it mean the game is over?

Burt37 Posted at 9-27 22:29
So where do we go from here? If the smallest drone is only allowed to 120 metre and you already have all the other limitations for the bigger drones, does it mean the game is over?

In reality this doesn't change much, except in special cases in the mountains for example where it can become restrictive.
The altimeter has always been set to zero when the drone starts, then when it reaches 120m we know that we have reached the limit.
You must use third-party software like UGCS which integrates a 3D model of the terrain to know the true AGL height.

It's just whining, that's all.

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-27 22:35
In reality this doesn't change much, except in special cases in the mountains for example where it can become restrictive.
The altimeter has always been set to zero when the drone starts, then when it reaches 120m we know that we have reached the limit.
You must use third-party software like UGCS which integrates a 3D model of the terrain to know the true AGL height.

I was under the impression that we just went from a warning to a real limitation...

Burt37 Posted at 9-27 22:58
I was under the impression that we just went from a warning to a real limitation...

It is what it is. C0 = no need for an exam.

DJI Paladin Posted at 9-27 19:17
Hi there. Thank you for reaching out. In accordance with the new European Drone Regulation that will come into effect on 1 January 2024, DJI's Mini 4 Pro will be launched with a C0 class identification label and therefore be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m that cannot be increased to any scenario (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- ... ri=CELEX:32019R0945 - ANNEX, Part 1). This measure has been introduced by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to allow safe flight operations for drones weighing less than 250 grams. In accordance with the same European Drone Regulation, all other currently-available drones of the DJI Mini series (e.g. Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro) will be restricted to an altitude limit of 120m later this year via a DJI firmware update. Customers of the above-named, currently-available DJI Mini-series drones (before Mini 4 Pro) will be able to apply retroactively for C0 class identification labels in Q4 this year via a process we will share in due course. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Paladin, will "all other currently-available drones of the DJI Mini series (e.g. Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro) " also apply to the Mini 2 and Mini SE which, at least in theory, appear to still be available from DJI ?What about the Mavic Mini? Which is no longer available from DJI.

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-27 23:00
It is what it is. C0 = no need for an exam.

Perhaps we are not communicating correctly here...

Is it a simple warning on the screen or a hardware limitation for the drone???

Is it better?

EDIT

It's all good. I have already found the answer...

https://forum.dji.com/forum.php? ... 334&pid=3139362

Burt37 Posted at 9-27 23:03
Perhaps we are not communicating correctly here...

Is it a simple warning on the screen or a hardware limitation for the drone???

Ahhhh! Got it
Its a limitation.
Then in addition if you use bigger battery there is a warning message.

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-27 23:06
Ahhhh! Got it
Its a limitation.
Then in addition if you use bigger battery there is a warning message.

Thanks mate but that seems the opposite of what DJI Paladin just replied in the other thread...

Burt37 Posted at 9-27 23:07
Thanks mate but that seems the opposite of what DJI Paladin just replied in the other thread...

He refer to the law 2019/945. Which in category C0 mentioned that the max altitude is 120m from take off point.

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-27 23:13
He refer to the law 2019/945. Which in category C0 mentioned that the max altitude is 120m from take off point.

Not really...

Quote:

"Hi there. Thank you for reaching out. Yes, we can set the maximum altitude of the DJI Mini 4 Pro to 500m under the DJI Fly app > Safety > Flight Protection when flying your drone in the UK."

I think this EASA-imposed restriction is a red herring for most drone pilots.

Who would want to fly a drone up the slope of a hill or mountain anyway unless you wanted to film yourself climbing up a cliff face or you wanted to track yourself driving a car through the mountains or riding a bike uphill?  I cannot think of a single scenario where you would want to do this.

I concede you might want to fly a drone higher than 120m to clear an obstacle or clear the top of a hill, but in doing so you then run the risk of losing VLOS and/or you could lose connectivity between the drone and the RC.

I have been flying drones for years and have never needed to fly above 120m, even when flying in the French Alps (where I take my drone every year).  

So I really do think this 120m restriction in the EU is irrelevant to most drone pilots (unless you’re doing the things I have listed above).

Better to stay with no further updates but i believe DJI will seduce us with some new features

In accordance with the same European Drone Regulation, all other currently-available drones
of the DJI Mini series (e.g. Mini 2 SE, Mini 3, Mini 3 Pro) will be restricted to an altitude limit
of 120m later this year via a DJI firmware update !

Burt37 Posted at 9-27 23:16
Not really...

Quote:

In the UK yes. Not in EU

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-27 23:36
In the UK yes. Not in EU

Thank you mate... I knew I was missing something there...

It's obviously a slip of the tongue, due to conflicting wordings.

fansf2406672 Posted at 9-28 06:53
It's obviously a slip of the tongue, due to conflicting wordings.[Image]

There is no confusion possible. For DJI the rules to apply is in the 2019/945 (left side on your screenshot)

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-28 07:11
There is no confusion possible. For DJI the rules to apply is in the 2019/945 (left side on your screenshot)

But the rules in 2019/945 are not really precise and contradict the rules in 2019/947.

The right is to apply from 1st Jan 2024. The left is now. Just read all the page (I know how confusing an  EASA page can be).

djiuser_AszqW3FCy3iq Posted at 9-28 08:15
But the rules in 2019/945 are not really precise and contradict the rules in 2019/947.

945 is the technical part, manufacturer, importer, sellers.

947 this is the part which concerns the operations (use) of the drone by its end user.

So there should be no contradiction.

For example in the 945 the manufacturer is obliged to set a limit of 120m from the take-off point for category C0. ANNEX Part 1 (3)

In 947, ANNEX UAS.OPEN.020 (5) c), category A1 in which C0 drones can operate is described as achievable with a drone that meets the requirements of the point mentioned above.

It is as simple as that.

LV_Forestry Posted at 9-27 22:35
In reality this doesn't change much, except in special cases in the mountains for example where it can become restrictive.
The altimeter has always been set to zero when the drone starts, then when it reaches 120m we know that we have reached the limit.
You must use third-party software like UGCS which integrates a 3D model of the terrain to know the true AGL height.

120m restriction  would effect my flying greatly, because i do fly the mountains and even with ATV's we can only get half up these mountain terrains the drones the only way to reach the tops and explore them ranges without a helicopter.
This new policies is very bad . no more updates for me including my mavic3

Ms Ivy Posted at 9-28 09:12
120m restriction  would effect my flying greatly, because i do fly the mountains and even with ATV's we can only get half up these mountain terrains the drones the only way to reach the tops and explore them ranges without a helicopter.
This new policies is very bad . no more updates for me including my mavic3
[view_image]

Yes I understand.  But drones other than the Mini series are not impacted if we refer to what the DJI Paladin admin ruled in this thread or another on the same subject.

  So, no worries.

Ms Ivy Posted at 9-28 09:12
120m restriction  would effect my flying greatly, because i do fly the mountains and even with ATV's we can only get half up these mountain terrains the drones the only way to reach the tops and explore them ranges without a helicopter.
This new policies is very bad . no more updates for me including my mavic3
[view_image]

Ms_Ivy, apart from LV_Forestry's point about the drone models concerned, the discussion relates to drone usage in the EU and not USA so there's a second reassurance for you.