Hi,

I am wondering how these new rules will affect old Mini 3 Pros, sold without C0 label before 1. 1. 2024. Is height limit going to be locked to 120m for us as well and do we need to go through some procedure to keep it unlocked, similar to the one that is currently offered to Mini 4 Pro users?

DJI have said one of the next firmware updates will impose the 120m limit.  

DAFlys Posted at 11-5 07:43
DJI have said one of the next firmware updates will impose the 120m limit.

Yes, but it doesn't make sense to impose this limit on already sold Mini 3 Pros that actually do not have C0 label on the body. I am interested to know how exactly will DJI handle this situation for Mini 3 Pro. Will DJI:

1. Impose 120m limit to all Mini 3 Pros, no matter when they have been sold
2. Impose 120m limit only to Mini 3 Pros manufactured and sold after 31 December
3. Impose 120m limit on all Mini 3 Pros but allow us to apply for exception, like they are currently offering to Mini 4 Pro users
4. Won't impose limit, but allow us to apply for C0 certification, after which 120m limit will be enabled

Tuxtard Posted at 11-5 08:04
Yes, but it doesn't make sense to impose this limit on already sold Mini 3 Pros that actually do not have C0 label on the body. I am interested to know how exactly will DJI handle this situation for Mini 3 Pro. Will DJI:

1. Impose 120m limit to all Mini 3 Pros, no matter when they have been sold

New Mini 3's will have a C0 from the factory and there will be a way to apply for the label for existing drones.  If you dont want it you dont install the firmware update.  

DAFlys Posted at 11-5 08:09
New Mini 3's will have a C0 from the factory and there will be a way to apply for the label for existing drones.  If you dont want it you dont install the firmware update.

Not sure if the current firmware already has this switch that DJI can flip via the DJI Fly app. It is also unacceptable that they can change this major limitation without the mechanism for certified pilots to apply for limit removal. I bought this drone unlimited and uncertified more than a year ago and I want it to stay that way. If new Mini 4 Pros can get uncertified then Mini 3 Pros certainly can stay uncertified too.

If laws are changed, they are unfortunately often

even retroactively effective and applicable ...

Space Dream Posted at 11-5 08:55
If laws are changed, they are unfortunately often

even retroactively effective and applicable ...

Not sure if this is the case here. Regulation clearly states that C0 drone have to have C0 label on it. Already sold Mini 3 Pros don't, so they are not C0 drones. Why then limit them to 120m? Also there is a procedure to remove the label and decertify Mini 4 Pro drones which means that it is legally possible for a particular unit to be or not to be C0 certified.

Tuxtard Posted at 11-5 08:45
Not sure if the current firmware already has this switch that DJI can flip via the DJI Fly app. It is also unacceptable that they can change this major limitation without the mechanism for certified pilots to apply for limit removal. I bought this drone unlimited and uncertified more than a year ago and I want it to stay that way. If new Mini 4 Pros can get uncertified then Mini 3 Pros certainly can stay uncertified too.

From whats been said so far it will come in a future firmware and its not currently in the drones as is,   so if you dont want it you dont need to upgrade later.  

DAFlys Posted at 11-6 00:30
From whats been said so far it will come in a future firmware and its not currently in the drones as is,   so if you dont want it you dont need to upgrade later.

Let's hope you are right because I'm not expecting any significant development for mini3pro in future, so not updating firmware is not an issue.

Hi there. For the EU C0 requirements, there will be a 120m altitude limitation (Currently only DJI Mini 4 Pro is announced as C0 and restricted with 120m altitude limitation). Please stay tuned to DJI's official website for the latest news and updates. Thank you for your understanding and support.

DAFlys Posted at 11-5 07:43
DJI have said one of the next firmware updates will impose the 120m limit.

Another reason why I don't update the firmware

nikonya Posted at 11-6 02:19
Let's hope you are right because I'm not expecting any significant development for mini3pro in future, so not updating firmware is not an issue.

Funny,  thats exactly what the YouTube reviewers have been saying too.

Potato mini Posted at 11-6 18:51
Another reason why I don't update the firmware

They really need to tell us whats in these firmware updates when they are released.

Potato mini Posted at 11-6 18:51
Another reason why I don't update the firmware

The ceiling discussed here is not applicable outside the EU, full stop.
If you updated then visited the EU and brought the drone then it might come into effect.

What might be worth asking is whether or not it will be removed when you return to the USA or leave the  EU regulated area.

I understand what is the intention here, limiting small individual drones flying where they were not supposed to fly - height and distance wise but that also means that they assume you are flaying in a flat area and not moving and you should not fly above obstacles :-) This will make the hack market to grow so much.

bxq Posted at 11-7 07:28
I understand what is the intention here, limiting small individual drones flying where they were not supposed to fly - height and distance wise but that also means that they assume you are flaying in a flat area and not moving and you should not fly above obstacles :-) This will make the hack market to grow so much.

It makes sense to limit unregistered pilots to a safe height. It does not make sense to prevent registered pilots from flying 120m AGL just because unregistered pilots are allowed to use this drone class. This means that registered pilots now have to take multiple drones to cover different operation categories. Financial aspect aside, can you imagine taking multiple drones with you on a plane? Charging multiple sets of batteries, filling multiple flight request forms with different drone details. Overall it brings great disconfort to registered drone pilots just because someone assumed that only unregistered pilots will use this drone class.

Tuxtard Posted at 11-7 07:38
It makes sense to limit unregistered pilots to a safe height. It does not make sense to prevent registered pilots from flying 120m AGL just because unregistered pilots are allowed to use this drone class. This means that registered pilots now have to take multiple drones to cover different operation categories. Financial aspect aside, can you imagine taking multiple drones with you on a plane? Charging multiple sets of batteries, filling multiple flight request forms with different drone details. Overall it brings great disconfort to registered drone pilots just because someone assumed that only unregistered pilots will use this drone class.

You can apply to have the CO removed but then you are in another world of hurt and it cant be readded once removed.

Bashy Posted at 11-7 07:52
You can apply to have the CO removed but then you are in another world of hurt and it cant be readded once removed.

Well my M3P is old and does not have C0 label, so I am not loosing anything. What I can loose is the ability to fly 120m AGL for no particular reason whatsoever since I have uncertified device.

Tuxtard Posted at 11-8 01:56
Well my M3P is old and does not have C0 label, so I am not loosing anything. What I can loose is the ability to fly 120m AGL for no particular reason whatsoever since I have uncertified device.

Nah, you dont have to lose it if you really don't want to, disable auto update of the app and then you should be ok, unless the kill switch is on a timer and an update not needed. I haven't updated mine for maybe 3 updates ago so i am fairly certain i would be ok, but then again, its not coming to the UK, YET!

DAFlys Posted at 11-7 01:30
They really need to tell us whats in these firmware updates when they are released.

Yes I agree with that.

Let us know what is being tweaked, added, so at least we can decide whether or not we download it.

As it is we update blindly with the usual, "Fixes bugs etc".

Cheers

Blackbuckone Posted at 11-8 04:34
Yes I agree with that.

Let us know what is being tweaked, added, so at least we can decide whether or not we download it.

Sadly here in the UK we are legally obliged to download every software update,   its part of the drone code for each flight.

Tuxtard Posted at 11-7 07:38
It makes sense to limit unregistered pilots to a safe height. It does not make sense to prevent registered pilots from flying 120m AGL just because unregistered pilots are allowed to use this drone class. This means that registered pilots now have to take multiple drones to cover different operation categories. Financial aspect aside, can you imagine taking multiple drones with you on a plane? Charging multiple sets of batteries, filling multiple flight request forms with different drone details. Overall it brings great disconfort to registered drone pilots just because someone assumed that only unregistered pilots will use this drone class.

i didn't tell that those regulations makes sense :-) typical when people that put the laws in place do not have expertise or even basic knowledge on the subject they legislate

you are supposed to either fly strict vlos and earth is flat with no buildings or buy 10x pricier drone, get a cert and fly with all the paperwork required every time

seriously it will end in people hacking their drones and flying whatever