How do I get rid of this?

And if DJI's answer is "send it in to us", is that in compliance with the EU's right to repair laws?

Hi there. We do apologize for the inconvenience caused. Could you please attach a screenshot showing the error message you received so we can clarify this and provide you with an accurate resolution? Please keep us posted. Thank you.

He is talking about the maintenance interval warning message on the m3e.  the only way to clear that is to send in to dji for maint.

And yet another warning message that can't be cleared. Or in this case only DJI has the ability to clear it themselves.

Yep, that is the warning.  I sent mine in for maintenance.  It's getting the full beauty treatment.

Just got my M3E back from maintenance in Cerritos California. It took less than 2 weeks spanning new years. Seems they replaced the props, gimbal rubber damper, and windshield baffle (whatever that is). They updated all the firmware and calibrated the IMU, compass, and gimbal. Additionally, they cleaned everything.

In my experience, DJI service used to be horrendous a decade ago but, they turned it around and it is excellent now. This is the first time I've sent one in for maintenance but, I've sent a bunch of P4P's in for stress cracks.

price for that?

Cost me nothing, DJI paid for shipping both ways.

Glenn Goodlett Posted at 1-16 06:09
Cost me nothing, DJI paid for shipping both ways.

Was this done before or after the one year mark? They say it's free in the first year but don't present you with the maintenance warning until after a year.

It was after a year but, DJI said that they would do it anyway, since I was such a good customer.??

I copied part of the email...

Please kindly note that you could not request the maintenance service for your drone based on our after-sales policy because your original plan service is expired. However, considering you are a valuable DJI customer and it may cause you much trouble and inconvenience if you could not make a maintenance service, I have reported your case to our supervisor and we could especially offer you a maintenance code this time.

The activation code that we provided for you is Standard Plan. This maintenance service will make your Mavic 3E aircraft body, battery and remote controller thoroughly inspected, updated, calibrated, and deeply cleaned. Please feel free to send your battery, Mavic 3E and remote controller back to us.

Glenn Goodlett Posted at 1-16 17:02
It was after a year but, DJI said that they would do it anyway, since I was such a good customer.??

I copied part of the email...

yeah.  great story.

I paid for mine.

And all the did was replace it with another M3E.  Very much like refresh.....

What did it cost?

And, you had to cancel the registration and register a new one with the FAA?

TonyPHX Posted at 1-17 21:26
yeah.  great story.

I paid for mine.

Yea see, I don't want that. Not only would you have to pay and register a new drone with the FAA. If you have a camera calibration for programs like Metashape you'd also have to calibrate the new camera lens. So DJI now wants us to spend a couple weeks of downtime, pay for the maintenance, go through FAA registration and recalibrate the camera lens once every year? No thanks. I'll just put up with the annoying warning from here on out.

Can DJI make a statement regarding the violation of compliance with the EU's right to repair laws? (if applicable)

Pro88Cro Posted at 1-19 01:36
Can DJI make a statement regarding the violation of compliance with the EU's right to repair laws? (if applicable)

It has nothing to do with "Right to repair". It's about safety and maintenance of an aircraft as is mentioned in maintenance guidelines.

AR_AirPrecision Posted at 1-23 04:08
It has nothing to do with "Right to repair". It's about safety and maintenance of an aircraft as is mentioned in maintenance guidelines.

It's not about safety or maintenance though. It's about DJI getting that perpetual income. The warning isn't based on the usage of the drone. It's based on an annual cycle regardless of how much it's used. Why do consumer Mavic's not receive the same message? Are they better built and not need regular maintenance??

Johnnokomis Posted at 1-23 11:36
It's not about safety or maintenance though. It's about DJI getting that perpetual income. The warning isn't based on the usage of the drone. It's based on an annual cycle regardless of how much it's used. Why do consumer Mavic's not receive the same message? Are they better built and not need regular maintenance??

Aircraft maintenance is always based on two metrics : time and flight time. Professional UAS should be maintained professionally to guarantee safety.
Consumer Mavic aren't meant for professional usage and risky conditions. Over here if you crash during an assignment they ( NCAA / insurance / ... ) 'll check your maintenance records, training, procedure, ...

Over here ('Merica) the FAA allows any qualified person to perform said maintenance on the drone. So as far as DJI knows I have had it in for maintenance. This message still cannot be dismissed by anyone. Even if I was to send it to an authorized DJI reseller, it would have to take a separate trip to California just to clear this message. I'm guessing because it'll only be removed once your check has cleared. $$Perpetual Income$$

Even cars on the road can have their codes/check engine light cleared by anyone with an OBD2 reader. Or an oil change reminder can be reset with the turn of the key and 3 quick gas pedal presses. Imagine having to send in your car back to the manufacture HQ for this process. If bringing it to an authorized dealer couldn't even clear it. That's exactly how DJI's current policy is.

Johnnokomis Posted at 1-24 08:22
Over here ('Merica) the FAA allows any qualified person to perform said maintenance on the drone. So as far as DJI knows I have had it in for maintenance. This message still cannot be dismissed by anyone. Even if I was to send it to an authorized DJI reseller, it would have to take a separate trip to California just to clear this message. I'm guessing because it'll only be removed once your check has cleared. $$Perpetual Income$$

Even cars on the road can have their codes/check engine light cleared by anyone with an OBD2 reader. Or an oil change reminder can be reset with the turn of the key and 3 quick gas pedal presses. Imagine having to send in your car back to the manufacture HQ for this process. If bringing it to an authorized dealer couldn't even clear it. That's exactly how DJI's current policy is.

Thing is that nobody informed me about this when I was buying my M3E. In matter of fact, when this message apeared on my controller, I've contacted my dealer and they had no clue what I'm talking about... I've went with my drone to them, and they told me that they see this kind of message for first time, and will contact me back with information about price for this kind of "maintenance". Couple of weeks later, still no info...

From Belgium :
- DJI Maintenance Service Program Basic Plan (M3E) : 264.00 €
- DJI Maintenance Service Program Premium Plan (M3E) : 446.00 €

Extra info here : https://enterprise.dji.com/enterprise-maintenance

Pro88Cro Posted at 1-29 13:16
Thing is that nobody informed me about this when I was buying my M3E. In matter of fact, when this message apeared on my controller, I've contacted my dealer and they had no clue what I'm talking about... I've went with my drone to them, and they told me that they see this kind of message for first time, and will contact me back with information about price for this kind of "maintenance". Couple of weeks later, still no info...

Dang, you have to find another supplier...are they DJI Enterprise certified supplier?

Johnnokomis Posted at 1-24 08:22
Over here ('Merica) the FAA allows any qualified person to perform said maintenance on the drone. So as far as DJI knows I have had it in for maintenance. This message still cannot be dismissed by anyone. Even if I was to send it to an authorized DJI reseller, it would have to take a separate trip to California just to clear this message. I'm guessing because it'll only be removed once your check has cleared. $$Perpetual Income$$

Even cars on the road can have their codes/check engine light cleared by anyone with an OBD2 reader. Or an oil change reminder can be reset with the turn of the key and 3 quick gas pedal presses. Imagine having to send in your car back to the manufacture HQ for this process. If bringing it to an authorized dealer couldn't even clear it. That's exactly how DJI's current policy is.

Cars don't fly (yet), you have to see Enterprise/professional UAS as aircraft and they have to follow NCAA / EASA /ICAO requirements.

At least this is how we see it :-)

EASA does not dictate that the drone must be serviced every year...

Pro88Cro Posted at 2-8 06:37
EASA does not dictate that the drone must be serviced every year...

Unfortunately, yes, they do.

Consolidated TEXT: 32019R0947 — EN — 04.04.2022 (europa.eu)

Appendix 5

Operations manual for Standard Scenario

The operations manual for STS defined in Appendix 1 shall contain at least the following:
(5) the maintenance instructions required to keep the UAS in a safe condition, covering the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and requirements, if applicable;


Go make a request and execute an STS flight with a drone that displays a large, conspicuous message in red that says the drone needs maintenance... I wish you good luck.

Read again what you have posted.

Al least service instruction (to me, it is clear what that should mean), not yearly service that can only be done by dji.

I want do be clear that I don't have anything against keeping drone in best working order. It's not the same if someone has done flights on daily basis on harsh environment (dust, high temperature, low temperature...), or someone makining 1flight/month in ideal condition.

I'm repeating myself again. I will pay maintenance because I want my drone in best working order. From your post, it's clear to me that we should have right for regular maintenance of our drones on our own.

I had P4P v2.0, and using it for years without any maintenance and it flew every flight like a first one. I've sold it to another photogrammetry specialist, and he's been using it without any problem (and still no anykind of service)...

Pro88Cro Posted at 2-8 10:51
Read again what you have posted.

Al least service instruction (to me, it is clear what that should mean), not yearly service that can only be done by dji.

Translated into my language it is very clear.  The operation manual must mention the maintenance intervals, as described by the manufacturer.  You have no choice, if DJI says that the drone must be serviced every 365 days, well it must be done.  

Afterwards what I find shameful is that we are forced to do it at DJI (authorized third party) because for the moment the operation of drones in the open and specific category is not governed by the PART.  We should have the choice of being able to do it ourselves by ordering a maintenance kit, with the parts to change and a code or something else that allows us to reset the interval and make the message disappear.

When I send a drone to DJI, the service has always been impeccable, but between 15 days and a month is too long.

One month without drone is not acceptable to me. If dji will give me replacement unit in that period, than it is acceptable.

Pro88Cro Posted at 2-8 11:41
One month without drone is not acceptable to me. If dji will give me replacement unit in that period, than it is acceptable.

I agree. I already tried to ask a replacement drone. Everytime the answer is the same, sorry we do not offer this, you may ask for a renting unit to your closest dealer.

I will contact our local civil aviation agency tomorrow and asked them about that.

Pro88Cro Posted at 2-8 12:07
I will contact our local civil aviation agency tomorrow and asked them about that.

Most probably they will tell that as stated in the law the maintenance interval must appear in your manual, as described by the manufacturer since its an "on the shelf" drone.

And as per Article 10 :

Rules and procedures for the airworthiness of UAS

Unless privately-built, or used for operations referred to in Article 16, or meeting the conditions defined in Article 20, UAS used in operations set out in this Regulation shall comply with the technical requirements and rules and procedures for the airworthiness defined in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 58 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.
...

And as per UAS.SPEC.050
(1) The UAS operator shall comply with all of the following:

(g) keep and maintain an up-to-date record of:
(ii) the maintenance activities conducted on the UAS for a minimum of 3 years;


(i) maintain the UAS in a suitable condition for safe operation by:
(i) as a minimum, defining maintenance instructions and employing an adequately trained and qualified maintenance staff;

When it comes to aircraft, the right to repair kind of goes out the window. Whenever you use an aircraft in commercial service, the manufacturer can dictate all kinds of maintenance requirements that can only be done by licensed personnel and or factory. In many cases it is only the factory that can do the maintenance, due to equipment requirements. The manufacturer is under no obligation to make specialized test equipment available for sale to consumers. I do have my Federal licenses to work on aircraft I was even an Inspector rated licensee. There were many things I cannot do to aircraft. I can't work on Propellers, I can't work on instruments. I can tear down a turbine engine, provided I have the specialized tools. I just last week I just got back the ELT from the factory Airtex/ARC where the ELT was serviced. There is nobody else in the world that has the capability to service the ME406 ELT, aside from the factory. Now the ELT is perhaps one of the more useless pieces of equipment in the aircraft. It simply tells them where my dead body is in repose. It cost $850, I sent it in on the 20th of November and it was returned on the 6th of February. In the meantime the aircraft was down. So I really would not complain when you have to send the drone in for service, it can and is a lot worse in the commercial world.

OK, I've just recieved answer from our civil aviation agency.

The answer is clear. If the manufacturer of drones states that the drones must be maintained in their service, then this must be done. In addition, records of the same must be kept.

Now, I hope that this service can be done in my country, so I'm not out of business for multiple weeks.

Pro88Cro Posted at 2-9 04:04
OK, I've just recieved answer from our civil aviation agency.

The answer is clear. If the manufacturer of drones states that the drones must be maintained in their service, then this must be done. In addition, records of the same must be kept.

Our units go back to DJI EU in Germany. Shipping is as fast as you pay for...most work is done under 1 week. We send our units in the winter when it's "quieter" so we are ready for the new year :-)

The return is via the DJI Enterprise reseller so it takes extra delay.

AR_AirPrecision Posted at 2-11 04:29
Our units go back to DJI EU in Germany. Shipping is as fast as you pay for...most work is done under 1 week. We send our units in the winter when it's "quieter" so we are ready for the new year :-)

The return is via the DJI Enterprise reseller so it takes extra delay.

How many did you send in and how many of those came back with the same serial number? I'm curious how often they just send back a different drone instead of your original. Nobody wants to have to go through a new registration process every 365 days.

@Johnnokomis

Great notice, my drone insurance is linked to my drone via s/n....

I was a bit concerned about getting the same drone back because of the registration and I have 10 million dollars of liability insurance tied to the S/N. But I got the same drone back. Also had an air tag hidden in the foam.

Johnnokomis Posted at 2-11 09:37
How many did you send in and how many of those came back with the same serial number? I'm curious how often they just send back a different drone instead of your original. Nobody wants to have to go through a new registration process every 365 days.

We keep on getting our drone back with same SN, would love a new one :-) Last maintenance : new engines and new top cover. Had the arm update previously done

The SN is not an issue : you can update your authorisation and contact your insurance...it's peanuts vs the value of a new unit. My personal opinion.

I've sent DJI an email regarding service location, and how long does it take from sent to received. Still no answer...