Dear DJI (or anyone else who can help!), OK, I'm at a loss here.  I know that in Europe at least, the Avata 2 is a C1 Class device, which means it can be flown in the Open Category, sub-category A1 (flights over people and buildings allowed).  However, it does not appear to have any marking to show that it is C1. I am based in the UK and already have my registration and Operator/Pilot ID here, but and I am just going through the training on the Norwegian CAA site to allow me to also fly in Norway (and all other EU Member States - UK sadly no longer being an EU member). However, the Norwegian CAA website says quite clearly, and I quote 'After 31. December 2022 all drones between 250 grams and 25 kg, with no C-class label will have to fly in subcategory A3.' Because the Avata 2 doesn't have a C-class label, it means that it has to be flown in the A3 sub-category which means no uninvolved people in the area, and no flying closer than 150m from buildings and recreational areas. I tried to apply for a Cx label in the DJI Fly app and got a message that this drone doesn't need one!  Well, if I want to fly in the A1 sub-category in Europe it certainly does! So why has this drone not been labelled from the factory?  And why can I not obtain a label to show it is C1?  This seems crazy and intentionally limiting, which means this new drone I have purchased is not fit for purpose! Please advise ASAP as I am travelling in just over a week and need to resolve this matter please. Thanks.

Were did you get your Avata 2 from ? I'm based in Switzerland, and bought here also. Both the packaging and the drone have a clear C1 label on it and a max noise level indication.

ars.fabula Posted at 8-22 04:11
Were did you get your Avata 2 from ? I'm based in Switzerland, and bought here also. Both the packaging and the drone have a clear C1 label on it and a max noise level indication.

Hmm, interesting!  I bought my Avata 2 (Fly More Combo) from https://dji-retail.co.uk who are apparently in some partnership with DJI and Hasselblad.

However, I did sadly crash my Avata 2 a few weeks after I bought it, but luckily had DJI Care Refresh who replaced it with a brand new one no problem.  So the drone I have at the moment came directly from DJI.

I wonder if you wouldn't mind posting a photo of the label on your drone please so that I can compare it to mine?  I presume it's in the battery bay and it the usual number 1 in a circle with lines out to the side?  I have nothing like that anywhere on my drone.

BTW, I am slightly envious of you living in Switzerland!  I've been a couple of times and it is beautiful!

I'm in the U.S. and even my Avata 2 has a C1 label on it.  It's the same label that says Lwa 81 db on the side opposite of the SD/USB flap.  It's not in the battery bay.

You should be able to request a replacement label from DJI if yours is missing.

You really can't miss it, it's on the side opposite the SD-card slot.  Did you also keep the original packaging ? there is the same marking at the bottom.

OK guys, thanks for your replies. And I’m going to hold my hands up and admit I’ve been dumb

I just searched through my box with all the bits of wrapping / warranty booklet / other stuff I decided to save, and I found the Class sticker stuck to a plastic bag along with all the other stickers that were plastered all over the drone when it arrived!

I guess in my excitement, I didn’t realise that this sticker was THE Class sticker and thought it was simply an information sticker.

To be honest though, it’s a stupid place to put a sticker that needs to be retained on the drone, especially as it doesn’t have a ‘Do Not Remove’ warning on it!  Looking around the internet, it appears I’m certainly not alone in having made this mistake I’ve now secured it inside the battery bay where it really belongs.

All my fault but my other drones are home built freestylers, flown under A3 subcategory and so I wasn’t familiar with the need for these stickers!

HopwoodBoy70 Posted at 8-22 09:08
OK guys, thanks for your replies. And I’m going to hold my hands up and admit I’ve been dumb

I just searched through my box with all the bits of wrapping / warranty booklet / other stuff I decided to save, and I found the Class sticker stuck to a plastic bag along with all the other stickers that were plastered all over the drone when it arrived!

Hi there, thank you for the update and we're glad that you're finally able to find the solution. Do not hesitate to contact us if there's any further inquiry.

thank you for your understanding.

The labels not really that important,  EASA maintain a list of EU approved drones and their C classification - https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/do ... &type_category=

DJI Natalia Posted at 8-23 00:23
Hi there, thank you for the update and we're glad that you're finally able to find the solution. Do not hesitate to contact us if there's any further inquiry.

thank you for your understanding.

Is it possible to obtain replacement Class stickers for the Avata 2 from DJI?  The Cx Label option in DJI Fly app just said label not required when I tried to request one for this drone.

I was talking to a friend last night about these labels and he has done exactly the same thing as I did - assumed the label was merely for information and so removed it, along with several other stickers on the drone.  Unfortunately he didn't keep the removed sticker so now has the issue of it not being labelled.

I really do think that DJI have put this sticker in a ridiculous location, and even more so think that you could have at least had a 'Do not remove' warning on the label.  Please can you provide this feedback to your product teams?  Thanks.

DAFlys Posted at 8-23 02:56
The labels not really that important,  EASA maintain a list of EU approved drones and their C classification - https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/drones-air-mobility/drones-evtol-designs/approved-drones-eu-operations?populate_1=avata&dvr_scope=&type_category=

Yes, that is what I originally thought - easy enough to check.  However, whilst I was going through the various websites to register to fly in Norway (and the rest of the EU), one of them stated that having the Class label on the drone was mandatory.

And this PDF also refers to 'C1 Marked by the Manufacturer' and differentiates it from 'No marking' - https://luftfartstilsynet.no/globalassets/dokumenter/dronedokumenter/nytt-eu-regelverk/drone-_-easa-tabell-2021_engelsk_v05.pdf

To be honest, I'd be surprised if most people with the authority to stop and check you would know for certain whether the drone should actually be labelled, or whether a check on the EASA website is sufficient, but I just didn't want to take that chance.

The European and UK civil aviation authorities have made this whole drone registering and flying far more complicated that it ever needed to be for mere hobbyists

Here on Argentina have the class sticker..

HopwoodBoy70 Posted at 8-23 04:51
Is it possible to obtain replacement Class stickers for the Avata 2 from DJI?  The Cx Label option in DJI Fly app just said label not required when I tried to request one for this drone.

I was talking to a friend last night about these labels and he has done exactly the same thing as I did - assumed the label was merely for information and so removed it, along with several other stickers on the drone.  Unfortunately he didn't keep the removed sticker so now has the issue of it not being labelled.

Hi there. We will check this with our relevant team and will notify once they give us an update. Thank you for your patience and have a good day.

HopwoodBoy70 Posted at 8-23 05:01
Yes, that is what I originally thought - easy enough to check.  However, whilst I was going through the various websites to register to fly in Norway (and the rest of the EU), one of them stated that having the Class label on the drone was mandatory.

And this PDF also refers to 'C1 Marked by the Manufacturer' and differentiates it from 'No marking' - https://luftfartstilsynet.no/globalassets/dokumenter/dronedokumenter/nytt-eu-regelverk/drone-_-easa-tabell-2021_engelsk_v05.pdf

If you are challenged I doubt the authorities are going to believe that sticker,  as at the end of the day it would be so easy to just apply your own C1 label to what every you fancied.  

DAFlys Posted at 8-23 23:47
If you are challenged I doubt the authorities are going to believe that sticker,  as at the end of the day it would be so easy to just apply your own C1 label to what every you fancied.

Well, it's the original sticker - simply relocated somewhere safer!

And as you said before, it's easy to check the drone is Class 1 on the EASA website.  And all the requirements I see merely state that the drone must be manufacturer marked. Well, it still is the manufacturers mark so...

I've not seen anything specific about where it *should* be marked, although I'm sure if I dug deep enough into the actually legislation it may be in there somewhere.

I'm hoping that if I ever do get stopped and checked by the authorities whilst flying in Europe (although never happened in over 20 years of model flying and 10 years of drone flying in the UK), that they will be pragmatic, see that the drone is labelled with my Operator ID, see that I'm registered as both Operator and Pilot, have insurance cover, see that the drone is being flown sensibly in a permitted area, and not be too concerned if the sticker isn't in the same place that the manufacturer put it.

HopwoodBoy70 Posted at 8-23 04:51
Is it possible to obtain replacement Class stickers for the Avata 2 from DJI?  The Cx Label option in DJI Fly app just said label not required when I tried to request one for this drone.

I was talking to a friend last night about these labels and he has done exactly the same thing as I did - assumed the label was merely for information and so removed it, along with several other stickers on the drone.  Unfortunately he didn't keep the removed sticker so now has the issue of it not being labelled.

Hi there. Thank you for your advice, and we will escalate this matter to the appropriate department for further review. Additionally, please confirm whether you did not receive the C1 together with the replacement drone.

HopwoodBoy70 Posted at 8-24 14:02
Well, it's the original sticker - simply relocated somewhere safer!

And as you said before, it's easy to check the drone is Class 1 on the EASA website.  And all the requirements I see merely state that the drone must be manufacturer marked. Well, it still is the manufacturers mark so...

To be honest the C1 label in EU on the avata seems pretty pointless with the current EASA rules its still a A3 drone -

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

You need a ‘visual observer’ to ensure safety.
You can’t fly over people.
You must fly outside urban populated areas and at least 150 meters away from residential, commercial or industrial areas,
...and not higher than 120 metres of altitude.
Spectators are not allowed.
You operate under the open category, subcategory A3.
You need to be at least 16 years old to fly an FPV racing drone, but contact your National Aviation Authority to check if exemptions are made in your country.


https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/li ... rst-person-view-fpv

DAFlys Posted at 8-26 00:52
To be honest the C1 label in EU on the avata seems pretty pointless with the current EASA rules its still a A3 drone -

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

But there is different answers for racing and non-racing FPV drones:
I read from: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/th ... n%E2%80%99-category

Is beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operation possible for flying drones with goggles (first-person view (FPV)) operation?
NB This answer applies only to non-racing FPV operation.

One of the conditions to operate in the open category is for the remote pilot to keep the drone in visual line of sight (VLOS) at all times. There are only two exceptions where VLOS is not strictly applied:

when using the follow-me mode with a drone with C0 or C1 label or below 250 g; and/or
when operating in first person view (FPV) and using an unmanned-aircraft observer that is always looking at the drone.
It is important to note that the open category catalogues all lower-risk drone operations without the need for prior authorisation; this lighter provision is compensated by more restrictive conditions of operation.

FPV googles by nature do not allow to have a wide field of view to see potential threats around the drone, so they do not enable VLOS.  Hence, the requirement for an unmanned-aircraft observer for any FPV operation when operating in the open category. The unmanned-aircraft observer must look at the drone and be alongside the remote pilot so that the unmanned-aircraft observer can immediately inform the remote pilot in case of any threat around the drone.

With the above conditions, you are allowed to fly FPV in the open category. However, you need to be mindful of the risk to hit a person or other aircraft.

If you want to have a drone race in FPV, spectators are not allowed; please note that drones with a speed higher than 19 m/s are only allowed to operate in open subcategory A3 (far from people). Therefore, in case you want to have spectators, the FPV race should be conducted in the specific category (including standards scenarios). For more information, please refer to the following FAQ: I am into drone racing and/or flying drones with goggles (FPV) ‘open’ category | EASA (europa.eu).


For standard scenario (STS) 2, nothing prevents the remote pilot to fly in first person view when:

an airspace observer scans the sky; and
the remote pilots is assisted by an unmanned-aircraft observer.
The same person may be the airspace observer and the unmanned-aircraft observer, if that person complies with the requirements imposed for the two observers.


Can I fly over people?
Generally when you operate in the ‘open’ category, you are not allowed to fly over uninvolved people, unless you have a privately built drone with a weight below 250 g or a drone purchased on the market with a  class identification label0 or 1 mark. In any case, try to minimise the time during which you fly over people.

bJako Posted at 8-26 01:20
But there is different answers for racing and non-racing FPV drones:
I read from: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/the-agency/faqs/drones-uas#category-i-am-into-drone-racing-and-or-flying-drones-with-goggles-fpv-%E2%80%98open%E2%80%99-category

But even for non racing freestyle drones it still says - A3.,

DAFlys Posted at 8-26 01:25
But even for non racing freestyle drones it still says - A3.,

You mean here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/li ... rst-person-view-fpv

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

Use cases for FPV
Drone racging       
Freestyle and organised races
Drone racing and freestyle acrobatics.

It's all racing and freestyle acrobatics...

I don't use Avata 2 or Mini 4P for race nor freestyle acrobatics (even using Goggles)

They are both C1 and allowed to fly over people...

bJako Posted at 8-26 01:44
You mean here: https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/light/topics/drone-racing-and-flying-drone-goggles-first-person-view-fpv

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

Check the definition of freestyle -

Freestyle: Freestyle is a blend of racing's speed and precision coupled with filming's focus on capturing creative footage. Often Freestyle FPV pilots try and creatively fly through a space in new and unique ways. Drones of any size can fly freestyle.

DAFlys Posted at 8-26 00:52
To be honest the C1 label in EU on the avata seems pretty pointless with the current EASA rules its still a A3 drone -

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

Can you explain why C1 is pointless? With C1 you can fly in Open A1.
In A1 you do not need to keep the 150m distance to people, industrial buildings, living areas...
In A1 you should avoid flying directly above univolved persons (if unintentional necessary you have to keep the overflight as short as possible).

=DUH= Posted at 8-26 15:22
Can you explain why C1 is pointless? With C1 you can fly in Open A1.
In A1 you do not need to keep the 150m distance to people, industrial buildings, living areas...
In A1 you should avoid flying directly above univolved persons (if unintentional necessary you have to keep the overflight as short as possible).

Agree.
I also think that C1 label means Open A1 even using goggles.

But if really using goggles does not allow fly near peaple, as EASA says, then C1 label is pointless.

=DUH= Posted at 8-26 15:22
Can you explain why C1 is pointless? With C1 you can fly in Open A1.
In A1 you do not need to keep the 150m distance to people, industrial buildings, living areas...
In A1 you should avoid flying directly above univolved persons (if unintentional necessary you have to keep the overflight as short as possible).

All new drones require a label to be sold now in EU thats why they have labeled it,     but if you read the EASA website it says this about flying with goggles,    and of course you dont need to wear the goggles to fly the Avata.  

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

You need a ‘visual observer’ to ensure safety.
You can’t fly over people.
You must fly outside urban populated areas and at least 150 meters away from residential, commercial or industrial areas,
...and not higher than 120 metres of altitude.
Spectators are not allowed.
You operate under the open category, subcategory A3.
You need to be at least 16 years old to fly an FPV racing drone, but contact your National Aviation Authority to check if exemptions are made in your country.


https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/li ... rst-person-view-fpv

DAFlys Posted at 8-27 00:38
All new drones require a label to be sold now in EU thats why they have labeled it,     but if you read the EASA website it says this about flying with goggles,    and of course you dont need to wear the goggles to fly the Avata.  

FPV drone on your own - freestyle

I normally don't care about any blah blah on a FAQ website that could have been also written by EASA cleaning staff...
The only thing that matters for me is the EU directive 2019/947
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- ... ri=CELEX:32019R0947

Could you please cite the exact part where your read the exception that a C1 copter operated with FPV Goggles cannot fly in A1?

Below the only part that I found concerning FPV

Annex UAS.OPEN.020 UAS operations in subcategory A1
UAS operations in subcategory A1 shall comply with all of the following conditions:
(5) be performed with an unmanned aircraft that:
(d) is marked as class C1 …


UAS.OPEN.060 Responsibilities of the remote Pilot
(2) During the flight, the remote pilot shall:
(b) keep the unmanned aircraft in VLOS and maintain a thorough visual scan of the airspace surrounding the unmanned aircraft in order to avoid any risk of collision with any manned aircraft. The remote pilot shall discontinue the flight if the operation poses a risk to other aircraft, people, animals, environment or property;
(4) For the purposes of point (2)(b), remote pilots may be assisted by an unmanned aircraft observer, situated alongside
them, who, by unaided visual observation of the unmanned aircraft, assists the remote pilot in safely conducting the
flight. Clear and effective communication shall be established between the remote pilot and the unmanned aircraft
observer.

PS: I'll also get in contact with EASE, maybe they can point me to a citation

=DUH= Posted at 8-28 13:03
I normally don't care about any blah blah on a FAQ website that could have been also written by EASA cleaning staff...
The only thing that matters for me is the EU directive 2019/947
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal- ... ri=CELEX:32019R0947

I think contacting EASA is the best idea,    the issue we are having is as usual they leave to much to interpretation of their writings.    And then they leave each country to define their own rules on top of this to add to the confusion.

DAFlys Posted at 8-29 00:25
I think contacting EASA is the best idea,    the issue we are having is as usual they leave to much to interpretation of their writings.    And then they leave each country to define their own rules on top of this to add to the confusion.

You shouldn't be in a hurry if you expect an answer from EASA...