just keep doing what I’m doing till someone slaps a fine on me and I’ll take up another hobby…
if it makes anyone happier I’m happy to use my laser cutter to etch a C0 permanent label on their drone…
has anyone read up on UKCA or CE markings… what a farce! it’s all down to self declaration… so I own a business in Asia… what hope do you think anyone has of suing a company that is found to have falsely labelled a product for sale in the EU or China… same with C0 etc labelling… don’t put your faith in any label. and as the easa say the pilot is responsible for what they fly and where they fly it regardless of the label .
That in itself is a farce. There’s loads of cheapo Chinese stocking fillers flooding into the U.K./ EU that don’t actually meet safety standards for either area, yet carry the CE mark.
Sorry to resurrect this thread after almost a month, but been doing a bit of research and it turns out EASA rules are 120m above ground level ( as opposed to where the drone takes off) So if you fly up a hill, you can indeed fly higher than 120m from the takeoff point, as long as you are within 120m of the ground from the drone. Their rules are virtually ( if not exactly) the same as here in the UK. It seems like it’s DJI’s interpretation of a strict 120m from take off point that is actually flawed. DJI have obviously not read EASA’s rules.
Apologies to anyone I upset during the discussion ( I know there’s at least one)
@JockyB Although the EASA Regs appear to be the same John, it is their manufacturer stipulation in order to attain the CO classification that is the limiting factor at point-of-take-off that comes into effect in 2024.
As the CAA and FAA etc did not adopt the CO classification system our Regs differ in this respect. However, it is obvious that a limit can be controlled through firmware and it is this that has been the source of confusion and indeed contention within the forum.
If you dont fly outside of the UK or above 120m from TOAL then no probs, but if like me you do both, then I would like to know. @PingSpike Rich has confirmed with DJI that as long as we play ball in the EU our drones will not be restricted once back in the UK. However, if you already have a CO classified drone in the UK you will have to declassify it through a software procedure and remove its label if you want to fly higher than 120m from TOAL in the EU. Drones purchased in 2024 will not give you an option to declassify as I understand it, but will still be capable of flying above 120m in the UK.
If you did follow the declassification procedure to fly in the EU then you would lose the benefits of A1 flying in the Open Category whilst over there!
We’re ok at the moment with the CAA, but watch this space …
@JockyB Thats the confusing bit John. Thei EASA manufacturing criteria for CO classification contradicts their own flying regulations, but I’m afraid it’s the overuling factor!
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