DJI Mini 4 pro regulations in Europe

Getting Started Topics Drone Regulations
1

I am planning to buy DJI mini 4 pro, I stay in Amsterdam. I plan to use it for recreational purposes in Netherlands and rest of the EU.( going for a Swiss trip)

Coming to pain area, there are lot of regulations for flying these things.

  1. Operator License
  2. Restriction zone
  3. Insurance etc

Upon calling to DJI customer services, they told me since it is less than 250g I need not to register as an operator and even need not to worry about the restrictions zone. With the help of DJI fly app I can unlock the area to fly it and internally they also request the Authorization with the aviation authorities.

Was it just for a sale or is it really true??

2

This gets asked every day and it’s getting annoying at this point…

In Europe, unlike the US there is no difference between recreation or commercial flights.

Licenses are only based on the weight of the drone*. If the drone is less than 250g you don’t need a license. If the drone weighs more than 250g you need an A1/A3 license. *However, if the drone weighs less than 250g, but is able to fly higher than 120 meters from takeoff point, it is considered a C1 drone instead of C0, thus requiring an A1/A3 license.

The basic laws if you are flying are: you cannot fly over crowds, you can fly briefly over uninvolved people but not close to them. Max height is 120 in unrestricted zones, less in case of some restrictions, always maintain VLOS, you cannot carry anything on the drone, no flight above emergency responses, land immediately in case of a manned flight (plane/helicopters).

If the drone has a camera you are REQUIRED to obtain an Operator ID (which differs from the A1/A3 License, the operator ID is your personal “license plate” that you must request, print, and apply to all drones you own). This is simply called drone registration.

If you are not an EU resident, the Operator ID can be obtained in any EU/EFTA country and it’s valid in all EU and EFTA countries.

You can obtain both the A1/A3 license (if you need one) and the Drone Operator ID for FREE in France via https://alphatango.aviation-civile.gouv.fr/login.jsp. The website is in French; to change language, scroll to the bottom (in the footer) where there is Language and then select English. Or use your browser’s translate feature.

As I said, the French Operator ID is valid in all the EU.

Remember to always follow the no-fly zones (that apply to all drones) and not the DJI maps. Always follow the official ones; even if DJI drones allow you to fly without restrictions for the majority of time, they are wrong.

3

@Weston
People keep asking because every day someone with the patience of a saint does this and breaks everything down for them. You’re an exemplary human but also STOP.

4

Tenzin said:
@Weston
People keep asking because every day someone with the patience of a saint does this and breaks everything down for them. You’re an exemplary human but also STOP.

Yeah, you are right. I think mods should just pin one of these posts…

5

@Weston
Nice one, sir. You’re an exemplary guide.

6

@Weston
Let me be a bit specific. If I am in a red zone with a 249-gram DJI Mini 4 Pro, can I unlock the zone via DJI Fly app and that’s it, or do I need to authorize myself via some other means?

7

West said:
@Weston
Let me be a bit specific. If I am in a red zone with a 249-gram DJI Mini 4 Pro, can I unlock the zone via DJI Fly app and that’s it, or do I need to authorize myself via some other means?

I repeat myself. You don’t have to look at DJI Maps. They are wrong in all countries of the world, and have no legal value. The only official authorized map of the Netherlands is the one I linked in the previous comment.

If you are in a red area, you cannot fly, even if DJI tells you that you can or even if it allows you to unlock it.

DJI allows you to unlock any area, including airports, military sites, etc. Doesn’t mean you can legally fly just because DJI no longer limits your ability to fly. To fly in restricted areas, you need to get authorization from the Government, not DJI.

8

@Weston
Could you please provide how I can ask for authorization in the Netherlands? Majority of the country is red. lol.

That said, customer service told me if I request authorization via the app, it will do the legal authorization with the concerned authority. I believe that was bull***t then!!

9

@West
You can’t apply for permission to fly in a restricted area in the OPEN category.

https://english.ilent.nl/topics/rpas—remotely-piloted-aircraft-systems-drones

“Frequently asked questions> I fly in the OPEN category, but I wish to carry out a flight in an area marked red in the GoDrone app. Can I apply for a permit, so I can still carry out my flight?”

“No, the Dutch CAA cannot grant permits in the OPEN category.”

https://www.ilent.nl/documenten/vragen-en-antwoorden/hoe-kan-ik-een-vergunning-aanvragen
“How can I apply for a permit?”

“You will need a permit if your drone or drone flight falls into the SPECIFIC category. Whether this is the case depends on your drone or your drone flight.”

10

@Weston
Thanks for the response.
I have one more unclarity.

Internet says DJI Mini 4 Pro can fly from 120m to 500m.
Defaulted to 120m but can be changed to a max height of 500m.
Even if I don’t change that setting and keep it at 120m and also fly at that height, will I be requiring A1/A3 license?

11

@West
Technically, newer drones will automatically limit themselves at 120 meters if the GPS knows you are in Europe, thanks to the software.

While older models (pre-2020) do not have this automatic limitation. Which is why I have that part in my comment.