Enjoyed this video? If so, I'd appreciate a thumbs up and maybe a subscription. If you have any suggestions how to improve videos like that, please let me know in the comments. Thank you! Small correction: Legacy drones are drones that have been placed on the market before 2024, not purchased before 2024. Clarification: As long as you stay in airspace subcategory A3 (min. 150 meters from uninvolved people and urban areas), you don't need A2 certificate of competence, COC for A1/A3 is sufficient then. You need A2 COC only when you want to fly C2 drones in A2 airspace (close to people).
Thank you for making this crystal clear. I also noticed at 3:15 you used a clip of a view of Sao Vicente, Madeira. My wife is from there and theres so much to photograph and film with a drone.😀
Thank you, for your feedback, Eduardo. Yes, Madeira is beautiful in itself and especially with drone. I was there at the beginning of last year. Made a short video, maybe you want to watch it ☺️ th-cam.com/video/ojPTzcoDmZI/w-d-xo.html
I'm from Thailand and I'm going to use Avata 2 to fly in France. Do I need to apply for a license? Or if I need to apply for a license, where do I apply? Or if my weight doesn't exceed 249 kilograms, can I fly without needing a license? Thank you
Haha, happy you like him. Actually, this guy was born out of necessity in my color grading videos.. in case you have seen it. I had the video completely finished and then I realized I should explain the waveform scopes. In order not to mess with the finalized edit (I had music timing and everything in place already), I decided to make a hard cut so that everything else stays the same. And I better made it entertaining... so... Disco Tom was born 😅
Thank you for making this! I wish this would have existed in July when I brought my drone to Europe for a month. Very confusing to figure out this on my own. Concise & clear!
Hi Dean, thanks a lot for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I always try to improve so that information is delivered in an easy to understand manner. Thanks again!
@@t0mwhazzup you’re most welcome! I got my European drone license in Slovenia last year and was told by Switzerland that I’m good to go when I fly there this summer
Thank you. All those categories and rules were making me confused. I have a legacy Air 2S, so now I will just keep on A3 after the exam and I'm good to go, I suppose. I'm moving to Hungary, I'll double check if they have additional requirements there. Cheers!
Hi Tom, i realised that need to type in “Academy title” upon registration. But I don’t have any. Is it mean that I cannot register? My drone is Dji Mini 4 pro. Less than 250g.
You need liability insurance in whole Europe as requirement to fly drones. I got mine in Austria, but it's only for Austrian residents. Simply look in your home country, most insurances cover world wide.
I would like to fly my Mini3Pro in Ronda, like your video, but I thought from ENAIRE apps that you are not allowed to under any circumstances. How can I get permission in such location in Spain, like your video? I have A1/A3 licenses in UK and Ireland (EU). Thanks
Hi Tom, could you please let me know, do i need any permission, documents or license to fly Hoverair x1 in Europe? As you know Hoverair x1 really more like a toy than a drone. Thank you
Something which I don't understand still is if the drone has a camera AND falls under C0 category, does EASA require to have a A1/A3 pilot certificate regardless of the weight under 249g?
Hi Hello I have a question. How does this applies to an FPV drone that are not normally classified marked and what serial number do I use to register it. For instance, I have the GepRC tern40. How do I register it (under 250)
Regulations require a spotter when you fly FPV to comply with visual line of sight to the drone. Apart from that, if the drone is not classified, below 250 g you can fly in A1, if it's above, A3. But I am not sure about the impact energy, because FPV drones usually fly way faster than conventional ones so maybe you can only fly A3. Please check EASA website for more info just to be sure. If unsure, simply stay in A3, I think that's anyway the place for FPV, I would 't want to have an FPV drone speeding close to myself 😉 I hope that helps!
Oh and for registering... you register your person as drone operator, not the drone itself. But you need to have liability insurance for the drone. There, you usually need to state the serial no. If you don't have one, ask your insurance company.
@@t0mwhazzup so for the insurance, where do I even buy that. I’m in the states and I never heard anything about drone insurance. Is that something I can buy in Spain from the same page where I do the registration?
@@CarlosRodriguez-vg2ob In your home country, coverage is usually worldwide. I could tell you my Austrian insurance company, but they only insure Austrian people, like most insurance companies do. If I was you, I would simply ask at your insurance company if the offer drone insurance, otherwise google it. It's not a big thing really, sub 250g is usually less than 40-50 USD for a year. You don't need liability insurance in the states?
@@t0mwhazzup no we don’t. At least is not required. Thank you so much for taking the time. I’m going to be heading over to Spain for 2 weeks and I’m hoping to have a good flight experience as a bonus. I’m hoping to fly open spaces like cliffs and coast lines for the most part. Andalucía region
video is really well put together, thanks for sharing... question: you said A1 is allowed to fly over uninvolved people but later said that A1 - A3 shouldn't fly over Assemblies of uninvolved people... so the key difference here is "Assemblies"? and what counts as "Assemblies"?.
I have Mavic Air 2 which is 250g+ but less than 900g. I have recently got A1+A3 certificate and am planning on going on trip and fly the drone. Do I need anything else? for this or am i set to go? Do I have to submit/register my certificate to somewhere?
@@t0mwhazzup i haven't done the registration part yet, but i have achieved EASA A1 A3 pretty recently. So i guess if i register this, im good to fly? Also, will i be needing insurance to fly in rome?
You need insurance anywhere in Europa to fly. Don't know about whether you are allowed to fly within Rome, you have to check specifically whether you are allowed to fly in that area. But A1/A3 is independent of drone op registration itself
Thanks for the succinct explainer. So for someone who has passed a1/a3, AND a2 exam... is there anything a c1 drone can NOT do that a c2 drone WOULD be allowed to do?
Thank you for your feedback! 🙂 No, the difference between C1 and C2 is that C1 is allowed to fly in A1 (within urban areas and above people) and A3 (min 150 m from urban areas and people). C2 is only allowed in A3 (if you have only A1/A3 certificate) and A2 (if you have A2 certificate). I know, that part is a bit confusing, but basically, if you're allowed to fly in A1 (above people), you are also allowed to fly in A2 (near people). I would understand these airspace entities not as separate entities. When you are allowed to fly in A1, you can also fly in A2 and A3 with the same drone. When you are only allowed to fly in A2 (depending on the drone model and your certified competence), you can also fly in A3. The more I think about it, the more I realize that they could've made it less confusing 😅 But I hope you get the point. If not, please feel free to ask. Bottom line, a C1 drone is allowed to do all the things a C2 drone can. C2 is more restricted.
@@t0mwhazzup good, then you’ve understood it in the same way as I have understood it. Definitely nothing about the rules and labelling is as plain and logical or straightforward as it could be
No, within the open category, you cannot operate higher than 120m AGL legally. You'd need to operate in the specific category. Get more info about that here: www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/civil-drones-rpas/specific-category-civil-drones#:~:text=The%20'specific'%20category%20caters%20for,state%20of%20registration%20is%20needed.
@@t0mwhazzup it look like I can fly it more than 120 in the 'specific category' if I 1- Submit a declaration based on a Standard scenario (STS); or 2-Obtain an operational authorisation following a PDRA; I have no idea to what extent is that pain in the butt but, I don't see any other option if I wanna fly above the mountains. I was about to buy the mini 4 pro and declassify it to get the 500 before 2024 but it just can't handle windy mountains with its light weight. I hope I don't regret going for the Air 3. thanks for the time and effort, appreciate it 🌸
@@iBK2 Yeah, unfortunately I have no experience with operation in the specific category. But you can fly above mountains as long as it's not more than 120 meters above the the mountain. I have both the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro (declassified). Both are great drones bit the Air 3 is of course the better drone, all in all. Two cameras, more stable, and you can (in Europe) basically fly everywhere where you can fly with the Mini 4, too. And regarding winds... look for my Dolomites video on my channel. I did this with the Mini 3 Pro. It was struggling at times, but it still performed very well. So... it can be done 😉
I managed to get STS1 and STS2 certification, basically I have to map the Railways, it is alsmost impossible to make a legal flight with a mapping drone without either closing area or do involve people in the operation... What a chore...
Indeed, unfortunately it can be a hassle to stay within regulations. While I appreciate that they more or less harmonized the European air space, I also think that European rules are way too strict in some points.
Thanks Tom for the video, great explanation!! Btw, I think there is a little mistake about legacy drones: legacy drones are drones that are put on the market before the 2024, and not bought before 2024. So, if I buy a Mini 3 Pro (no C-class) after January 2024 it’s still considered as legacy. Thanks again for all the great videos!!
Hi Eisenheim, thanks for your feedback! And yes, you're right, it's supposed to be "placed on the market" not "purchased". I overlooked this detail unfortunately. On some older page version on their website, EASA stated "purchased before 01/01/2024", but now they amended it to "placed on the market before 01/01/2024".Seems like Disco Tom isn't always right, either ;)
@@t0mwhazzup subtle jab 😁 Mini 3 pro is gonna remain a great purchase for some time, also due to this messy regulations with max altitude over ground level vs takeoff point.
@@DFD1 True, but if you do it until Dec 31 2023, there's a process in place that lets you remove the C0 classification and therefore the 120 m limit in the Mini 4 Pro. I did that of course 😉 So it's gonna be a legacy drone in a few days 🙂
@@t0mwhazzup Good for you and everyone else who is aware of that process. Still that will be a minority. What about Air 3? Can you fly it anywhere up to 120m above GL?
@@DFD1 I think everyone on TH-cam knows that, all the big drone TH-camrs have videos about it :) Anyway, the Air 3 can be flown up to 500 meters above starting point anywhere... or, when you're more than 50 km from the nearest airport, even up to 1000 meters.
Thanks Tom. That's really useful breakdown of all those recent rule changes. I do have the standard A1/A3 certificate. Is that enough for Air 3? Say hi to your cool disco friend 😉
@@DFD1 Unfortunately I don't have a Mini 3 Pro any more to do the comparison. I have only the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro (and the Avata). I'd like to do a few videos in the near future, not sure exactly which ones, but I was thinking about a longer-format slow-paced and more aesthetic Air 3 longterm review.. but we are still figuring out!
@@t0mwhazzup You can borrow mine for a test 🙃 Or just compare Air 3 with mini 4 pro. Avata and FPV introduction for mini 2/3/4 flyers would also be a greatly appreciated video!
@@DFD1 If I made a video about FPV flying, I think I'd feel like a fraud. I am able to fly manual FPV, but I'm not really a pro in this area... and I'm the kind of guy who only likes to talk about stuff when I really know it inside out and not pretend :) What do you think about a review style more slow-paced and longer? Do you think this could be interesting or do you think people wouldn't waste their time if they could get the same information in 5 mins instead of, let's say, 20-30 min.
Flying drones today is not easy and simple at all. Classes are very complicated, you have to pass testing, pay insurance, reserve airspace, send video material for checkup to geodetic administration and you cant do that if you dont own a company and so on. Drone laws are so complicated that people ask explanations about those laws all the time. Even here in these comments.
Thanks for your comment 🙂 The geodetic thing is a Croatian "specialty" and yeah, that's crazy. But in general, most European countries comply to EASA rules and that gives the same rules for almost whole Europe - which is a good thing in my opinion. What do you find so complicated to differ between flying over people (A1), close to people (A2) or far away from people (A3)? And you easily know in which of those classes you're allowed to fly depending on the drone that you have: C0/C1/Legacy sub 250g drones = A1&A3 C2 drones = A2&A3 C3/C4/Legacy more than 250g drones = A3 Passing exams is only needed for drones over 250 grams, so you can fly C0/sub250 grams without any certification, and the A1/A3 exam you need for C1 drones is not lengthy or difficult at all. Sure you are supposed to know the basic rules, have insurance and check the airspace before you take off, but to drive a car you also need a drivers licence (= know the rules), avoid no-driving-zones and have an insurance. My main job is in aviation and incidents are luckily rare but they do happen, so maybe I have a better understanding on why airspace cannot be an unregulated playground 😉 I have also talked to (mostly ambulance) helicopter pilots because of some commercial drone jobs I did, and therefore I got to know about situations that have happened when drone pilots just do as they please ignoring rules and limits. Luckily no serious incidents (or accidents) here in Vienna so far 🙂 And as the lower airspace will be more crowded within the near future, rules do make sense. For some commercial drone jobs I do, I need to fly in restricted areas where I need to apply for authorization from the ministry, and yes, that's a cumbersome and lengthy process (and costs a bit of money), especially here within the city limits of Vienna, but for private leisure, I simply wouldn't fly there. In general, the harmonization was a good step to give you more or less the same rules in all European countries. Sorry that it seems to be more of a hassle in Croatia. I hope that they change that in the future! I cannot really be of much help about Croatian deviations from the EASA drone laws, but if you have any other question about EASA, I am happy to help where I can 🙂 All the best!
As mentioned in the video, you need a registration as drone operator in a country in of the European Union and drone liability insurance. Apart from that you always have to check whether there are some airspace restriction where you want to fly :) Hope that helps!
I'm in the USA, and never go overseas so this doesn't apply to me. HOWEVER, this content is great and I kept watching for your stunning footage clips! I literally take color grading queues from your videos when editing my own!
I am VERY happy that you still continued watching even though it doesn't apply to you. The topic itself is not very sexy, but I tried to make it as fun and entertaining as possible while still delivering information to those seeking it. Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it 🙏🏼 PS. Cool that you like my color grading approach 🙂
@@t0mwhazzup I can tell you after watching hours of the same type of videos for the US when getting my pilot cert, yours are by far the best and most fun for sure! Job well done my friend!
There are two... I don't remember... aerodromes or heliports or so in the area from which you need to get permission beforehand. Their phone number is on enaire maps.
In Austria, the A1/A3 online course, exam and certificate is free, but it's only available in German, as far as I know: online-kurs.dronespace.at/einstieg/ Taking the A2 exam costs EUR 43,20 in Austria. I would suppose that it's the same in the other EASA countries, but you have to check. If it's not free, it will not be very expensive, I guess 🙂
You know what I don't agree with, that why I am not given the opportunity to study the material that is on the exams to be passed by myself, and in this way, to avoid going to a specific person or company, and pass the exam with the things I have learned, as it is in the driver's license exams@@t0mwhazzup
Only mine from Austria, but I think they take only Austrian customers. Best thing is to look in your home country, usually drone liability coverage is worldwide.
it's crazy how i can pilot my dji FPV only in A3 just because dji didn't certificate older drones. The funny part? The dji Avata and FPV are still sold today, but they have no classification. Thank u Dji.
I'd assume that it is not possible to certify the Avata and the DJI FPV because they have such a high top speed (100km/h for the Avata and 140km/h for the DJI FPV) that the resulting impact force (Joules) is to high to fly in urban areas. As far as I know, the impact force limit is 80 Joules and both of these drones are way above that. That's not DJI's fault then. And to be honest, I don't think such drones should be flown near people by anybody for fun.
@@t0mwhazzup u can if u have specific certificate so it's only burocratic, and the problem can be easily fixed via software with limit speeds in urban areas through gps data like happen with electric scooters. So it's Dji fault.
@t0mwhazzup and following only the speed reasoning the new avata 2 (classified as C1 as we can see from spy photo) should be very slow? i don't think so. It's like saying that u can't go in city roads with a porsche or a ferrari because they can be faster than a normal car and so the impact can be more dangerous.... U put speed limits through GPS position in urban areas and problem is solved, but this means more work for dji and they don't want to spend money for older drones, this is the truth...
@@federicomarocco7512 Sure, flying in specific category, you can fly any copter if you get permission ;) No, with FPV drones it is not that easy, except for when you can live with DJI disabling manual mode altogether in urban areas. Then it would be possible to meet the impact force requirements,, but at least to me, it wouldn't make any sense to fly an FPV drone in the first place if manual mode is disabled. Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to defend DJI and I'm sure it is annoying for you.
Maybe it is, again, I'm not here to defend DJI. But I think they'll need to deactivate manual mode GPS-based in order to accomplish the certification. But I'm no expert on that.
I am sorry that you feel that way. We invested a lot of time in planning, shooting and editing the video and tried to cover the essentials of European Drone laws in order to give an overview for drone pilots. If you let us know what it is exactly that made the video useless for you, we can try to incorporate that in upcoming videos. Thank you!
Enjoyed this video? If so, I'd appreciate a thumbs up and maybe a subscription. If you have any suggestions how to improve videos like that, please let me know in the comments. Thank you!
Small correction: Legacy drones are drones that have been placed on the market before 2024, not purchased before 2024.
Clarification: As long as you stay in airspace subcategory A3 (min. 150 meters from uninvolved people and urban areas), you don't need A2 certificate of competence, COC for A1/A3 is sufficient then. You need A2 COC only when you want to fly C2 drones in A2 airspace (close to people).
I've watched a a few of these drone rules videos and yours is by far the best!
Thank you so much for your feedback! Happy if you liked it, my wife and I had lots of fun filming it 🙂
Thank you for making this crystal clear. I also noticed at 3:15 you used a clip of a view of Sao Vicente, Madeira. My wife is from there and theres so much to photograph and film with a drone.😀
Thank you, for your feedback, Eduardo. Yes, Madeira is beautiful in itself and especially with drone. I was there at the beginning of last year. Made a short video, maybe you want to watch it ☺️ th-cam.com/video/ojPTzcoDmZI/w-d-xo.html
I'm from Thailand and I'm going to use Avata 2 to fly in France. Do I need to apply for a license? Or if I need to apply for a license, where do I apply? Or if my weight doesn't exceed 249 kilograms, can I fly without needing a license? Thank you
@@janiechutima783 You need to be registered as drone operator in EU. And with Avata, you can only fly in A3.
hahahahahaha, I love the 60's character. You are one of mine doing this kind of videos, characterising yourself. Just great
Haha, happy you like him. Actually, this guy was born out of necessity in my color grading videos.. in case you have seen it. I had the video completely finished and then I realized I should explain the waveform scopes. In order not to mess with the finalized edit (I had music timing and everything in place already), I decided to make a hard cut so that everything else stays the same. And I better made it entertaining... so... Disco Tom was born 😅
Thank you for making this! I wish this would have existed in July when I brought my drone to Europe for a month. Very confusing to figure out this on my own. Concise & clear!
Hi Dean, thanks a lot for your feedback, I really appreciate it. I always try to improve so that information is delivered in an easy to understand manner. Thanks again!
I'm curious about liability insurance mandated that meets the requirements of the Austrian Aviation Act. ?
You need drone liability insurance that covers at least 750.000,00 SDR.
This was explained PERFECTLY! Thank you for this video
Thank you so much for your feedback. I am very, very happy to hear that :)
@@t0mwhazzup you’re most welcome! I got my European drone license in Slovenia last year and was told by Switzerland that I’m good to go when I fly there this summer
well done as always always a pleasure to view your videos and learn from you.
Thank you so much for your feedback. It means a lot!
Thank you. All those categories and rules were making me confused. I have a legacy Air 2S, so now I will just keep on A3 after the exam and I'm good to go, I suppose. I'm moving to Hungary, I'll double check if they have additional requirements there. Cheers!
Yes, legacy Air 2S can only be flown in A3, unfortunately.
5:45 that’s a sickkkkk transition, well done
Thank you 😅 Nice that someone notices the details that took me quite some time and effort 🙂
Hi Tom, i realised that need to type in “Academy title” upon registration. But I don’t have any. Is it mean that I cannot register? My drone is Dji Mini 4 pro. Less than 250g.
@@fongbilly6958 No, you definitely don't need an academic degree. Leave the field blank or if that's not possible, just fill out anything 😉
Awesome explanation! The chart also helps a lot :) Thanks!
Hey Thomas, thanks for your feedback. I really appreciate it 🙏🏼
Very good. Question for you. Some countries like Spain require liability insurance. Where do you buy yours?
Roger
You need liability insurance in whole Europe as requirement to fly drones. I got mine in Austria, but it's only for Austrian residents. Simply look in your home country, most insurances cover world wide.
@@t0mwhazzup So without insurance you can't fly a small drone like dji mini 4pro in Austria at all?
I would like to fly my Mini3Pro in Ronda, like your video, but I thought from ENAIRE apps that you are not allowed to under any circumstances. How can I get permission in such location in Spain, like your video? I have A1/A3 licenses in UK and Ireland (EU). Thanks
As far as I remember, there are two heliports you need get permission from beforehand, the phone numbers should be in Enaire apps.
Hi Tom, could you please let me know, do i need any permission, documents or license to fly Hoverair x1 in Europe? As you know Hoverair x1 really more like a toy than a drone. Thank you
Hi! You need registration as drone operator and drone liability insurance.
Something which I don't understand still is if the drone has a camera AND falls under C0 category, does EASA require to have a A1/A3 pilot certificate regardless of the weight under 249g?
@@vulgaros Below 249g you do not need the A1/A3 licence. Just drone operator registration and insurance.
Ok so this just to much for me so ima ask a short question! I did buy dji mini 4, i live in Germany, do i need a license or not 😂?
Hi Hello I have a question. How does this applies to an FPV drone that are not normally classified marked and what serial number do I use to register it. For instance, I have the GepRC tern40. How do I register it (under 250)
Regulations require a spotter when you fly FPV to comply with visual line of sight to the drone. Apart from that, if the drone is not classified, below 250 g you can fly in A1, if it's above, A3. But I am not sure about the impact energy, because FPV drones usually fly way faster than conventional ones so maybe you can only fly A3. Please check EASA website for more info just to be sure. If unsure, simply stay in A3, I think that's anyway the place for FPV, I would 't want to have an FPV drone speeding close to myself 😉
I hope that helps!
Oh and for registering... you register your person as drone operator, not the drone itself. But you need to have liability insurance for the drone. There, you usually need to state the serial no. If you don't have one, ask your insurance company.
@@t0mwhazzup so for the insurance, where do I even buy that. I’m in the states and I never heard anything about drone insurance. Is that something I can buy in Spain from the same page where I do the registration?
@@CarlosRodriguez-vg2ob In your home country, coverage is usually worldwide. I could tell you my Austrian insurance company, but they only insure Austrian people, like most insurance companies do. If I was you, I would simply ask at your insurance company if the offer drone insurance, otherwise google it. It's not a big thing really, sub 250g is usually less than 40-50 USD for a year. You don't need liability insurance in the states?
@@t0mwhazzup no we don’t. At least is not required. Thank you so much for taking the time. I’m going to be heading over to Spain for 2 weeks and I’m hoping to have a good flight experience as a bonus. I’m hoping to fly open spaces like cliffs and coast lines for the most part. Andalucía region
video is really well put together, thanks for sharing...
question: you said A1 is allowed to fly over uninvolved people but later said that A1 - A3 shouldn't fly over Assemblies of uninvolved people...
so the key difference here is "Assemblies"? and what counts as "Assemblies"?.
Assemblies are people standing in a group so tight that they couldn't escape when the drone drops out of the sky
The video explains it very well! Thank you.
Thanks mate! Happy if it helps 🤗
I have Mavic Air 2 which is 250g+ but less than 900g.
I have recently got A1+A3 certificate and am planning on going on trip and fly the drone.
Do I need anything else? for this or am i set to go?
Do I have to submit/register my certificate to somewhere?
Are you registered as drone operator in an EASA country?
@@t0mwhazzup i haven't done the registration part yet, but i have achieved EASA A1 A3 pretty recently. So i guess if i register this, im good to fly?
Also, will i be needing insurance to fly in rome?
You need insurance anywhere in Europa to fly. Don't know about whether you are allowed to fly within Rome, you have to check specifically whether you are allowed to fly in that area. But A1/A3 is independent of drone op registration itself
Thanks for the succinct explainer.
So for someone who has passed a1/a3, AND a2 exam... is there anything a c1 drone can NOT do that a c2 drone WOULD be allowed to do?
Thank you for your feedback! 🙂
No, the difference between C1 and C2 is that C1 is allowed to fly in A1 (within urban areas and above people) and A3 (min 150 m from urban areas and people). C2 is only allowed in A3 (if you have only A1/A3 certificate) and A2 (if you have A2 certificate).
I know, that part is a bit confusing, but basically, if you're allowed to fly in A1 (above people), you are also allowed to fly in A2 (near people). I would understand these airspace entities not as separate entities. When you are allowed to fly in A1, you can also fly in A2 and A3 with the same drone. When you are only allowed to fly in A2 (depending on the drone model and your certified competence), you can also fly in A3.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that they could've made it less confusing 😅 But I hope you get the point. If not, please feel free to ask.
Bottom line, a C1 drone is allowed to do all the things a C2 drone can. C2 is more restricted.
@@t0mwhazzup good, then you’ve understood it in the same way as I have understood it. Definitely nothing about the rules and labelling is as plain and logical or straightforward as it could be
@@rroorryyjj Yeah, seems as if I just got used to it 😅 I have been dealing with this for quite some time, so... 😉
what about the max altitude for dji air 3 in the EU? any idea if I can fly it 'with certificate' more than 120 meter legally?
No, within the open category, you cannot operate higher than 120m AGL legally. You'd need to operate in the specific category. Get more info about that here: www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/civil-drones-rpas/specific-category-civil-drones#:~:text=The%20'specific'%20category%20caters%20for,state%20of%20registration%20is%20needed.
@@t0mwhazzup
it look like I can fly it more than 120 in the 'specific category' if I
1- Submit a declaration based on a Standard scenario (STS);
or 2-Obtain an operational authorisation following a PDRA;
I have no idea to what extent is that pain in the butt but, I don't see any other option if I wanna fly above the mountains.
I was about to buy the mini 4 pro and declassify it to get the 500 before 2024 but it just can't handle windy mountains with its light weight. I hope I don't regret going for the Air 3.
thanks for the time and effort, appreciate it 🌸
@@iBK2 Yeah, unfortunately I have no experience with operation in the specific category. But you can fly above mountains as long as it's not more than 120 meters above the the mountain.
I have both the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro (declassified). Both are great drones bit the Air 3 is of course the better drone, all in all. Two cameras, more stable, and you can (in Europe) basically fly everywhere where you can fly with the Mini 4, too.
And regarding winds... look for my Dolomites video on my channel. I did this with the Mini 3 Pro. It was struggling at times, but it still performed very well. So... it can be done 😉
I managed to get STS1 and STS2 certification, basically I have to map the Railways, it is alsmost impossible to make a legal flight with a mapping drone without either closing area or do involve people in the operation... What a chore...
Indeed, unfortunately it can be a hassle to stay within regulations. While I appreciate that they more or less harmonized the European air space, I also think that European rules are way too strict in some points.
Thanks Tom for the video, great explanation!!
Btw, I think there is a little mistake about legacy drones: legacy drones are drones that are put on the market before the 2024, and not bought before 2024. So, if I buy a Mini 3 Pro (no C-class) after January 2024 it’s still considered as legacy.
Thanks again for all the great videos!!
Hi Eisenheim, thanks for your feedback! And yes, you're right, it's supposed to be "placed on the market" not "purchased". I overlooked this detail unfortunately. On some older page version on their website, EASA stated "purchased before 01/01/2024", but now they amended it to "placed on the market before 01/01/2024".Seems like Disco Tom isn't always right, either ;)
@@t0mwhazzup subtle jab 😁 Mini 3 pro is gonna remain a great purchase for some time, also due to this messy regulations with max altitude over ground level vs takeoff point.
@@DFD1 True, but if you do it until Dec 31 2023, there's a process in place that lets you remove the C0 classification and therefore the 120 m limit in the Mini 4 Pro. I did that of course 😉 So it's gonna be a legacy drone in a few days 🙂
@@t0mwhazzup Good for you and everyone else who is aware of that process. Still that will be a minority. What about Air 3? Can you fly it anywhere up to 120m above GL?
@@DFD1 I think everyone on TH-cam knows that, all the big drone TH-camrs have videos about it :) Anyway, the Air 3 can be flown up to 500 meters above starting point anywhere... or, when you're more than 50 km from the nearest airport, even up to 1000 meters.
Thanks Tom. That's really useful breakdown of all those recent rule changes. I do have the standard A1/A3 certificate. Is that enough for Air 3? Say hi to your cool disco friend 😉
Yeah exactly, for C1 drones like the Air 3, A1/A3 certificate is sufficient! I will tell him ;) Thanks!
Looking forward to your direct comparison of Air3 vs Mini3 pro. I know one of these is 'pro' but maybe the other is not too shabby either 😅
@@DFD1 Unfortunately I don't have a Mini 3 Pro any more to do the comparison. I have only the Air 3 and the Mini 4 Pro (and the Avata). I'd like to do a few videos in the near future, not sure exactly which ones, but I was thinking about a longer-format slow-paced and more aesthetic Air 3 longterm review.. but we are still figuring out!
@@t0mwhazzup You can borrow mine for a test 🙃 Or just compare Air 3 with mini 4 pro. Avata and FPV introduction for mini 2/3/4 flyers would also be a greatly appreciated video!
@@DFD1 If I made a video about FPV flying, I think I'd feel like a fraud. I am able to fly manual FPV, but I'm not really a pro in this area... and I'm the kind of guy who only likes to talk about stuff when I really know it inside out and not pretend :)
What do you think about a review style more slow-paced and longer? Do you think this could be interesting or do you think people wouldn't waste their time if they could get the same information in 5 mins instead of, let's say, 20-30 min.
Flying drones today is not easy and simple at all. Classes are very complicated, you have to pass testing, pay insurance, reserve airspace, send video material for checkup to geodetic administration and you cant do that if you dont own a company and so on. Drone laws are so complicated that people ask explanations about those laws all the time. Even here in these comments.
Thanks for your comment 🙂
The geodetic thing is a Croatian "specialty" and yeah, that's crazy. But in general, most European countries comply to EASA rules and that gives the same rules for almost whole Europe - which is a good thing in my opinion.
What do you find so complicated to differ between flying over people (A1), close to people (A2) or far away from people (A3)? And you easily know in which of those classes you're allowed to fly depending on the drone that you have:
C0/C1/Legacy sub 250g drones = A1&A3
C2 drones = A2&A3
C3/C4/Legacy more than 250g drones = A3
Passing exams is only needed for drones over 250 grams, so you can fly C0/sub250 grams without any certification, and the A1/A3 exam you need for C1 drones is not lengthy or difficult at all.
Sure you are supposed to know the basic rules, have insurance and check the airspace before you take off, but to drive a car you also need a drivers licence (= know the rules), avoid no-driving-zones and have an insurance.
My main job is in aviation and incidents are luckily rare but they do happen, so maybe I have a better understanding on why airspace cannot be an unregulated playground 😉 I have also talked to (mostly ambulance) helicopter pilots because of some commercial drone jobs I did, and therefore I got to know about situations that have happened when drone pilots just do as they please ignoring rules and limits. Luckily no serious incidents (or accidents) here in Vienna so far 🙂
And as the lower airspace will be more crowded within the near future, rules do make sense.
For some commercial drone jobs I do, I need to fly in restricted areas where I need to apply for authorization from the ministry, and yes, that's a cumbersome and lengthy process (and costs a bit of money), especially here within the city limits of Vienna, but for private leisure, I simply wouldn't fly there.
In general, the harmonization was a good step to give you more or less the same rules in all European countries. Sorry that it seems to be more of a hassle in Croatia. I hope that they change that in the future!
I cannot really be of much help about Croatian deviations from the EASA drone laws, but if you have any other question about EASA, I am happy to help where I can 🙂 All the best!
Im using a djiminipro4 under 249 grams. In Italy what authorizations do I need and if needed how do I obtain them ?
As mentioned in the video, you need a registration as drone operator in a country in of the European Union and drone liability insurance. Apart from that you always have to check whether there are some airspace restriction where you want to fly :) Hope that helps!
You should make a video about Remote ID
Thanks for the input, I will look into it!
I'm in the USA, and never go overseas so this doesn't apply to me. HOWEVER, this content is great and I kept watching for your stunning footage clips! I literally take color grading queues from your videos when editing my own!
I am VERY happy that you still continued watching even though it doesn't apply to you. The topic itself is not very sexy, but I tried to make it as fun and entertaining as possible while still delivering information to those seeking it. Thanks for your feedback, I really appreciate it 🙏🏼
PS. Cool that you like my color grading approach 🙂
@@t0mwhazzup I can tell you after watching hours of the same type of videos for the US when getting my pilot cert, yours are by far the best and most fun for sure! Job well done my friend!
@@davidpruittmusic 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
I didnt think u were allowed fly drones in ronda ?
There are two... I don't remember... aerodromes or heliports or so in the area from which you need to get permission beforehand. Their phone number is on enaire maps.
Could i pass the exam without paying? Is the exam pricy? Or even how could i get the test? To learn i am willing to lear
In Austria, the A1/A3 online course, exam and certificate is free, but it's only available in German, as far as I know: online-kurs.dronespace.at/einstieg/
Taking the A2 exam costs EUR 43,20 in Austria.
I would suppose that it's the same in the other EASA countries, but you have to check. If it's not free, it will not be very expensive, I guess 🙂
You know what I don't agree with, that why I am not given the opportunity to study the material that is on the exams to be passed by myself, and in this way, to avoid going to a specific person or company, and pass the exam with the things I have learned, as it is in the driver's license exams@@t0mwhazzup
Does anyone know some drone insurance companies?
Only mine from Austria, but I think they take only Austrian customers. Best thing is to look in your home country, usually drone liability coverage is worldwide.
it's crazy how i can pilot my dji FPV only in A3 just because dji didn't certificate older drones. The funny part? The dji Avata and FPV are still sold today, but they have no classification. Thank u Dji.
I'd assume that it is not possible to certify the Avata and the DJI FPV because they have such a high top speed (100km/h for the Avata and 140km/h for the DJI FPV) that the resulting impact force (Joules) is to high to fly in urban areas. As far as I know, the impact force limit is 80 Joules and both of these drones are way above that. That's not DJI's fault then. And to be honest, I don't think such drones should be flown near people by anybody for fun.
@@t0mwhazzup u can if u have specific certificate so it's only burocratic, and the problem can be easily fixed via software with limit speeds in urban areas through gps data like happen with electric scooters. So it's Dji fault.
@t0mwhazzup and following only the speed reasoning the new avata 2 (classified as C1 as we can see from spy photo) should be very slow? i don't think so. It's like saying that u can't go in city roads with a porsche or a ferrari because they can be faster than a normal car and so the impact can be more dangerous.... U put speed limits through GPS position in urban areas and problem is solved, but this means more work for dji and they don't want to spend money for older drones, this is the truth...
@@federicomarocco7512 Sure, flying in specific category, you can fly any copter if you get permission ;)
No, with FPV drones it is not that easy, except for when you can live with DJI disabling manual mode altogether in urban areas. Then it would be possible to meet the impact force requirements,, but at least to me, it wouldn't make any sense to fly an FPV drone in the first place if manual mode is disabled.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to defend DJI and I'm sure it is annoying for you.
Maybe it is, again, I'm not here to defend DJI. But I think they'll need to deactivate manual mode GPS-based in order to accomplish the certification. But I'm no expert on that.
I swear these people do this movies and then never watch them for a second. Not even during the edit. what a useless word salad. :(
I am sorry that you feel that way. We invested a lot of time in planning, shooting and editing the video and tried to cover the essentials of European Drone laws in order to give an overview for drone pilots. If you let us know what it is exactly that made the video useless for you, we can try to incorporate that in upcoming videos. Thank you!