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I am super curious about the DJI mini 2 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayibagexi-Sashas-Fierce-Lemonade-Aluminum/dp/B07FSQ6BGV/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayibagexi-S

I am super curious about the DJI mini 2 - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayibagexi-Sashas-Fierce-Lemonade-Aluminum/dp/B07FSQ6BGV/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ayibagexi-Sashas-Fierce-Lemonade-Al... - I hope this won't get overly impacted by the new rules (I am in the UK).

meheleventyone 6y ago
The new rules basically mean anything under 250g needs no licence unless it has a camera in which case you need an operator id. You can read all the related info here: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code/getting-what-you-need-to-fly https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code/getting-what-yo...
- barnacled 6y ago
  ah yeah there's a camera so would need to get an operator ID. Thanks!
- zimpenfish 6y ago
  Confusingly, this page implies that you always need Flyer + Operator ID even for <250g drones. https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/Recreational-drones/Flying-in-the-open-category/ https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/Recreation...
  - markalexander 6y ago
    I believe it’s because a UAV is only called a ‘drone’ in these regulations if it’s at least 250g. I agree the rules are annoyingly confusing and the information is spread piecemeal over multiple documents. They should fix that.
- jiofih 6y ago
  Are there any drones without a camera? How would you even fly it?
  - leetcrew 6y ago
    under US hobbyist drone rules, you are required to maintain line of sight at all times. if you need a camera to fly the drone, you are probably breaking the rules.
  - tjoff 6y ago
    Most drones didn't have a camera for many years. You fly it visually. And even if you have a camera you have to be in line of sight anyway.
  - gambiting 6y ago
    I mean......RC helicopters have existed for decades and are far harder to control than drones. Look at the insanity that is possible with training and skill, no cameras needed: https://youtu.be/PptMrBFAO-A https://youtu.be/PptMrBFAO-A
sillysaurusx 6y ago
Hah, 249 grams. That just barely puts it in the lightweight/least-restricted category. I wonder if that was an intentional design decision.
- Tomte 6y ago
  Of course, just as the last Mini.
- meheleventyone 6y ago
  Yes: https://content.dji.com/why-did-dji-create-a-249-gram-drone/ https://content.dji.com/why-did-dji-create-a-249-gram-drone/
- bluescrn 6y ago
  Everyone's going to be making <250g drones now, between this and the US remote ID stuff. It'll be interesting to see just how capable they get.
  - dingaling 6y ago
    Perhaps multiple types of 249g drones with individual capabilities that can combine in the air, Power Rangers style. One could be the camera platform, another with a larger battery....
andylynch 6y ago
DJI make a point of saying on the mini 2 home page that it’s <249g. Probably for this reason!
bitL 6y ago
Mini 2 is impacted as it has a camera that could be used to film sensitive personal things. Also, you need a yearly insurance for it.
- markalexander 6y ago
  The camera means it needs registered, but it’s not very onerous and there are no competency requirements. The new rules actually give you more freedom in terms of where you can fly, so it’s a good deal IMO. You only need insurance for commercial operations.
  - bitL 6y ago
    I looked over at some Austrian and German pages wrt new EU rules and they all mention that Mini 2 has to be insured (25-50EUR/year).
    - markalexander 6y ago
      Well, member states are free to go beyond the EU rules and add their own local ones, so it might be true in those countries. I don’t believe you need insurance for hobby activities in the UK, though I’m not an expert and open to being corrected.
markalexander 6y ago
I have one and I’m in London. My understanding is these new rules actually free things up significantly for drones in that weight class. Previously, you couldn’t fly over ‘congested’ areas, near people, buildings, etc. So it was very difficult to fly fully legal around London. The new rules remove those restrictions. All they require in exchange is registration for £9/year. The sub 250g drones don’t require you to do the online certification or get a flyer ID. London still has a bunch of special security zones you can’t fly in, so you won’t be getting any nice shots of Canary Wharf, but it does open things up a lot. I’m concerned that the police won’t be up to date with the new regulations though, and apparently they can just seize your equipment and make it very painful to get back.
- tjoff 6y ago
  The sub 250g drones don’t require you to do the online certification or get a flyer ID. I could very much be mistaken, but I thought the special rules regarding <250g drones only apply if the drone does not have a camera. The DJI Mini does.
  - pmuk 6y ago
    Registration is required for <250g drones if they are camera equipped, but not if they are toys.
  - markalexander 6y ago
    There are two distinct things: an operator ID and a flyer ID. The first is basically just a register of ownership. No test or competency, unlike the latter, which does require you to show you know a little about the rules. For sub 250g drones without a camera, you don’t need either of these. If it does have a camera, you need an operator ID but not a flyer ID. So you have to fill out a form with your name and address, and stick the ID to your drone, but there’s no certification element like there is when you have a heavier drone and need a flyer ID too.

meheleventyone 6y ago

The new rules basically mean anything under 250g needs no licence unless it has a camera in which case you need an operator id. You can read all the related info here: https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code/getting-what-you-need-to-fly https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code/getting-what-yo...

barnacled 6y ago
ah yeah there's a camera so would need to get an operator ID. Thanks!
zimpenfish 6y ago
Confusingly, this page implies that you always need Flyer + Operator ID even for <250g drones. https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/Recreational-drones/Flying-in-the-open-category/ https://www.caa.co.uk/Consumers/Unmanned-aircraft/Recreation...
- markalexander 6y ago
  I believe it’s because a UAV is only called a ‘drone’ in these regulations if it’s at least 250g. I agree the rules are annoyingly confusing and the information is spread piecemeal over multiple documents. They should fix that.
jiofih 6y ago
Are there any drones without a camera? How would you even fly it?
- leetcrew 6y ago
  under US hobbyist drone rules, you are required to maintain line of sight at all times. if you need a camera to fly the drone, you are probably breaking the rules.
- tjoff 6y ago
  Most drones didn't have a camera for many years. You fly it visually. And even if you have a camera you have to be in line of sight anyway.
- gambiting 6y ago
  I mean......RC helicopters have existed for decades and are far harder to control than drones. Look at the insanity that is possible with training and skill, no cameras needed: https://youtu.be/PptMrBFAO-A https://youtu.be/PptMrBFAO-A

sillysaurusx 6y ago

Hah, 249 grams. That just barely puts it in the lightweight/least-restricted category. I wonder if that was an intentional design decision.

Tomte 6y ago
Of course, just as the last Mini.
meheleventyone 6y ago
Yes: https://content.dji.com/why-did-dji-create-a-249-gram-drone/ https://content.dji.com/why-did-dji-create-a-249-gram-drone/
bluescrn 6y ago
Everyone's going to be making <250g drones now, between this and the US remote ID stuff. It'll be interesting to see just how capable they get.
- dingaling 6y ago
  Perhaps multiple types of 249g drones with individual capabilities that can combine in the air, Power Rangers style. One could be the camera platform, another with a larger battery....

andylynch 6y ago

DJI make a point of saying on the mini 2 home page that it’s <249g. Probably for this reason!

bitL 6y ago

Mini 2 is impacted as it has a camera that could be used to film sensitive personal things. Also, you need a yearly insurance for it.

markalexander 6y ago
The camera means it needs registered, but it’s not very onerous and there are no competency requirements. The new rules actually give you more freedom in terms of where you can fly, so it’s a good deal IMO. You only need insurance for commercial operations.
- bitL 6y ago
  I looked over at some Austrian and German pages wrt new EU rules and they all mention that Mini 2 has to be insured (25-50EUR/year).
  - markalexander 6y ago
    Well, member states are free to go beyond the EU rules and add their own local ones, so it might be true in those countries. I don’t believe you need insurance for hobby activities in the UK, though I’m not an expert and open to being corrected.

markalexander 6y ago

I have one and I’m in London. My understanding is these new rules actually free things up significantly for drones in that weight class. Previously, you couldn’t fly over ‘congested’ areas, near people, buildings, etc. So it was very difficult to fly fully legal around London. The new rules remove those restrictions. All they require in exchange is registration for £9/year. The sub 250g drones don’t require you to do the online certification or get a flyer ID. London still has a bunch of special security zones you can’t fly in, so you won’t be getting any nice shots of Canary Wharf, but it does open things up a lot. I’m concerned that the police won’t be up to date with the new regulations though, and apparently they can just seize your equipment and make it very painful to get back.

tjoff 6y ago
The sub 250g drones don’t require you to do the online certification or get a flyer ID. I could very much be mistaken, but I thought the special rules regarding <250g drones only apply if the drone does not have a camera. The DJI Mini does.
- pmuk 6y ago
  Registration is required for <250g drones if they are camera equipped, but not if they are toys.
- markalexander 6y ago
  There are two distinct things: an operator ID and a flyer ID. The first is basically just a register of ownership. No test or competency, unlike the latter, which does require you to show you know a little about the rules. For sub 250g drones without a camera, you don’t need either of these. If it does have a camera, you need an operator ID but not a flyer ID. So you have to fill out a form with your name and address, and stick the ID to your drone, but there’s no certification element like there is when you have a heavier drone and need a flyer ID too.