DJI Mavic, Air and Mini Drones
Friendly, Helpful & Knowledgeable Community
Join Us Now

Recent content by JimWest

  1. J

    Eclipse

    Seems like the reason for doing it is to capture the landscape as well as the sun. I'm not sure how easy this would be since the sun will be quite high in the sky, but maybe worth trying.
  2. J

    How would you charge for this gig?

    As others have said, your project may be a lot of work. It sounds like you really want to do the job. But - Danger! - if you charge an unrealistically low price just to get the job, that's what they'll give you for future jobs. And no matter the quality of your work, if they have a future job...
  3. J

    Greetings from Detroit!

    Welcome from another Detroiter!
  4. J

    M2 Pro Controller Battery Life Weak

    I have a similar issue with my M2P. Controller battery won't charge much above 80%, and then falls to 40% or so within five minutes of flight. I had pretty much the same issue two years ago, and DJI replaced my controller with a (used) controller for $79. I sent my current controller to DJI last...
  5. J

    Battery swelling

    You may be able to get DJI to replace it for free. All three of my original M2P batteries started swelling a couple of years ago. Turns out there must have been a bad battery batch that they know about, because they replaced mine and others have had the same experience. But don't continue to fly...
  6. J

    Military Rules vs FAA Rules

    I actually think it does make some sense as long as its not carried to extremes. The drone could quickly be over a military vessel and do some damage, while someone with a camera on the shore half a mile away would have a more difficult time of it. But the rule makes more sense in the case of a...
  7. J

    Military Rules vs FAA Rules

    Update: The Physical Security Officer for the Coast Guard Detroit sector called me and said I'm welcome to use the drone as I wish, as long as I stay on public property and don't fly over the base. What a guy! He had a lot to say about the First Amendment and freedom of the press. I'm off to...
  8. J

    Military Rules vs FAA Rules

    Thanks, Vic. Your thoughts are always helpful. I had not known about the 3,000 foot boundary around operating vessels, which I have unknowingly violated several times while photographing icebreaking on the St. Mary's River. In this case, no vessels were operating and would not have been visible...
  9. J

    Military Rules vs FAA Rules

    Looking for advice in flying near, but not over a military base. I'm a working photojournalist with a Part107 license. Every year before the lakes and river are choked with ice, the Coast Guard takes navigational buoys out of the water and stacks them up at their base on the Detroit River. The...
  10. J

    Line of Sight?

    Frankly, this attitude is really scary. You don't know it wasn't near anything or that it would stay "not near anything." A couple years ago I was doing aerial photography in a remote forest in Pennsylvania. And I lost sight of my drone. I wasn't worried because there was nothing nearby, until a...
  11. J

    Updated Compliance list

    I saw an earlier post an updated my Mavic 2 Pro last week. Flew yesterday. I don't see any way to tell if the RID is working. Is there some way to determine that without buying expensive equipment?
  12. J

    Mini 3 Washington DC

    Great photos, Vic. Can you say what the approval process was like? How long did it take? Did you need a minder with you (and need to pay for him/her)?
  13. J

    Turnaround Time for DroneZone Altitude Authorization Requests?

    I haven't done any Drone Zone requests recently, but two years ago I requested authorization in a 0 foot grid right in line with the Detroit City airport runway. I think I asked for 50', which was the height of an auto factory that was being demolished, but they gave me 100' and I think it only...
  14. J

    2 Pro Ambassador International Bridge in Detroit with the new Gordie Howe bridge under construction

    Nice shot! Did you have any trouble with Ambassador Bridge security? They are always jerks, and will lie to you about where you're allowed to fly and what you're allowed to photograph. I've had trouble with them even when shooting with my ground-based cameras.
  15. J

    KPLC 7NEWS: Drone operators required to have Remote ID by Sept. 16

    On their weekly video, the Pilot Institute reported from the UAV show in Las Vegas that the FAA would delay remote ID, though they did not have any details.