I'm not sure why DJI thinks the time is appropriate for an "Operations Over People" drone. I don't know nearly enough about OOP details so maybe I'm about to speak out of turn but I think this is a good opportunity to bring up the topic and I know we have experts here to give us the most accurate information.
Here's my understanding, with a link below that backs it up. Category 1 drones don't need to be approved/certified by the FAA. Only Category 2 and 3 drones require FAA certification, and Category 4 is a custom branch that will require an individual Airworthiness certificate. For Category 1, it needs to have a sub-0.55lb take-off weight, no rotating parts that can cause laceration. As long as it meets those criteria it is automatically a Category 1 drone. Now, if you add sustained flights over groups of people outdoors only then does a Category 1 drone need to be Remote ID compliant. Given that at this point RID is essentially just software using existing on-board antennas, and with a projected retail price of $330 with Fly More combo it's not hard to imagine it'll include built-in RID. Even if it didn't, unlike the other DJI drones in the Mini series this Neo drone will be so far under the weight limit you can easily add an aftermarket RID broadcast module and still meet the requirements. Part 107 is required for OOP flights but realistically it's trivially simple to get a Part 107 so that's not much of a barrier.I'm not sure why DJI thinks the time is appropriate for an "Operations Over People" drone. I don't know nearly enough about OOP details so maybe I'm about to speak out of turn but I think this is a good opportunity to bring up the topic and I know we have experts here to give us the most accurate information.
DJI cannot just decide the drone is appropriate for operations over people, it has to be approved by teh FAA. So you may meet the requirements to be a Category 1 drone for example but unless the FAA says you are....you aren't. Doesn't a Category 1 drone need to have standard RID? 149g drone with standard RID doesn't sounds like a winner to me when it comes to what could be one of DJIs most popular "recreational" drone for the general public. I see early unverified pics of Neo without guards, not sure how that works when they are optional equipment. In fact, I'm not even how/if a recreational pilot can fly under OOP rules, is it even possible?
I'm not the best PFV pilot but I don't believe it is very easy to fly over large outdoors crowds while wear goggles. Even if the drone and equipment is suitable, in the US there are just too many outdoor events where you still won't be able use the drone whether there is a TFR or a local laws or other reasons such as getting crowd approval. I guess I'm trying to say the conditions are not best for DJI to launch an OOP drone; too early for that, too many government regulations. Instead, from what I've seen, most people just use whatever drone they already have and kinda do whatever they want (as long as they do it "safely") so I doubt anyone is going to buy an OOP drone not fully knowing the "rules" in the first place.
This would be my opinion on it, probably because I selfishly prefer that this turns out to be a solid FPV drone so I hope they don't cut too many corners.
spectrum.ieee.org
Good to know; perhaps the Neo can be used for OOP flights but I thought it was too early for DJI to embrace that primary role for one of it's potential best selling drones (due to price). If they put standard RID in Neo, that's going to blow it, IMO. I don't mind it but a lot of Americans do.Here's my understanding, with a link below that backs it up. Category 1 drones don't need to be approved/certified by the FAA. Only Category 2 and 3 drones require FAA certification, and Category 4 is a custom branch that will require an individual Airworthiness certificate. For Category 1, it needs to have a sub-0.55lb take-off weight, no rotating parts that can cause laceration. As long as it meets those criteria it is automatically a Category 1 drone. Now, if you add sustained flights over groups of people outdoors only then does a Category 1 drone need to be Remote ID compliant. Given that at this point RID is essentially just software using existing on-board antennas, and with a projected retail price of $330 with Fly More combo it's not hard to imagine it'll include built-in RID. Even if it didn't, unlike the other DJI drones in the Mini series this Neo drone will be so far under the weight limit you can easily add an aftermarket RID broadcast module and still meet the requirements. Part 107 is required for OOP flights but realistically it's trivially simple to get a Part 107 so that's not much of a barrier.
New FAA Drone Rules: What Recreational and Commercial Pilots Need to Know
Here's how Remote ID and FAA's new drone rules about flying at night and over people will affect you
Regarding full FPV, I don't get why DJI would choose such a minuscule battery for that task. The Neo battery is only 1435mAh. For comparison the Mini 2 is 2250mAh. Certainly there are micro FPV drones with tiny batteries but given the size of this drone in the leaked photos/video it doesn't appear to be a micro drone, bigger than a Tello, probably closer in size to a Spark.
That's why I still believe this drone is intended for comparatively short cinematic flights with little risk to persons or property.
They way I read it is the entire "drone categories" discussion relates only to Part 107 cert holders. The FAA ammended 107, they didn't ammend USC 44809.
Just read into it. Overall, I'm saying registration. They are tied together even though most consumer maybe don't know much about either. Seems every conversation about a sub-250g drone in the US involves a statement saying something along the lines of "...you don't need to register." Wouldn't that involve RID? I know there are differing opinions on that particular topic but in order for DJI to have "no registration" bragging rights, surely they have to consider RID, right?
"Category 2 enables sustained flight over open-air gatherings, while Category 3 imposes additional safety limitations. Under Category 3, drone operations over crowds are prohibited unless conducted within or over closed- or restricted-access areas, where individuals are duly notified of potential drone flights, or if the drone maintains flight over individuals who are directly involved in the operation or are situated under protective structures or stationary vehicles." Source: dronedj.com
The problem with the Tello, is you couldn't record to an SD card. You could only do a screen recording, which was very bad. What dummies!
