Has any American been able to get the EU C1 label?

[wco81]

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2023/aug/12/rose-matafeo-starstruck-interviewApparently, DJI drones purchased in the US do not come with C1 labels, although all of the Mavic 3 models except the M3 Pro are certified for C1.

Also the Air 3 as well.

Instead apparently you have to request the label within their app while you're in one of the eligible EU countries.

The C1 label application portal is only available when your drone fulfills the following 3 conditions: a. Your drone type is Mavic 3 or Mavic 3 Cine；b. DJI APP version is 1.9.0 or above and Firmware version is 01.00.0900 or above；c. Drone now is in our supported country list ( 27 member states of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway，Swizerland ) ;

If your drone fulfills the above conditions, Please follow the DJI EU C1-label application process (Europe: The C1 Label for Your Mavic 3 & Cine is Available! Here's How to Get One. ) to get the label and certificate document. Please refer to the following two links for detailed instructions.

So what are Americans suppose to do, submit a request in the app while they're in Europe, to have the label be mailed to a US address? What good does that do them for the trip in which they submit the request for the label? They won't have it until they return back home?

Has any American owner who purchased the C1 drone in the US gone through this process at all?

Or perhaps tried to spoof the app with VPN?

I'd be upset if I spent a couple thousand or more on a new drone and had problems getting the label.

According to this thread, even some EU residents can't get it to work:

Europe: How to Get The C1 Label for Your Mavic 3 & Cine

Europe: How to Get The C1 Label for Your Mavic 3 & Cine

forum.dji.com

I don't understand why DJI doesn't either include the label in the box or affix it to the drone or send it out to any registered owner who requests it.

 

[bitsbytes]

I contacted DJI Support to try and get one for the Mavic 3 and they claimed they couldn't send me one.

 

[wco81]

I contacted DJI Support to try and get one for the Mavic 3 and they claimed they couldn't send me one.

Yeah I got the same message.

They say you have to be in Europe for the app to even offer you the option of ordering the labels.

But the problem is, it will only ship labels to European addresses.

So I don't know, if starting next month we hear that non EU residents are unable to fly drones in the EU even if they have a C1-drone, then owners are going to have to try something.

Like maybe use a VPN to order and then use a hotel address where they plan to stay when they visit with their drone.


Either that or maybe have to buy a drone in the EU assuming it comes with the label out of the box for the ones sold there ...

Or worst case, fly your drone in the A1 and A2 category, which is the least restrictive category, and hope that you're not accosted to show proof that your drone is C1 and A1/A2 eligible, that is show the label..

You may have to feign ignorance of the rules which are suppose to come online in just 23 days.

 

[bradl]

I'm having the exact same issue with the Mini 4 Pro. With the Intelligent Flight Battery PLUS, I'm easily in >250g territory. DJI has refused to send me a C1 label after several requests to support. I guess I'll have to try it the next time I'm in Helsinki and have the label sent to my office.

Has anyone else within the US had any luck getting DJI to see reason on this one?

 

[Feek]

Is this just a label? Can you get them sent to a European address and have them posted on? If they'll post to the UK, I'd be happy to help.

 

[wco81]

I actually looked into buying a compliant drone in Europe.

For instance I’m going to Malta in a couple of weeks and contacted a DJI dealer there.

They said labels may or may not come in the box for drone they sell. So you’d still have to go through the app and have DJI ship labels and DJI said it’s not enough to be in the EU when you request the label through the app. They will only ship to EU addresses.

In any event the dealer claims there’s some undefined grace period where they’re not enforcing these new rules.

How long before police would know to look for labels, if they’re even routinely checking people flying drones?

Dealer said it was more important to have proof of insurance but again, are they looking out for drones and then finding the pilots and demanding to see proof of insurance?

 

[Aerophile]

Why not make your own "label"? Print it on a sticky mailing label, stick it on, off you go...

If they make it impossible to use one of their labels, they should expect people to get creative.

Can someone take a picture of the official label and post it here?

 

[Andy T-V]

I took my Mini 3 Pro to Denmark in May. I contacted the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority (!)
as I couldn't apply online for an operator ID (I don't have "Personnummer") I explained that I wanted to fly while there and gave them my qualifications/insurance details etc. They said it was ok to fly (within the rules which they sent me by email) and also said that if the police turned I was to refer to them to the Authority.
I did try to apply for stickers etc. through the app when I was there, but (can't remember the wording now) it said something along the lines of 'not applicable to this drone' (a pre 1st Jan 2024 purchase).
Bottom line - Contact the relevant authorities (preferably by phone) and ask.

 

[wco81]

Where in Denmark did you fly?

Probably well outside Copenhagen?

 

[Brojon]

Well crud.... this is my exact issue.
DJI support seems (or pretends) to be clueless as to why the option doesn't show on my app.
I have checked every single requirement and nope.
I tried a VPN but you need to be able to spoof the GPS and most of those solutions are sketchy at best.
The best method is to tether the phone to your PC in developer mode and spoof teh GPS that way - except it appears you have to be connected to the controller and drone - and even if you could, both of those have GPS.
I have my EU certification and I guess I'm going to have to get insistent with DJI on providing what they promised.
Has anyone else found a working method to get the label?
Heck I'm even up for making a label as someone suggested.

 

[wco81]

My understanding is, even if you spoof the app, they will NOT ship to an address outside the EU.

I don't understand why they don't put labels on the drone or in the box.

In fact I'm not sure that drones sold in the EU necessarily have the stickers in the box. They may also have to order them through the app.

 

[Brojon]

My understanding is, even if you spoof the app, they will NOT ship to an address outside the EU.

I don't understand why they don't put labels on the drone or in the box.

In fact I'm not sure that drones sold in the EU necessarily have the stickers in the box. They may also have to order them through the app.

That would really irritate me when I have a legitimate license to fly in the EU.
I'm waiting for DJI support EU to call me.

 

[wco81]

That would really irritate me when I have a legitimate license to fly in the EU.
I'm waiting for DJI support EU to call me.

One support person claimed that EASA bars them from sending to people not in the EU.

I don't think that person had any idea, just trying to tell me something to go away.

I think the main issue is whether there is active enforcement in the EU. Are cops going out of the way to check drones for the label?

I'm not sure that they are. But obviously you'd prefer to have the label.

I still have the Mavic 2 Pro and one reason to buy a newer drone would be to get a compliant model. I may even consider buying in the EU.

 

[Brojon]

One support person claimed that EASA bars them from sending to people not in the EU.

I don't think that person had any idea, just trying to tell me something to go away.

I think the main issue is whether there is active enforcement in the EU. Are cops going out of the way to check drones for the label?

I'm not sure that they are.

Probably not - especially since I don't even bother to try and fly in cities. I dunno about others but there's Dante's 9 hells to get permission in Germany. Several agencies then the local Polizei.
Here is the response from DJI-EU I'm arguing with.

The C1 label application is only supported in the European region. The remote controller detects as the drone is not in the European region, thus the option is available.

You can either choose any of the options to apply for the C1 label
1. Apply for the C1 label once you are in the European Region, or
2. We can assist to do a manual application for you, please provide us with a shipping address in Europe Countries

Looking forward to your reply, as we would be glad to get this so

 

[wco81]

Possibly when you have a specific trip planned, you can try to get the labels shipped to the hotel you plan to stay at.

Otherwise, they're not giving you many choices.

I don't get this need for a label though. The EASA clearly publishes which drone products are complaint in which categories so it should be a quick lookup on the website for any police or authority who is enforcing the rule.

That's even if a local policeman even knows the rules in the first place.

What if you feign ignorance?

 

[Brojon]

Possibly when you have a specific trip planned, you can try to get the labels shipped to the hotel you plan to stay at.

Otherwise, they're not giving you many choices.

I don't get this need for a label though. The EASA clearly publishes which drone products are complaint in which categories so it should be a quick lookup on the website for any police or authority who is enforcing the rule.

That's even if a local policeman even knows the rules in the first place.

What if you feign ignorance?

Have you ever been around Germans?
lol - seriously hidebound people when it comes to the rules.
We were at an intersection and the crossing signal was red.
Nobody was coming so my wife and I started walking across.
This guy hollers "Nein! you must follow ze rules!" while pointing at the cross walk sign.
I reponded "bist du ein polizei?" (are you a cop)
He just glared at us as we walked across.
Cops are even less interested in engaging in rational conversation - Ze Rules must be followed.

 

[Brojon]

Possibly when you have a specific trip planned, you can try to get the labels shipped to the hotel you plan to stay at.

Otherwise, they're not giving you many choices.

I don't get this need for a label though. The EASA clearly publishes which drone products are complaint in which categories so it should be a quick lookup on the website for any police or authority who is enforcing the rule.

That's even if a local policeman even knows the rules in the first place.

What if you feign ignorance?

Actually, we're going to GB and then a trip up to Scotland. We may not even make it to the continent.
Does the UK have the same classes and such?
Maybe I should ask that question and give DJI a rest for now.
I actually have friends that live in Germany and I could ask one of them to be the recipient of the label.

 

[Brojon]

Apparently I took the right approach with sending my license and Operator ID.

Thank you for providing your operator ID and a copy of your license to fly in Europe. I understand that you are licensed to operate drones in the EU.

We understand the importance of having the C1 label for your DJI Air 2S and the inconvenience that waiting for the standard 30-day shipping period may cause, especially with your upcoming trip.

We appreciate your patience and want to assure you that there is no intention to withhold the label from you.
DJI is committed to fulfilling its promises to customers, and we will work to expedite the shipping of your C1 label to your specified address.

 

[wco81]

So you gave them operator ID and license through support contact, not through the app? And they will mail it to you in the US?

You are talking about the operator ID from taking an online quiz with an agency in one of the EU countries, the ID which is valid in all EU countries regardless of which country issued the operator ID?

 

[Brojon]

So you gave them operator ID and license through support contact, not through the app? And they will mail it to you in the US?

You are talking about the operator ID from taking an online quiz with an agency in one of the EU countries, the ID which is valid in all EU countries regardless of which country issued the operator ID?

I gave them a copy of my EASA ID card that shows I passed the test and am certified to fly.
I also gave them the "public" part of my Operator ID issued in Germany which can be verified with the German authorities - which is very similar in scope to our FAA.
It appears they are saying they will mail it to me - we'll see. Sometimes it appears they say one thing while meaning another. Such are language barriers.