Large Landscape Altitude Change during Flight

[wolfy7810]

It looks like the drone measures the flight altitude based on the altitude of the home point. When Iaunch my drone in a valley, 1600 ft above sea level, and I try to take images of a mountain summit which is 3000 feet high then I can only fly up to an altitude of 2000 feet? Is this correct?

If I would climb that mountain and start the drone from the top, then I should not have that problem because my home point has an altitude of 3000 feet?

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

It looks like the drone measures the flight altitude based on the altitude of the home point. When Iaunch my drone in a valley, 1600 ft above sea level, and I try to take images of a mountain summit which is 3000 feet high then I can only fly up to an altitude of 2000 feet? Is this correct?

If I would climb that mountain and start the drone from the top, then I should not have that problem because my home point has an altitude of 3000 feet?

I will let a professional explain.

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[wolfy7810]

I will let a professional explain.

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This is a great explanation. Thank you!

 

[1gratefulflyingdawg]

This is a great explanation. Thank you!

You’re welcome

 

[GadgetGuy]

It looks like the drone measures the flight altitude based on the altitude of the home point. When Iaunch my drone in a valley, 1600 ft above sea level, and I try to take images of a mountain summit which is 3000 feet high then I can only fly up to an altitude of 2000 feet? Is this correct?

If I would climb that mountain and start the drone from the top, then I should not have that problem because my home point has an altitude of 3000 feet?

DJI assumes the earth is flat, but the FAA uses AGL, which DJI cannnot measure. DJI does not impose a 400 foot height limit above the Home Point. By default, the max limit above the Home Point has always been a 500m limit, but is now 1000m on all Mavic Series 3 and 4 and the Air 3S. Not sure about the Air 3. However, the FAA requires you to stay under 400 ft AGL, so you can still mountain climb, until you reach DJI's max above your Home Point. There is no maximum on altitude descent, so flying from the summit to the base is unlimited, but defeats the purpose of using a drone to mountain climb without physically summiting it, especially if the summit is inaccessible.

 

[wco81]

DJI assumes the earth is flat, but the FAA uses AGL, which DJI cannnot measure. DJI does not impose a 400 foot height limit above the Home Point. By default, the max limit above the Home Point has always been a 500m limit, but is now 1000m on all Mavic Series 3 and 4 and the Air 3S. Not sure about the Air 3. However, the FAA requires you to stay under 400 ft AGL, so you can still mountain climb, until you reach DJI's max above your Home Point. There is no maximum on altitude descent, so flying from the summit to the base is unlimited, but defeats the purpose of using a drone to mountain climb without physically summiting it, especially if the summit is inaccessible.

I've passed by places which would require hours to climb which you may no longer be able to do or just don't have the time to spend, yet you want to get the shot ...

But with 400 foot AGL, you can't avoid the climb, though you may not be allowed to fly at the top or the wind conditions may not permit flights anyways.

 

[GadgetGuy]

But with 400 foot AGL, you can't avoid the climb, though you may not be allowed to fly at the top or the wind conditions may not permit flights anyways.

Didn’t you mean "you can avoid the climb" as 400 feet AGL is easily maintained while climbing any mountain? The drone never needs to fly more than 400 feet Above Ground Level round as it climbs, and even 50 feet AGL would easily be doable, unless tall trees or large rock obstructions require more.

 

[wco81]

Didn’t you mean "you can avoid the climb" as 400 feet AGL is easily maintained while climbing any mountain? The drone never needs to fly more than 400 feet Above Ground Level round as it climbs, and even 50 feet AGL would easily be doable, unless tall trees or large rock obstructions require more.

So if I'm at sea level, I can keep ascending the drone as long as there's a mountain underneath it?

Say the mountain is 500 feet above sea level. I can take off at sea level, then just climb along the side of the mountain and eventually reach 900 feet above sea level when it's above the top of the mountain?

The places I have in mind are in Spain and New Zealand though.

Another place would be Norway. The famous Trolltunga is 1100 meters above sea level and the round-trip hike would take 10-12 hours, 800 meters ascent.

I believe parts of the terrain is like a straight vertical cliff face. So would you be able to fly up to 1320 meters above sea level after launching at the base of the cliff?

 

[GadgetGuy]

So if I'm at sea level, I can keep ascending the drone as long as there's a mountain underneath it?

Say the mountain is 500 feet above sea level. I can take off at sea level, then just climb along the side of the mountain and eventually reach 900 feet above sea level when it's above the top of the mountain?

The places I have in mind are in Spain and New Zealand though.

Another place would be Norway. The famous Trolltunga is 1100 meters above sea level and the round-trip hike would take 10-12 hours, 800 meters ascent.

I believe parts of the terrain is like a straight vertical cliff face. So would you be able to fly up to 1320 meters above sea level after launching at the base of the cliff?

Yes, up to the maximum altitude DJI permits above your launch site, which is 500m or 1000m, depending upon your drone. As long as the ground below the drone is less than 400 feet away, any FAA 400 foot AGL limitation in the US is still complied with. However VLOS requires you to still be able to see the drone. Foreign countries, however, have their own different rules and regulations, but DJI's software limitations are either 500m or 1000m above your launch point, unless in a Blue Altitude Zone around an airport.

I would highly recommend watching the video above in post #2.

 

[wco81]

Yes, up to the maximum altitude DJI permits above your launch site, which is 500m or 1000m, depending upon your drone. As long as the ground below the drone is less than 400 feet away, any FAA 400 foot AGL limitation in the US is still complied with. However VLOS requires you to still be able to see the drone. Foreign countries, however, have their own different rules and regulations, but DJI's software limitations are either 500m or 1000m above your launch point, unless in a Blue Altitude Zone around an airport.

I would highly recommend watching the video above in post #2.

So I guess you'd have to change the max altitude in the settings before preparing to have your drone "climb" a mountain while you control it from the foot of the mountain.

You just have to have a good idea of how tall the mountain is relative to your launch point and add 400 feet to it as the max altitude.

 

[Starz]

a good idea of how tall the mountain is

Or possibly just set the max altitude in the settings and then follow the rules regarding the 400’ AGL limit.
Every DJI product I have is set to maximum height. That also can be helpful when needing to escape some inquisitive winged individuals in an emergency.

 

[wco81]

Or possibly just set the max altitude in the settings and then follow the rules regarding the 400’ AGL limit.
Every DJI product I have is set to maximum height. That also can be helpful when needing to escape some inquisitive winged individuals in an emergency.

You can't change the max altitude during flight can you?

Have to set it before take off?

 

[Starz]

max altitude during flight can you?

Yes.

 

[GadgetGuy]

So I guess you'd have to change the max altitude in the settings before preparing to have your drone "climb" a mountain while you control it from the foot of the mountain.

You just have to have a good idea of how tall the mountain is relative to your launch point and add 400 feet to it as the max altitude.

As @Starz indicated, there is nothing wrong with setting your max altitude to the max setting available, so you can mountain climb and restore signal if an intervening object blocks the signal. Just be responsible and aware that you are still responsible for adhering to the FAA guidelines/rules of 400 feet AGL, subject to the limitations in the video. Please watch the video, if you haven’t already.