Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, and Air 3S... RID, FAA, Ban, Registration, and Performance

[mstgkillr]

I understand the Air 3S is likely to be released as early as September 2024. I currently have a mint condition Air 2, so I am in no rush to purchase, but hope to get something new by the end of the year. I am currently looking at the Mini 4 Pro, Air 3, and now the leaked Air 3S.

I am concerned about the somewhat recent (September 2023) FAA rules changes and the Countering CCP Drones Act, and how each impact my privacy, safety, and continued use of my drones. I have no problem with the TRUST certification (I already have it) or the previous FAA registration.

My primary concerns are the following:

• I strictly abide by all drone rules and regulations, with one exception... line of sight. Like everyone else, it doesn't take much for my drone to get lost in sky. Once it's lost, what difference is 100 yards or miles (I don't go that far)? Drones >250g are required to broadcast RID, which give away both the location of the pilot and the UAV, which I assume could be used to determine the distance between the two, and confirm line of sight was lost. Is this something FAA or others currently monitor? I'm also not wild about giving everyone the ability to find my location, just incase they are up to no good. I've also read of all drones within a certain radius of an event getting flagged through RID and getting a nasty letter from the FAA.
• I do not know enough about the Countering CCP Drones Act to know if it's targeting only DJI or all drones regardless of weight. Is it focusing on drones >250g, leaving the lighter Mini 4 Pro alone?

Only considering flight/camera performance and my typical use case, I would purchase the Air 3 or Air 3S. However, due to the above, I am leaning towards the Mini4 Pro.

 

[mavic3usa]

Air 3S for sure and if it hasn't launched yet, I would go with the Mini 4 Pro because personally, I believe the Air 3 is no longer a top pick for several reasons.

 

[Cafguy]

what difference is 100 yards or miles

27,500 Dollars.

Is this something FAA or others currently monitor?

NO RID will be used mainly for repeat offenders. They will now have a definate record tied to your number-No-one is on a screen somewhere watching RID numbers {Maybe some Karens).

I've also read of all drones within a certain radius of an event getting flagged through RID and getting a nasty letter from the FAA.

Not just through RID BUT yes You risk that if you Fly close to such events. This rule about Drone flying is usually well known by everyone before the event.

I do not know enough about the Countering CCP Drones Act to know if it's targeting only DJI or all drones regardless of weight. Is it focusing on drones >250g, leaving the lighter Mini 4 Pro alone?

It is focused not only on DJI drones of ALL weights and sizes but some of their products as well. The Ban will only effect DJI.
I think in the end any drone already produced and that has received FCC approval at the time the law passes will be O.K.
Government agencies that wish to keep thier DJI's will have to pay a tariff to do so.

 

[DevilsLuck]

What recieves the RID transmission? At what distances?

 

[Cafguy]

special equipment pretty much like the apps made for your phone. While range depends mostly on conditions the range is a couple of miles at best in great conditions and around a few hundred yards in the city. I have tested RID range when I experimented with the RID spoofer ( spoofers only work when you are almost next to your drone ).

 

[mstgkillr]

What recieves the RID transmission? At what distances?

It's my understanding that most newer smartphones can do it with an app.

 

[DevilsLuck]

So... It's not like other aircraft or towers recieve these signals?

 

[mstgkillr]

So... It's not like other aircraft or towers recieve these signals?

I believe the FAA or an entity on their behalf also monitor RID, at least in some (maybe all) restricted areas. I've read of people flying near concerts receiving a letter from the FAA.

 

[Droning on and on...]

I believe the FAA or an entity on their behalf also monitor RID, at least in some (maybe all) restricted areas. I've read of people flying near concerts receiving a letter from the FAA.

What sort of letter? "You were legally flying near restricted airspace. Continue to do so at your discretion. Have a nice day."?

The FAA has no basis for sending any letter if you're flying legally.

If RID makes it easier for the FAA to enforce the rules when you're breaking them, that's good.

 

[mstgkillr]

What sort of letter? "You were legally flying near restricted airspace. Continue to do so at your discretion. Have a nice day."?

The FAA has no basis for sending any letter if you're flying legally.

If RID makes it easier for the FAA to enforce the rules when you're breaking them, that's good.

I've attached the referenced letter (not mine), along with the following response from the recipient of the letter "I'm pretty sure my flight log that day shows I was not flying higher than 400ft, but I did briefly fly over some people." Obviously, I cannot confirm what actually took place, maybe the pilot was flying >400ft over crowds, or maybe he was flying <400 ft near crowds (as he said).

I have read of FAA sending letters to anyone in the area, regardless if they were flying legally or not. Apparently, for those who were most likely flying legally, they receive a "good" letter reminding them of the rules. Regardless, anyone receiving a letter from the FAA most likely gets them on the radar.

As I mentioned earlier, I strictly abide by all FAA rules... with the LOS being a grey area. Have you ever lost sight of your drone, or do you fly outside of a reasonable LOS?

 

[Cafguy]

I believe the FAA or an entity on their behalf also monitor RID, at least in some (maybe all) restricted areas. I've read of people flying near concerts receiving a letter from the FAA.

That would take thousands of people and a lot of equipment. The pilot that received that letter could have had their RID number read by equipment used by security at the venue. Maybe a police report?
One red flag would be : How would they know the operator did not have a Remote pilot certificate Unless the operator were approached by law enforcement and asked.
RID is not a system like you see in the tower. There is no RID screen. Nobody is vigilantly monitoring RID numbers.
The way it works is that if you bust a rule the FAA now has proof that you are a repeat offender They will note the Drones RID number on your first violation and if that number is involved in another incident they will fine you accordingly.

 

[mavic3usa]

I believe the FAA or an entity on their behalf also monitor RID, at least in some (maybe all) restricted areas. I've read of people flying near concerts receiving a letter from the FAA.

I've attached the referenced letter (not mine), along with the following response from the recipient of the letter "I'm pretty sure my flight log that day shows I was not flying higher than 400ft, but I did briefly fly over some people." Obviously, I cannot confirm what actually took place, maybe the pilot was flying >400ft over crowds, or maybe he was flying <400 ft near crowds (as he said).

I have read of FAA sending letters to anyone in the area, regardless if they were flying legally or not. Apparently, for those who were most likely flying legally, they receive a "good" letter reminding them of the rules. Regardless, anyone receiving a letter from the FAA most likely gets them on the radar.

As I mentioned earlier, I strictly abide by all FAA rules... with the LOS being a grey area. Have you ever lost sight of your drone, or do you fly outside of a reasonable LOS?

This appears to be a response to a complaint filed by someone who isn't the FAA rather than the FAA actively monitoring the airspace for violations.

You should know this letter is not new to this forum, I'm pretty sure it was posted earlier in another thread. Mentioned in the letter, did you happen to see the statement about not having a drone license?

 

[Droning on and on...]

I've attached the referenced letter (not mine), along with the following response from the recipient of the letter "I'm pretty sure my flight log that day shows I was not flying higher than 400ft, but I did briefly fly over some people."

The pilot's protestations are irrelevant. The letter was sent because the FAA believed the pilot violated the regulations, not because they were legally flying near restricted airspace with RID.

Case closed.

 

[Renkei]

Air 3S for sure and if it hasn't launched yet, I would go with the Mini 4 Pro because personally, I believe the Air 3 is no longer a top pick for several reasons.

Most on this forum seem to prefer the Air 3 to the M4P, could you elaborate why the opposite may be true now?

 

[mavic3usa]

Most on this forum seem to prefer the Air 3 to the M4P, could you elaborate why the opposite may be true now?

Personally? Lessons learned from initially buying the Mavic 3 when it came out.

 

[MS Coast]

I have read of FAA sending letters to anyone in the area, regardless if they were flying legally or not.

What's the source of that statement?

I find that very difficult to believe, given that it's not a very productive thing to do and that no one on this forum has ever reported getting a letter relating to an event when they weren't flying. In fact, there have been only two or three reports of letters from people who were said to have flown inappropriately near events.

 

[GFields]

Let's get back to the topic please

 

[Droning on and on...]

Most on this forum seem to prefer the Air 3 to the M4P, could you elaborate why the opposite may be true now?

Personally? Lessons learned from initially buying the Mavic 3 when it came out.

Huh?

 

[Yaros]

Want my real answer? None.

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[mavic3usa]

Huh?

I think I understood his question to be even though the majority of the forum favors the Air 3, it appears the poll is currently pulling for the Mini 4 Pro and the question is "why so?" I gave my personal opinion why I would choose the Mini 4 Pro between the two if I were buying today.