New rules as of 2020 - Mavic Air

[Father Cool]

Not true. The mini's weight category is over 250g as the max weight is taken with the propeller guards on and those take it over 250g so it sits in the same catergory as the air.

 

[scro]

Not true. The mini's weight category is over 250g as the max weight is taken with the propeller guards on and those take it over 250g so it sits in the same catergory as the air.

Sorry, but we'll have to disagree here, as the reference weight is the "flying weight", not the maximum takeoff weight. From page 8 of CAP1879:

Unmanned aircraft without a Class marking – any reference to MTOM or ‘take-off mass’ should be taken to mean the weight of the unmanned aircraft at any time while it is in flight (which will be referred to as the ‘flying weight’)

Only if you put the prop cages on will you be restricted to sub-cat A3 rules. With them off (and no other payload attached) the "flying weight" is under 250g and therefore you're allowed to fly in sub-cat A1.

There was a subtle change in the wording in a recent revision of that document. The Mavic mini does not have a MTOM. This figure has to be determined by the manufacturer, otherwise there would be a lot more ambiguity surrounding the term. DJI have not published such a figure.

 

[Father Cool]

Apologies, I wasn't aware that the wording had changed to put the mini in the A1 catergory. I have just read up again and found the change.

As you were then.

 

[scro]

Yes, that subtle change to the weight definition makes a big difference for the Mini!

Prior to this it was quite ambiguous exactly what applied to the MM, as it was capable of taking off with a mass greater than 250g, but there was no official MTOM specified, just the 249g flying weight. The general consensus was that the MTOM of the mini would be more than 250g due to the prop guards, and would have then been in the same situation as the MA.

 

[Father Cool]

Well hopefully the A3 category gets a re-write as currently the wording is so ambiguous as to almost be meaningless.

With no definition as to what is the 'area of operation' and what recreational or industrial areas are and what marks their boundaries there are going to be some very confused pilots about.

 

[scro]

Agree, the current wording for A3 category is fairly ambiguous, and sounds potentially overly onerous compared to the risk posed by a small drone.

It all reads as if you are flying a classic fixed wing RC plane, where you essentially need to go to a model club field (area of operation) and fly there. Public access is generally minimal, and it's relatively easy to have min 50m separation between your aircraft and uninvolved people.

 

[Father Cool]

Exactly, it is wholly disproportionate to the danger potential.

I also fly RC helicopters and I assure you that bad boy poses a real danger, the Mavic Air may as well be made of jelly and soft furnishings in comparison however the rules seem to read as pretty much the same.