Sadly, yeah, that's been my experience of the CAA too. Maybe we'll get some clarity from DJI in the New Year, but my feeling is that given certification will presumbly cost money and it's highly likely that there will be a complete range refresh between the end of 2025 and 2028, existing models, including any shipped going forwards, are probably going to end up as legacy.
New UK drone regs
- Thread starter Split-Infinitive
- Start date
Geeksvana covers a lot of this in some recent YouTube releases. There’s also a thread on forum.dji.com with wording from the CAA that corroborates that. Basically, the CAA have seen sense and C labels are recognised. A 253g Mini 5 Pro is classed as sub 250g. BUT, you can’t add 3rd party accessories so a Mini 4/5 Pro cannot have a strobe fitted for filming at night as that takes the drone outside the certification. (The status lights turn off on C0 Mini 4/5 pro’s when recording and a green flashing light is required at night.)
Felix le Chat
Well-Known Member
Again: following precedent, DJI may give us the option to reclassify the mini 5 pro as C(or UK)1. With the C1 class drone regulations being relaxed so that they can be flown in sub-category A1... as suggested by the CAA.
But... I get the feeling that the A2CofC is going to end up the minimum mandatory requirement.
The ability to reclassify a mini 5 (and 4) pro as C1 would be good as C1 Mini 5/4 Pro continue to show green lights while recording.
It really is bonkers that the ability to show green lights while recording is taken away when a Mini 5/4 pro is classified C0. Needless complication!!
It really is bonkers that the ability to show green lights while recording is taken away when a Mini 5/4 pro is classified C0. Needless complication!!
Felix le Chat
Well-Known Member
No, that’s DJI’s doing! Something about the lights not being required under C0 but required under C1 so they turn the off a C0 drones lights during video recording so there isn’t any unwanted light from the rear facing lights showing. Totally forgetting that they’ve marketed the drone as being suitable for low light/night time operation and that a green flashing light is required at night.
Yeah, definite design SNAFU over the strobe light directional control/blocking there on DJI's part there.
From a safety perspective though, flying at night under C1 regs is better than C0 anyway, so I suppose that might also have played a part in the design decision. From DJI's perspective, they've given the user the best possible footage (no intemittant green colour cast) and specified a safer mode of operation at night, so all good. If the user then decides to fly a C0 regs mission without the strobe lights on and gets busted, that's entirely on them, rather than DJI.
