Questions from reading the Mavic Air User Manual

MacUser · Jan 23, 2019

Greetings,
Regarding the Mavic Air User Manual
and, as a novice Mavic Air user, I'll appreciate the opportunity
to raise a few questions specific to the manual.

Under "Aircraft" near the bottom of page 11,
"Enable 'Multiple Flight Modes' in the DJI Go 4 app to allow switching between S Mode and P Mode..."
Is there a way to make sure this is disabled (in order to make sure that P Mode is always set)?

Under the Return to Home, page 13,
"The Return to Home (RTH) function brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. "
How does the user maker sure this is enabled, or is it always default enabled?

Low Battery RTH...
Is this always enabled, or, what must I do to make sure it's enabled?

Page 14
"Failsafe RTH"
Does I need to do something to enable this, or is it always enabled?
If not, then what steps must be performed?

Page 16
under "Precision Landing"
"The following actions are available during precision landing:
a. Throttle down to accelerate landing."
How is this done?

Page 32, "Gimbal Operation Modes"
"Two gimbal operation modes are available. Switch between the different operation modes on the cammera settings page of the DJI GO 4 app
Follow Mode: ...
FPV Mode ..."
What specifically must be done to enable either of these,
or does it just show up on the camera settings "page?"

Page 36 "Controlling the Aircraft" regarding modes 1,2, and 3.
Specifically, how do I change from one mode to another?

Page 48, top section
How do I set the Max Altitude and Max Distance?

Page 50, bottom of page.
"2. Select the desired gimbal operation mode in the DJI GO 4 app."
How? How do I do this, what menu selections must be done?

Page 55, "Calibrating the Compass"
Why is it necessary to re-calibrate the compass (required by the DJI Go app) with every battery change?
Why does the DJI Go app require compass re-calibration when flying indoors?

Thanks much, and, again, I'll much appreciate any enlightenment you wish to share.

Kilrah · Jan 23, 2019

You should power everything up, browse the app's different settings and you'll get the answers to most of those AND also have learned about the relevant options and their locations. Then come back and ask those that still aren't clear...

msinger · Jan 23, 2019

MacUser said:
Under "Aircraft" near the bottom of page 11,
"Enable 'Multiple Flight Modes' in the DJI Go 4 app to allow switching between S Mode and P Mode..."
Is there a way to make sure this is disabled (in order to make sure that P Mode is always set)?

It would be best to enable this setting so you can enable Sport mode if needed. If you want to fly in P Mode, then move the "Sport" mode switch to the left on the front of the remote controller.

MacUser said:
Under the Return to Home, page 13,
"The Return to Home (RTH) function brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. "
How does the user maker sure this is enabled, or is it always default enabled?

RTH is auto enabled. Lots of different things can happen when RTH is initiated, so you should carefully read that section of the manual so you know what to expect when flying.

MacUser said:
Low Battery RTH...
Is this always enabled, or, what must I do to make sure it's enabled?

It's always enabled. DJI GO will display a prompt before the Mavic Air starts auto returning home when the battery reaches the low level. You'll have 10 seconds to tap the screen in DJI GO to cancel that auto RTH.

MacUser said:
Page 14
"Failsafe RTH"
Does I need to do something to enable this, or is it always enabled?
If not, then what steps must be performed?

Failsafe RTH is the procedure that is followed when the remote controller disconnects from the Mavic Air. As I mentioned above, RTH in general is always enabled.

MacUser said:
Page 16
under "Precision Landing"
"The following actions are available during precision landing:
a. Throttle down to accelerate landing."
How is this done?

To throttle down, you hold the throttle stick in the down position. In stick Mode 2, the throttle is the left stick.

MacUser said:
Page 32, "Gimbal Operation Modes"
"Two gimbal operation modes are available. Switch between the different operation modes on the cammera settings page of the DJI GO 4 app
Follow Mode: ...
FPV Mode ..."
What specifically must be done to enable either of these,
or does it just show up on the camera settings "page?"

You can change the "Gimbal Mode" in the "Gimbal Settings" section of DJI GO. "Follow" is the setting most people use. It attempts to keep the gimbal level no matter what the aircraft is doing.

MacUser said:
Page 36 "Controlling the Aircraft" regarding modes 1,2, and 3.
Specifically, how do I change from one mode to another?

You can set the "Stick Mode" in the "Remote Controller Settings" section of DJI GO. Most people are using Mode 2.

MacUser said:
Page 48, top section
How do I set the Max Altitude and Max Distance?

Do the following in the "Main Controller Settings" section of DJI GO:

Disable "Beginner Mode"
Disable "Enable Max Distance"
Set the "Set Max Flight Altitude" to the desired max altitude (500 meters is the max)

MacUser said:
Page 50, bottom of page.
"2. Select the desired gimbal operation mode in the DJI GO 4 app."
How? How do I do this, what menu selections must be done?

You can change the "Gimbal Mode" in the "Gimbal Settings" section of DJI GO. "Follow" is the setting most people use. It attempts to keep the gimbal level no matter what the aircraft is doing.

MacUser said:
Page 55, "Calibrating the Compass"
Why is it necessary to re-calibrate the compass (required by the DJI Go app) with every battery change?
Why does the DJI Go app require compass re-calibration when flying indoors?

Ignore everything you've read about the compass in the manual and follow this guide instead:

DJI Mavic Compass Calibration Guide

TimberWolf775 · Jan 23, 2019

I have to agree with Kilrah. If you just power everything on but dont start the rotors... ie dont try to take off, you will be able to look through all the various settings..... we all want to fly right away but the best thing to do at this point is use a battery charge and just get used to all the settings.