What happened too MAX Altitude?

[davedrone 178]

About 18 months ago when DJI got rid of GEO fencing they also raised the theoretical MAX altitude too 1000 meters from the standard 500 meters. Haven't taken out my Air 3 for a number of months and noticed that MAX altitude is now back at 500 meters. Not that I need all that height but does anyone know what happened to cause this change?

 

[GadgetGuy]

About 18 months ago when DJI got rid of GEO fencing they also raised the theoretical MAX altitude too 1000 meters from the standard 500 meters. Haven't taken out my Air 3 for a number of months and noticed that MAX altitude is now back at 500 meters. Not that I need all that height but does anyone know what happened to cause this change?

You misunderstood the 1000m capability. It only exists when more than 50km from the nearest airport. Everywhere else, it remains 500m.

 

[davedrone 178]

You misunderstood the 1000m capability. It only exists when more than 50km from the nearest airport. Everywhere else, it remains 500m.

I had the 1000m option and now it switched back 500 meters

 

[rgarjr]

My Air3 has the 3280ft and Im definitely within 50km radius of airports

 

[GadgetGuy]

My Air3 has the 3280ft and Im definitely within 50km radius of airports

The removal of GEO eliminated the U.S. airport limitations on height for some newer aircraft, but unfortunately not the bleed over of GEO height limitations from Canada and Mexico in U.S. border cities within 50km of an airport in either Canada or Mexico.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I had the 1000m option and now it switched back 500 meters

I did, too, through a Custom Unlock that now no longer works, but DJI can't seem to fix it. Likely a bug or an intentional limitation, despite GEO removal.

 

[davedrone 178]

You misunderstood the 1000m capability. It only exists when more than 50km from the nearest airport. Everywhere else, it remains 500m.

Not so with my setup. I live 5 miles from a large airport and had the ability to fly 1000 meters or 3280 feet if I chose to do so. DJI must have switched it back in a later firmware update. I'll contact DJI tomorrow and get an answer

 

[GadgetGuy]

Not so with my setup. I live 5 miles from a large airport and had the ability to fly 1000 meters or 3280 feet if I chose to do so. DJI must have switched it back in a later firmware update. I'll contact DJI tomorrow and get an answer

See my post #6 above. Happened to me, too, overriding even a Custom Unlock!

 

[Cymruflyer]

As a pilot and a drone pilot, I'm pleased they did that. The last thing I want when I'm up there with a passenger, is some irresponsible person flying their drone up in my airspace.

Sometimes it is hard enough to spot another aircraft in my vicinity, as for seeing a drone up there, it is next to impossible to see. I want safety when I'm up there, without having to worry about silly rule breakers.

 

[christangey]

As a pilot and a drone pilot, I'm pleased they did that. The last thing I want when I'm up there with a passenger, is some irresponsible person flying their drone up in my airspace.

Sometimes it is hard enough to spot another aircraft in my vicinity, as for seeing a drone up there, it is next to impossible to see. I want safety when I'm up there, without having to worry about silly rule breakers.

Well said

 

[Droning on and on...]

As a pilot and a drone pilot, I'm pleased they did that. The last thing I want when I'm up there with a passenger, is some irresponsible person flying their drone up in my airspace.

Sometimes it is hard enough to spot another aircraft in my vicinity, as for seeing a drone up there, it is next to impossible to see. I want safety when I'm up there, without having to worry about silly rule breakers.

While I agree 100% with everything you said, as an inactive Private Pilot I'm not any more comfortable with the 500m limit than 1000m.

Unless DJI (and other manufacturers) are going to engineer in some sort of reasonably accurate AGL system, we're stuck with responsible, compliant behavior of the drone pilot, and far too many are neither of those.

Very easy to get well over 500ft (~166m) even when setting the height limit to 400ft (120m) flying out over descending terrain.