Why does DJI allow you to change max altitude to 1640 ft?

George-H · Dec 7, 2016

kykayak said:
FAA guidelines state you should fly below 400 feet, correct? Why does the DJI GO app allow you to change your max altitude to 500 meters? Looks like if the FAA didn't want recreational pilots flying above the 400 feet height restriction then they wouldn't allow you to change the setting so easy. At least put a restriction on it like they do to fly within 5 miles of an airport. In which case you have to obtain a verification code from DJI. Anyone share why this is?

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Maybe a different country has different laws.

bakerboy · Dec 7, 2016

Personally I'd like to see no limit, lots of open space in australia has an 18,000ft ceiling

Swancoat · Dec 7, 2016

Maybe it's just because even in the US, it's not DJI's job to make sure you follow the laws, it's yours.

Do you also wonder why automakers will sell you a car that goes faster than 65 mph?

erkme73 · Dec 10, 2016

When I launch at my vacation pad in middle-TN, as soon as I fly over the cliff, the ground below is 1000' below my takeoff point. Likewise, if I launched at the river at the bottom of the cliff, and wanted to land at my doorstep at the house above, I'd have to go up at least 1000'. There are many such scenarios where a 400' hard limit would make the MP useless.

Revoh713 · Dec 13, 2016

msinger said:
Yes. The RTH altitude is always the altitude above the takeoff point.

That's good to know! Thanks!

Revoh713 · Dec 13, 2016

erkme73 said:
When I launch at my vacation pad in middle-TN, as soon as I fly over the cliff, the ground below is 1000' below my takeoff point. Likewise, if I launched at the river at the bottom of the cliff, and wanted to land at my doorstep at the house above, I'd have to go up at least 1000'. There are many such scenarios where a 400' hard limit would make the MP useless.

This sounds like a pretty nice vacation house!

Skydog · Dec 13, 2016

I believe it measured from your take off point and you should be able to go down as far as you want. So the issue you describe would be more of a problem starting at the bottom of the river and climbing 1000' as you describe. Dji should allow for an override.

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erkme73 · Dec 14, 2016

Revoh713 said:
This sounds like a pretty nice vacation house!

OT - sorry, OP...

It sure is. I can't get enough of the place. If the planets align properly, it'll soon change to our primary home. All contingent on the wife's work.

Here's what mornings from the porch look like:

And w/o clouds:

And lastly, some aerial video - taken with my P2V+ that had a bad roll driver (shakey):