First flight of a DJI Mini 2 drone

[lustyd]

The DJI Mini 2 is under 250g and does not require a licence.

That is not correct, the drone must be registered (for a fee) and the flyer should complete the free training but no this is not an obligation. Follow the link I posted and you'll get to a free course and information on your legal obligations. You must register the drone and label it with your ID, which makes you legally responsible for anything that happens with the drone - the CAA don't mess about when things go awry and having a licence is a good way to show you were being responsible. Given that you take full legal responsibility as the person who registered the drone you may as well get the certification, if you decided to not register the drone you're still liable but have also shown a disregard for the regulations which in aviation is not taken lightly. No, you are not obliged to take the completely free training, but if you choose not to and are caught illegally flying out of line of sight then they may take a slightly different approach with the consequences which can include fines and prison sentences. Flying in Europe will require a licence because you have a camera and so GDPR plays into it too.

 

[lustyd]

I do not like the idea of catching the drone as I have heard of several people cutting badly cut forearms.

I already have a waterproof backpack, bought for keeping many things dry.

Where on earth did you hear that nonsense? It's a perfectly standard approach and the blades are nowhere near capable of such injuries, maybe a nick but certainly not anything I'd consider an injury. It's your dime, as they say, but seems odd that someone so obsessed with giving out advice to others is so unwilling to listen to those with experience.

 

[Frank Holden]

I have a DJI Mavic.
A couple of points about bring a drone in to 'land' on a boat.
The DJI phantom was best as it has a 'bedstead undercarriage'.

Bring it in 'stern first' that way helm orders given on your controller are intuitive - stick to left - drone goes left.

No collision avoidance when going astern though so you could fly it back into your body. No idea what flesh injuries it could inflict but you could lose an eye if you didn't wear safety goggles - oh and it would probably lose the plot and fall into the sea.
I do know mine can prune grape vines - don't ask.

I think 'landing on' would be a two person job once you allow one hand for the ship etc.

Finally - I have thought of a trampoline sort of a thing - maybe 2 feet diam - that you could hang off the taffrail and 'force land' it into.

 

[Concerto]

That is not correct, the drone must be registered (for a fee) and the flyer should complete the free training but no this is not an obligation. Follow the link I posted and you'll get to a free course and information on your legal obligations. You must register the drone and label it with your ID, which makes you legally responsible for anything that happens with the drone - the CAA don't mess about when things go awry and having a licence is a good way to show you were being responsible. Given that you take full legal responsibility as the person who registered the drone you may as well get the certification, if you decided to not register the drone you're still liable but have also shown a disregard for the regulations which in aviation is not taken lightly. No, you are not obliged to take the completely free training, but if you choose not to and are caught illegally flying out of line of sight then they may take a slightly different approach with the consequences which can include fines and prison sentences. Flying in Europe will require a licence because you have a camera and so GDPR plays into it too.

Please read this page and you will see you are wrong.
Registration requirements for drones | UK Civil Aviation Authority

 

[lustyd]

Please read this page and you will see you are wrong.
Registration requirements for drones | UK Civil Aviation Authority

Of the two of us, I have not illegally flown a drone out of sight and written about it on a forum. With respect you need to take the training and understand your obligations, or return your drone for a refund.

 

[Concerto]

Where on earth did you hear that nonsense? It's a perfectly standard approach and the blades are nowhere near capable of such injuries, maybe a nick but certainly not anything I'd consider an injury. It's your dime, as they say, but seems odd that someone so obsessed with giving out advice to others is so unwilling to listen to those with experience.

A few days ago I was talking to someone who recently sold his DJI Mavic. He knew of two people who had cut their forearms, one quite badly, from catching a drone. Maybe I listen those who are prepared to give advice that could save an injury.

 

[lustyd]

No collision avoidance when going astern

Important to understand the obstacle avoidance, it can certainly see a backstay and make the decision to stop 2m from the stern if you don't know what you're doing.

 

[lustyd]

A few days ago I was talking to someone who recently sold his DJI Mavic. He knew of two people who had cut their forearms, one quite badly, from catching a drone. Maybe I listen those who are prepared to give advice that could save an injury.

Ah anecdote, the best form of Internet defence! This is all extremely well documented by experts, feel free to ignore it but for all our sakes get some training and stop breaking the law. We don't need more restrictions introduced because of amateurs.

 

[Concerto]

Of the two of us, I have not illegally flown a drone out of sight and written about it on a forum. With respect you need to take the training and understand your obligations, or return your drone for a refund.

The drone was in line of sight but using the screen to fly it made looking quickly at a small object in the sky almost impossible to see at about 100m away and about 50m high.

I certainly have read a lot on the responsibilities flying a drone and will certainly be following all the rules despite not requiring it to be licensed. I will be getting an operators licence as soon as I can arrange it.

 

[lustyd]

If you need your operator ID label printed I have a Dymo and happy to post a label out to your next stop if needed (FOC)

 

[Frank Holden]

Important to understand the obstacle avoidance, it can certainly see a backstay and make the decision to stop 2m from the stern if you don't know what you're doing.

The Mavic Pro does not sense obstacles astern of it when coming astern nor does it have overhead obstacle sensing and avoidance when - for instance - rising through a tree canopy.

Edit - nor to the side when flying sideeways
Manual here
https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/mavic/Mavic Pro User Manual V2.0-.pdf

 

[lustyd]

The Mavic does not sense obstacles astern of it when coming astern nor does it have overhead obstacle sensing and avoidance when - for instance - rising through a tree canopy.

Yes I was agreeing with you that it's important to understand the blind spots or how to disable the avoidance in order to land on a boat. Yachts scare the daylights out of them if they can see any ropes, sails, hull, whatever, so your advice was very important for anyone trying to get their drone to land. You can do it forwards if you disable the sensors but as you say backwards is easier as long as it doesn't then spot a shroud in front as you reverse it in and panic
didn't they add rear sensors to the mini 3? edit - never mind, it's a 2!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Bring it in 'stern first' that way helm orders given on your controller are intuitive - stick to left - drone goes left.

No collision avoidance when going astern though so you could fly it back into your body. No idea what flesh injuries it could inflict but you could lose an eye if you didn't wear safety goggles - oh and it would probably lose the plot and fall into the sea.
I do know mine can prune grape vines - don't ask.

I think 'landing on' would be a two person job once you allow one hand for the ship etc.

Finally - I have thought of a trampoline sort of a thing - maybe 2 feet diam - that you could hang off the taffrail and 'force land' it into.

Here's landing on a trampoline - bit bigger then 2 feet though. This is while the boat is moving - sailing at the time, but a gentle day. The landing approach is going astern which makes the controls easy but the footage uninteresting. No collision avoidance on this old drone. Have to keep the drone flying forward to keep a stable position relative to the boat. Both drone flying and sailing single handed

 

[Concerto]

If you need your operator ID label printed I have a Dymo and happy to post a label out to your next stop if needed (FOC)

I have a Dymo printer onboard. It has been very useful wiring in a new electrical panel. Virtually all the cables are now labelled in the rats nest that Westerly started and previous owners have added to and I have tried to make sense of. Any future owner will appreciate it I know.

 

[jac]

Ah anecdote, the best form of Internet defence! This is all extremely well documented by experts, feel free to ignore it but for all our sakes get some training and stop breaking the law. We don't need more restrictions introduced because of amateurs.

To stick up for Concerto here - at less than 250 g and with a camera he doesn't need the Flyer ID ( and test) - Just the operator ID. Your own link states that in the table.

Is a flyer ID a good idea, yes. Same as doing YM Offshore is a good idea but neither is a legal requirement.

 

[Frank Holden]

I have a Dymo printer onboard. It has been very useful wiring in a new electrical panel. Virtually all the cables are now labelled in the rats nest that Westerly started and previous owners have added to and I have tried to make sense of. Any future owner will appreciate it I know.

Tread Drift. Have you a thread with pics on the new panel somewhere? My rats' nest has escaped and is breeding in walkthrough!

 

[skipmac]

You don't need to turn it off, just turn it upside down. As such a stick epoxied to the bottom is more useful since you can use it to turn the drone over, a lot of YouTubers do this.

The problem with a stick on the bottom is it will interfere with normal landings. Cable tie you can catch or land it.

 

[adwuk]

I gave a 3D printed handle on my mini 2, which makes catching on the boat much easier. It is easily removed for non boat flying.

 

[skipmac]

I gave a 3D printed handle on my mini 2, which makes catching on the boat much easier. It is easily removed for non boat flying.

Excellent idea. Any chance you could post a photo. Or you could just print me one and send it over to the US.

 

[adwuk]

Excellent idea. Any chance you could post a photo. Or you could just print me one and send it over to the US.

Basically one of these: Handheld Drone Stabilizer Take off and landing Portable Handle Bracket for DJI Mavic Pro / 2Pro & Zoom/Mavic Air