Nicely presented. I personally think a lot of the worries is not actually the interpretation of the rules but the guilt that people are made to feel while flying. There has been so much negative press regarding drones so any member of the public has an immediate reaction and is usually you shouldn’t be flying that here.
Hey DH Drone Filming! Thanks for taking the time to comment! Yes, I agree. It is also difficult to relax in built up areas as many of us got so used to staying away! Hope you are well.
100% agree. Its a kind of drone social anxiety and even now knowing that the rules and regs are a lot more straightforward...........especially for sub 250g drones.........I still almost feel like I'm doing something wrong in the eyes of the general public! I'm not even sure if I would have the confidence to challenge the 'you-cant-fly-that-here-mate' jobsworths who have a habit of appearing from nowhere when you are flying. I wonder if other flyers 'suffer' from this and how best to go about 'proving' that you are within your rights without making the situation confrontational??
Same here. Another 100%. feel so guilty about flying my mav air2 with A2CofC even though i contacted local council about flying in local park. Their reply was “ we have no restrictions with drones” But i just know some one will pop out of nowhere and kick off. Even though i will fly at a time when no one is about. I have kept the email from the council as my proof of permission. But I still feel like i will be perceived as in the wrong.
I have put in place a SOP for flying over property for when I'm in A2 mode, basically I take off and land in a place that gives unobstructed view of any property in direct line of sight and when i take off I climb to at least 50 ft above and away from the highest windows to reduce the risk of forward momentum causing the drone to hit windows if the drone should come down and when I cross any building I follow the crest of the roof with the camera facing downwards so that should the drone come down I know its going to come down on the roof and it allows me to see conservatory's and skylights and avoid them it also allows you to see if someone is outside on the other side of the building it means the flight has a bit more zig zag then flying straight over but it covers just about every possibility and maximises the safety aspect of the flight
IMO, this is possibly the most important webcast Geeksvana has done ✔. It has given me a lot of confidence about where I can fly within the regulations, and completely opened up some great locations in my area. Thanks to Sean and Andrew for this, it's removed a worry about overflight of disused structures and along a particular line feature near me. All I need is to be unlocked...
Hey Lindsay! Thank you so much for the kind words! We are very lucky to be able to work with some great industry people like Andrew and wanted to take full advantage!
If you see how I fly my Mavic Mini and my Mini 2 you'll be so happy and glad to see the Minis flying over Sofia city! I have a Mavic Mini a d a Mini 2 Fly More Combo, and I love to fly them both.. Sweet 🔜🛸😁🇧🇬
Another really informative video Sean. That has clarified some points for me as with a 50m separation you might as well just fly in A3. Flying in built up areas though means flying over roads, busy main roads seem to be an obvious thing to avoid but what about side/quiet estate roads? Are you able to fly over them so long as there's no moving traffic?
Hey Paul, thanks for taking the time to comment and for your kind feedback. Yes absolutely. The separation remains the same but you are able to see the people in cars a lot easier etc. Hope this helps.
Great Info! It's an interesting time for us UAV pilots. Question... As I fly quite often with my Mavic Pro 2 as a 'hobbyist' I guess I would need an A2 CofC to continue to fly with more 'freedom' ? otherwise I'm restricted to wide open countryside. But with the 50m flight restriction and 30m take off restriction , this would mean I cannot take off from my garden assuming people are walking past or in their own gardens ? ( closer than 50m ). This is obviously location dependant. Seems the Mavic Mini is more appealing in these circumstances. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Hey Richard! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it! Yes, the A2 CofC and a Mini is a good combination. I have the same with an Air 2 which is unlocked by the A2 CofC.
@@Geeksvana Great content as always, thank you. My understanding of A1 transitional was less than 500g with the A2 CofC. The Air 2 is 580g. What am I missing!?
It's a shame that EASA didn't create a middle division from 251g to 1kg for the legacy period. While accepting that the MA2 is three times the weight of the Mini, it's considerably less than the 2kg top limit. (Not that I want either of them hitting me even in Tripod mode!) If using the the MA2 with an a2coc in a built up area, ensuring someone doesn't come within 50m of the craft is pretty difficult. I'm tending more these days towards photographing the local area and even if I send the drone straight up above me to take a shot, I can have no control over whether someone walks into that 50m radius and assume I would be breaking regulations even though the only person the drone could hit, if it failed, would be me? On the plus side, I flew my Mini2 from my back garden yesterday to photograph our local area in the snow and boy did that feel good!
Hey Mike Plowman! Great to see you and thanks for joining the conversation! It is an interesting area. The MA2 is a great drone and the tripod mode makes it a contender to be similar to future C rated drones. For me, that will be the key to unlocking A2 CofC fully, a compliant drone which can get within 5m of uninvolved people. I suppose until then it is careful flights as you describe and enjoying the freedom of the MM2!
Hi Sean great video and information from you and your guest (game of drones guy ) I will call him lol having waiting and considered the new drone laws and having 2 drones in my possession the Mavic 2 pro and zoom I decided to do the A2 Cofc with UVA HUB ( matt Williams) which I have to say was a really good learning experience and the way the course is set out for online Learning was great I would highly recommend the course. I have a question as you might be aware I mainly fly over or around old castles and buildings that are derelict or ruins when there are virtually no people around them can I still fly Close to these structures with my Mavic 2 drones without breaking the law a hobbyist . Ps I passed my A2 Cofc with in a week of signing up and I am happy to say I got 100% ( sorry had to say that I feel a it was a great achievement for me having left school 40 years ago and the thought of doing the test and exam was a bit daunting for me) thanks again great to see your channel going from strength to strength. Cheers
Hey Rodpiker Drones!! Great news and congrats on the 100% pass! That is amazing news! In terms of your question, the separation is now focused on people rather than buildings. So I would say your flights over historic sites are 100% legal in my view. If anything you able to assess the risk to people on the ground even easier as there are often no walls to hide them!
@@Geeksvana I have had the same problem as @Rodpiker Drones . It's all about getting there when you know nobody will be about then - so the Golden Hour of a summer morning is when you might bump into me near one of those castles. You'll have to be up early though, Rod, you'll only see the back of my bergen in the distance by eight.
Thanks for the informative video! I've just purchased a Mavic 3 and was wondering if there's any information regarding retroactively adding CE/C class markings so I can fly closer than 50m to uninvolved individuals?
Hi Sean New to your channel. Just completed A2 CofC with Matt W (brilliant) currently flying Air2. Have watched a couple of your last, combined with the course info, I am still a little confused over this flying over buildings stuff, it’s not as easy as yes or no, I just want to get the odd good picture Bryan North Devon
Hey Bryan! Thanks for taking the time to comment and congratulations on passing your A2 CofC!! Great work. Yes, it isn't a simple yes/no as you point out. Hopefully though as we all get used to the new rules our confidence will grow.
@@Geeksvana got my last part of A2CofC tonight. Looking forward to put it into practice. Your channel is the icing in the cake regarding some of the more technical details 👌🏼
Hi Sean, great video, is there any chance you could cover what to do when flying legally if a member of the publics interference on purpose makes the flight dangerous, ie kicking off saying you can’t fly here and I have phoned the Police blah blah blah, as my understanding is that they are breaking the law by distracting you whilst flight is taking place, I have to fly on my own without a spotter so don’t have anyone to deal with this for me, so as nobody generally available when I fly it has become quite a big concern for me. Thanks.
Hey Mr Ed Espinosa! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it! Yes, once labelled with CE/C class markings. You will also find the button will be called 'low speed mode'. It should help A2 CofC holders get more out of the qualification. Let's hope we see some compliant drone releases soon!
All I really want to know is can I fly mirco fpv racers 20gram to 150gram. With no recording functions . Can I fly anywhere, iv test flown the things at full pelt in to myself, at worst its a little sting, no danger to anyone at all.
Hey morpheus One! Thanks for taking the time to comment! As a toy drone you will be able to fly the drone without separation etc from people but always remember to ensure any flight is safe and in correct airspace etc. Hope this helps!
Hiya, off topic I know, however, want to ask if you think as a mini 2 owner that I am mad for wanting to buy the mini 1 for the litchi follow me possibilities. Either that or perhaps dji will put it in an update? I would love to hear your your views of the best way to get a follow under with dji quality video @2.7k or better under 250g? I do have the operator and flyer ids and intend on doing the a2cofc and going for an anafi but atm want to stay under weight and over qualified.... While I get to grips with flying and filming possibilities under 250g. Think i may have got a bit carried away wanting the latest tech potentially, over the most suited to my requirement. I found out that my 2010 ihigh sierra imac wont process above 2.7k video properly. Flying drones appears to be a massive shake up of your related tech compatibility. So far this drone has copst me an iphone as my android phone was 32 not 64 bit. Now I either shoot in 2.7k video or upgrade the imac. So my warning is bear in mind the knock on effect on your related infrastructure and you really need to be on the latest rev of whatever platform you operate in/on. From my point of view I should have bought the mini 1 perhaps if the range was good enough perhaps with parayogi extenders or some such. Meaning there may be way reasons you don't want he very latest tech in your camera drone but perhaps not, as in my case, if you have to upgrade the phone AND your computer. Most pcs can accept the next iteration of windows. I cant do that with my legacy machine so I need to lob in another couple of grand to be able to deal with the quality of output from the mini 2. So thats my reasoning, mini 1 or upgrade imac 27"?
I've got my A2 CofC I fly a Phantom4 I am I right in believing if I fly in tripod mode can I fly in built up areas and as close as 5m not that I would fly that close. Isn't mine classed as C2 then I can't really understand what the difference is
Hey Gary! Unfortunately not. All existing drones are classed as legacy drones. This means that A2 CofC holders can fly their existing drones up to 2kg in congested areas with a separation of 50m from uninvolved people. So the Phantom is in that class. To unlock the 5m separation we need C label drones to be released and as yet there are none. Once the legacy period ends at the end of 2022, all legacy drones weighing more than 250g will need to be flown in the A3 category only, unless you have a GVC and operational authorisation from the CAA. This is a very brief rundown but hope it helps.
@@Geeksvana I still find it strange what is the point of taking the A2 CofC I understand its purely fot the weight but what actually are the benifits do you know if I can fly at 30m rather than 50m from any structure Vehicle Vessel I'm still confused on this issue.
Hey Gary. The full benefits of the A2 will only be unlocked when we get C2 labelled drones, until then we are kind of stuck with the 50m rule. You can get closer with the Article 16 Authorisation but that is only for parks etc and with a membership of something like the BMFA. Also the rules are no longer focused on buildings etc and more on uninvolved people.
Sorry, but while this video is useful, for me it muddies the waters regarding the 50m separation from uninvolved person. It looks like you've edited the video at 16:17 and I think it has made the message unclear. It jumps to "People aren't going to be in that area for very long if they're walking through". Does that mean you're saying that you don't need to worry about a few people within 50m as they will pass by, or are you saying that you should wait until they have passed by before flying in that area? If it's the latter, we're still back to the terrace example you gave where you can't see if anyone is behind that first row of houses. It doesn't really affect me as I fly the Mini 2 but I think it needs clarification. Sorry if I'm missing anything obvious!
Hey Mr Messy. The video doesn't edit for me at that point when I play it. We talk about adapting the flight for when people move into the area but planning properly to avoid it. Not sure if I am looking at the right point. The Mini 2 is a king drone for so many people under the new rules. I have been enjoying it myself!
Hi, i am still unsure on these rules and hoping you could clear my question up. I have a mavic air 2 and have a couple of roof inspections to do. Will doing the A2 cofc allow me to do this. If so can i get closer to the roof than 50 meters?
Hey john weaver! Simple answer is yes but with a lot of caveats! Could you email me sean@geeksvana.com so I can answer you more fully than a comment. We have looked into this specifically for roof inspection operators, so have decent info!
@@Geeksvana OMG absolutely is the confidence... I have PfCo and A2CofC but still fly a million miles form anyone or anything. I know I can fly over houses (even with my mini2) to view the local dual carriageway (from the side) by flying a 200m VLOS to it, I have checked it all out and planned it thoroughly, but actually flying it.... haven't done yet. Why? Confidence.
I have no intention of flying over or near people or buildings, but given the new people distances and the tube effect above them as per the CAA drawings what are you to do if someone wander or decides to be within this 50 meter distance and how if the drone is some distance away do you even know if your drone is infringing this 50 meter safety circle around and above them? Bristol City Council are thankfully quite enlightened when it comes to drones they have even amended their web page to reflect the new qualifications www.bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/what-you-can-do-in-our-parks and have three areas designated, but since people walk their dogs there as well it is now a nightmare. With the old rules it was a lot easier as if you flew over 30 meters high you were allowed to pass over them, or at least that was my understanding. I suppose I must just sell all my I1 equipment and buy a mini 2 . So small that I dread to think how far you can’t fly before you loose sight of it compared to the I1. Seem like someone at the CAA did not think this through to well and are unintentionally penalising any one with a large drone. The weight should be 3 kg which would have been a lot fairer to every one.
Hey Alistair! Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts. The point of judging separation is a good one and it is great to hear some local authorities are embracing the new rules. I know what you mean re the sub 250g issue, it does seem strange in some aspects.
As the new rules are all about "Safety" please explain this. How do markings (CE/C) on yet-to-be-released Drones, vs Legacy Drones with existing "exact-same" tripod flight settings matter?? Safety is safety. Tripod is Tripod. 2 or 3 letters printed on the shell of a drone have NOTHING to do with Safety and more importantly AIRMANSHIP. In reality, no one should be allowed to fly within 50 mts of anyone, anywhere without extensive practical flight examinations, in ATTI Mode, under instruction/observation of a licenced instructor. That's if Safety is the REAL priority. Passing a "written" test to legally fly a drone (or drive a car....or any vehicle) safely is simply making a mockery of common sense and flying a drone, where the technicalities of dealing with "challenging" situations rely on subconscious knowledge & ability will resolve most issues. I'm sorry, but EVERYONE should have to pass a practical test to be allowed to fly anywhere near anyone; IMHO. This A2CofC is a half assed attempt at licencing/governing a quickly moving industry. Let's at least all be honest about that!
Hey Graeme! Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts on this, I really appreciate it! A lot of what you ask could only be answered by those who create these rules. The risk based new rules have helped to open the skies up a bit more to many drone flyers but the overall direction of regulation has concerned many of us for a long time. In terms of drone markings, I see no reason why they couldn't allow legecy drones which fit the criteria to gain retroactive labels. Sadly this probably will not happen. The skies are going to change a lot of the next ten years and I determined to enjoy them as much as I can for as long as I can. One note on the A2 CofC course is that prior to the pandemic there was a classroom element to the course. This should return in the future but I agree a flight assessment should be added.
I assume if a council run park has a No Drones sign that no drone whether below 250G or with a A2 CofC can be flown? As No Drone signs or notifications on web sites seem to be increasing.
Hey Flycatchers1958! Thank you for taking the time to comment. A 'no drone' sign in itself does not necessarily mean there is a actual byelaw preventing flight and it should be explored as to whether this is council policy rather than byelaw. They are able to prevent you taking off from their land but not flight over at a reasonable height, if everything else is legal about the flight. Actual Byelaws preventing drone flight itself are pretty rare. Hope this helps.
This is impossible to police they don't come to your house these days if your burgled, I can't see them chasing Drone pilots around the countryside and shorelines to check that they are compliant!
Hey The Woods! Ironically you might find they will! 😂 More seriously, the main point this becomes an issue forany is when something happens in flight or a complaint is made etc. Then it helps that the flight itself was compliant. Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it!
Hey Steve! Thanks for the feedback. Are they bad? To be honest I leave them all at the standard settings. I have just looked at the auto settings and they play at 1:05, 10:02, 14:44 and 18:20 with overlays too. How does anyone get to watch a video amongst all that!!??? Changing the settings for this video right now and will keep a close eye on it. Thank you so much, HUGELY appreciate the feedback.
What exactly is the fear they have with ships buildings and what are endangering about small lumps of plastic ?????against the BBC and their large drone with cameras. Or even stupider Amazon delivery drones operating miles away. How many injuries have really been caused?
Hey BlueKnight001! I think it will be easier once the new class drones are released and we are able to get within 5m. I agree though, at the moment keeping the 50m separation is difficult within built up areas and I like your idea of 50m within VLOS. Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it!
Hi guys this may be a stupid question but regarding the 5mtr rule ie drones that can fly slower! Do we not have that ability with the MA2 that can be flicked to tripod and possible with a firmware update fly at that very slow speed! ? Sorry just playing devils advocate ! Lol
Absolutely Nick! Unfortunately it will only count on drones carrying the correct label. We are hopeful but skeptical that any existing drones will get retroactive labels.
Thanks for that answer and I certainly hope that happens as so many of us have bought MA2s! Which has so many abilities hope we don’t have to sell these and buy other expensive drones again! There is going to be a glut of these for sale!
Nicely presented. I personally think a lot of the worries is not actually the interpretation of the rules but the guilt that people are made to feel while flying. There has been so much negative press regarding drones so any member of the public has an immediate reaction and is usually you shouldn’t be flying that here.
Hey DH Drone Filming! Thanks for taking the time to comment! Yes, I agree. It is also difficult to relax in built up areas as many of us got so used to staying away! Hope you are well.
100% agree. Its a kind of drone social anxiety and even now knowing that the rules and regs are a lot more straightforward...........especially for sub 250g drones.........I still almost feel like I'm doing something wrong in the eyes of the general public! I'm not even sure if I would have the confidence to challenge the 'you-cant-fly-that-here-mate' jobsworths who have a habit of appearing from nowhere when you are flying. I wonder if other flyers 'suffer' from this and how best to go about 'proving' that you are within your rights without making the situation confrontational??
Same here. Another 100%. feel so guilty about flying my mav air2 with A2CofC even though i contacted local council about flying in local park. Their reply was “ we have no restrictions with drones” But i just know some one will pop out of nowhere and kick off. Even though i will fly at a time when no one is about.
I have kept the email from the council as my proof of permission. But I still feel like i will be perceived as in the wrong.
Nice work on the 100% Jedi Knight! Superb!
I have put in place a SOP for flying over property for when I'm in A2 mode, basically I take off and land in a place that gives unobstructed view of any property in direct line of sight and when i take off I climb to at least 50 ft above and away from the highest windows to reduce the risk of forward momentum causing the drone to hit windows if the drone should come down and when I cross any building I follow the crest of the roof with the camera facing downwards so that should the drone come down I know its going to come down on the roof and it allows me to see conservatory's and skylights and avoid them it also allows you to see if someone is outside on the other side of the building it means the flight has a bit more zig zag then flying straight over but it covers just about every possibility and maximises the safety aspect of the flight
IMO, this is possibly the most important webcast Geeksvana has done ✔. It has given me a lot of confidence about where I can fly within the regulations, and completely opened up some great locations in my area.
Thanks to Sean and Andrew for this, it's removed a worry about overflight of disused structures and along a particular line feature near me. All I need is to be unlocked...
Hey Lindsay! Thank you so much for the kind words! We are very lucky to be able to work with some great industry people like Andrew and wanted to take full advantage!
Another invaluable video from the people who put the “EEK! 😁” into Geeksvana 👍
Hey El Smeghead! Thank you sir!
If you see how I fly my Mavic Mini and my Mini 2 you'll be so happy and glad to see the Minis flying over Sofia city!
I have a Mavic Mini a d a Mini 2 Fly More Combo, and I love to fly them both..
Sweet
🔜🛸😁🇧🇬
Nice! Hope you are well Ivan. Good to see you.
Another really informative video Sean. That has clarified some points for me as with a 50m separation you might as well just fly in A3. Flying in built up areas though means flying over roads, busy main roads seem to be an obvious thing to avoid but what about side/quiet estate roads? Are you able to fly over them so long as there's no moving traffic?
Hey Paul, thanks for taking the time to comment and for your kind feedback. Yes absolutely. The separation remains the same but you are able to see the people in cars a lot easier etc. Hope this helps.
You're quite right about policy, not regulation. The header says 'guidance'
Hey Paul! Thanks for taking the time to comment! Yes, always important to point out.
Great Info! It's an interesting time for us UAV pilots.
Question...
As I fly quite often with my Mavic Pro 2 as a 'hobbyist' I guess I would need an A2 CofC to continue to fly with more 'freedom' ? otherwise I'm restricted to wide open countryside.
But with the 50m flight restriction and 30m take off restriction , this would mean I cannot take off from my garden assuming people are walking past or in their own gardens ? ( closer than 50m ).
This is obviously location dependant. Seems the Mavic Mini is more appealing in these circumstances.
Thanks, keep up the good work.
Hey Richard! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it! Yes, the A2 CofC and a Mini is a good combination. I have the same with an Air 2 which is unlocked by the A2 CofC.
@@Geeksvana Great content as always, thank you.
My understanding of A1 transitional was less than 500g with the A2 CofC.
The Air 2 is 580g. What am I missing!?
It's a shame that EASA didn't create a middle division from 251g to 1kg for the legacy period. While accepting that the MA2 is three times the weight of the Mini, it's considerably less than the 2kg top limit. (Not that I want either of them hitting me even in Tripod mode!)
If using the the MA2 with an a2coc in a built up area, ensuring someone doesn't come within 50m of the craft is pretty difficult. I'm tending more these days towards photographing the local area and even if I send the drone straight up above me to take a shot, I can have no control over whether someone walks into that 50m radius and assume I would be breaking regulations even though the only person the drone could hit, if it failed, would be me?
On the plus side, I flew my Mini2 from my back garden yesterday to photograph our local area in the snow and boy did that feel good!
Hey Mike Plowman! Great to see you and thanks for joining the conversation! It is an interesting area. The MA2 is a great drone and the tripod mode makes it a contender to be similar to future C rated drones. For me, that will be the key to unlocking A2 CofC fully, a compliant drone which can get within 5m of uninvolved people.
I suppose until then it is careful flights as you describe and enjoying the freedom of the MM2!
Great video. As always of coarse! Thanks Sean 😄👍
Hey Flyzone Drone! Thanks for the kind feedback, I really appreciate it!
@@Geeksvana NP Sean always buddy
As aways on point and thorough! Great Video.
Thanks Johnny! Great to see you sir!
@@Geeksvana Appreciate ya Sean. Always a pleasure brother. 🙏🏽
Hi Sean great video and information from you and your guest (game of drones guy ) I will call him lol having waiting and considered the new drone laws and having 2 drones in my possession the Mavic 2 pro and zoom I decided to do the A2 Cofc with UVA HUB ( matt Williams) which I have to say was a really good learning experience and the way the course is set out for online Learning was great I would highly recommend the course. I have a question as you might be aware I mainly fly over or around old castles and buildings that are derelict or ruins when there are virtually no people around them can I still fly Close to these structures with my Mavic 2 drones without breaking the law a hobbyist . Ps I passed my A2 Cofc with in a week of signing up and I am happy to say I got 100% ( sorry had to say that I feel a it was a great achievement for me having left school 40 years ago and the thought of doing the test and exam was a bit daunting for me) thanks again great to see your channel going from strength to strength. Cheers
Hey Rodpiker Drones!! Great news and congrats on the 100% pass! That is amazing news!
In terms of your question, the separation is now focused on people rather than buildings. So I would say your flights over historic sites are 100% legal in my view. If anything you able to assess the risk to people on the ground even easier as there are often no walls to hide them!
@@Geeksvana cheers Sean thanks so much for your quick reply 👍
Awesome Daniel! Nice work!
@@Geeksvana I have had the same problem as @Rodpiker Drones . It's all about getting there when you know nobody will be about then - so the Golden Hour of a summer morning is when you might bump into me near one of those castles. You'll have to be up early though, Rod, you'll only see the back of my bergen in the distance by eight.
@@lindsayheyes925 Golden Hour is definitely THE time to fly 👌
Luv it mate especially your humour "geek" never. Bestdronelegalinfovana bit of a mouthful tho.
Thanks Paul! Really appreciate your kind feedback!
Great Info ...thank you sir !!
Hey Bill! Thank you sir! Looking forward to your live show next week! I hear you have some particularly handsome guests on 😎😜
@@Geeksvana Bald Men Rule !!
Great content Love it Sean
Thank you Andrew! I really appreciate your kind feedback!
Thanks for the informative video! I've just purchased a Mavic 3 and was wondering if there's any information regarding retroactively adding CE/C class markings so I can fly closer than 50m to uninvolved individuals?
Hi Sean
New to your channel. Just completed A2 CofC with Matt W (brilliant) currently flying Air2.
Have watched a couple of your last, combined with the course info, I am still a little confused over this flying over buildings stuff, it’s not as easy as yes or no, I just want to get the odd good picture
Bryan
North Devon
Hey Bryan! Thanks for taking the time to comment and congratulations on passing your A2 CofC!! Great work. Yes, it isn't a simple yes/no as you point out. Hopefully though as we all get used to the new rules our confidence will grow.
Good information
Thanks Lyn, appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Really interesting content as ever
Thank you Jonathan! Really appreciate your kind feedback!
Great video as usual 👍🏻
Thank you Skyfilmer! Really appreciate your kind feedback!!
@@Geeksvana got my last part of A2CofC tonight. Looking forward to put it into practice. Your channel is the icing in the cake regarding some of the more technical details 👌🏼
Hi Sean, great video, is there any chance you could cover what to do when flying legally if a member of the publics interference on purpose makes the flight dangerous, ie kicking off saying you can’t fly here and I have phoned the
Police blah blah blah, as my understanding is that they are breaking the law by distracting you whilst flight is taking place, I have to fly on my own without a spotter so don’t have anyone to deal with this for me, so as nobody generally available when I fly it has become quite a big concern for me.
Thanks.
Hey Shane! Thanks for taking the time to comment and for your kind feedback! I will put it on the list. Similar has been requested. Thanks.
Informative as always Sean
Hey Shippers Dronefield! Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the kind feedback. Hope you are well.
So do drones with a tripod mode or feature where you can set the speed of the drone qualify as a 'low speed mode'? 🤔
Hey Mr Ed Espinosa! Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it! Yes, once labelled with CE/C class markings. You will also find the button will be called 'low speed mode'. It should help A2 CofC holders get more out of the qualification. Let's hope we see some compliant drone releases soon!
All I really want to know is can I fly mirco fpv racers 20gram to 150gram. With no recording functions . Can I fly anywhere, iv test flown the things at full pelt in to myself, at worst its a little sting, no danger to anyone at all.
Hey morpheus One! Thanks for taking the time to comment! As a toy drone you will be able to fly the drone without separation etc from people but always remember to ensure any flight is safe and in correct airspace etc. Hope this helps!
Hiya, off topic I know, however, want to ask if you think as a mini 2 owner that I am mad for wanting to buy the mini 1 for the litchi follow me possibilities. Either that or perhaps dji will put it in an update? I would love to hear your your views of the best way to get a follow under with dji quality video @2.7k or better under 250g? I do have the operator and flyer ids and intend on doing the a2cofc and going for an anafi but atm want to stay under weight and over qualified.... While I get to grips with flying and filming possibilities under 250g. Think i may have got a bit carried away wanting the latest tech potentially, over the most suited to my requirement. I found out that my 2010 ihigh sierra imac wont process above 2.7k video properly. Flying drones appears to be a massive shake up of your related tech compatibility. So far this drone has copst me an iphone as my android phone was 32 not 64 bit. Now I either shoot in 2.7k video or upgrade the imac. So my warning is bear in mind the knock on effect on your related infrastructure and you really need to be on the latest rev of whatever platform you operate in/on. From my point of view I should have bought the mini 1 perhaps if the range was good enough perhaps with parayogi extenders or some such. Meaning there may be way reasons you don't want he very latest tech in your camera drone but perhaps not, as in my case, if you have to upgrade the phone AND your computer. Most pcs can accept the next iteration of windows. I cant do that with my legacy machine so I need to lob in another couple of grand to be able to deal with the quality of output from the mini 2. So thats my reasoning, mini 1 or upgrade imac 27"?
I've got my A2 CofC I fly a Phantom4 I am I right in believing if I fly in tripod mode can I fly in built up areas and as close as 5m not that I would fly that close. Isn't mine classed as C2 then I can't really understand what the difference is
Hey Gary! Unfortunately not. All existing drones are classed as legacy drones. This means that A2 CofC holders can fly their existing drones up to 2kg in congested areas with a separation of 50m from uninvolved people. So the Phantom is in that class.
To unlock the 5m separation we need C label drones to be released and as yet there are none.
Once the legacy period ends at the end of 2022, all legacy drones weighing more than 250g will need to be flown in the A3 category only, unless you have a GVC and operational authorisation from the CAA.
This is a very brief rundown but hope it helps.
@@Geeksvana thank you for replying
@@Geeksvana I still find it strange what is the point of taking the A2 CofC I understand its purely fot the weight but what actually are the benifits do you know if I can fly at 30m rather than 50m from any structure Vehicle Vessel I'm still confused on this issue.
Hey Gary. The full benefits of the A2 will only be unlocked when we get C2 labelled drones, until then we are kind of stuck with the 50m rule. You can get closer with the Article 16 Authorisation but that is only for parks etc and with a membership of something like the BMFA.
Also the rules are no longer focused on buildings etc and more on uninvolved people.
@@Geeksvana OK thank you can't wait then love your channel though keep up the valuable work
Sorry, but while this video is useful, for me it muddies the waters regarding the 50m separation from uninvolved person. It looks like you've edited the video at 16:17 and I think it has made the message unclear. It jumps to "People aren't going to be in that area for very long if they're walking through". Does that mean you're saying that you don't need to worry about a few people within 50m as they will pass by, or are you saying that you should wait until they have passed by before flying in that area? If it's the latter, we're still back to the terrace example you gave where you can't see if anyone is behind that first row of houses.
It doesn't really affect me as I fly the Mini 2 but I think it needs clarification. Sorry if I'm missing anything obvious!
Hey Mr Messy. The video doesn't edit for me at that point when I play it. We talk about adapting the flight for when people move into the area but planning properly to avoid it. Not sure if I am looking at the right point.
The Mini 2 is a king drone for so many people under the new rules. I have been enjoying it myself!
👑
All hail the Drone King 👑😂😂😂
Hi, i am still unsure on these rules and hoping you could clear my question up. I have a mavic air 2 and have a couple of roof inspections to do. Will doing the A2 cofc allow me to do this. If so can i get closer to the roof than 50 meters?
Hey john weaver! Simple answer is yes but with a lot of caveats! Could you email me sean@geeksvana.com so I can answer you more fully than a comment. We have looked into this specifically for roof inspection operators, so have decent info!
@@Geeksvana emailed, Thank you.
Hi Sean, Have you had a chance to review my mail. Thank you.
I ticked a like at 36 seconds... You hit the nail on the head almost before you started to talk..
Hey Neil! I appreciate the thumbs up!! Also appreciate you taking the time to comment.
@@Geeksvana OMG absolutely is the confidence... I have PfCo and A2CofC but still fly a million miles form anyone or anything. I know I can fly over houses (even with my mini2) to view the local dual carriageway (from the side) by flying a 200m VLOS to it, I have checked it all out and planned it thoroughly, but actually flying it.... haven't done yet. Why? Confidence.
I have no intention of flying over or near people or buildings, but given the new people distances and the tube effect above them as per the CAA drawings what are you to do if someone wander or decides to be within this 50 meter distance and how if the drone is some distance away do you even know if your drone is infringing this 50 meter safety circle around and above them?
Bristol City Council are thankfully quite enlightened when it comes to drones they have even amended their web page to reflect the new qualifications www.bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/what-you-can-do-in-our-parks
and have three areas designated, but since people walk their dogs there as well it is now a nightmare. With the old rules it was a lot easier as if you flew over 30 meters high you were allowed to pass over them, or at least that was my understanding.
I suppose I must just sell all my I1 equipment and buy a mini 2 . So small that I dread to think how far you can’t fly before you loose sight of it compared to the I1.
Seem like someone at the CAA did not think this through to well and are unintentionally
penalising any one with a large drone. The weight should be 3 kg which would have been a lot fairer to every one.
Hey Alistair! Thank you for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts. The point of judging separation is a good one and it is great to hear some local authorities are embracing the new rules. I know what you mean re the sub 250g issue, it does seem strange in some aspects.
Good afternoon guys the best thing to do stay away as far from people as far as you can not on less there members of your staff or your spotter .
Hey Eric! Well said! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Hope you are well.
@@Geeksvana Good evening am away to watch Matt
As the new rules are all about "Safety" please explain this. How do markings (CE/C) on yet-to-be-released Drones, vs Legacy Drones with existing "exact-same" tripod flight settings matter?? Safety is safety. Tripod is Tripod. 2 or 3 letters printed on the shell of a drone have NOTHING to do with Safety and more importantly AIRMANSHIP. In reality, no one should be allowed to fly within 50 mts of anyone, anywhere without extensive practical flight examinations, in ATTI Mode, under instruction/observation of a licenced instructor. That's if Safety is the REAL priority. Passing a "written" test to legally fly a drone (or drive a car....or any vehicle) safely is simply making a mockery of common sense and flying a drone, where the technicalities of dealing with "challenging" situations rely on subconscious knowledge & ability will resolve most issues. I'm sorry, but EVERYONE should have to pass a practical test to be allowed to fly anywhere near anyone; IMHO. This A2CofC is a half assed attempt at licencing/governing a quickly moving industry. Let's at least all be honest about that!
Hey Graeme! Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your thoughts on this, I really appreciate it! A lot of what you ask could only be answered by those who create these rules. The risk based new rules have helped to open the skies up a bit more to many drone flyers but the overall direction of regulation has concerned many of us for a long time.
In terms of drone markings, I see no reason why they couldn't allow legecy drones which fit the criteria to gain retroactive labels. Sadly this probably will not happen.
The skies are going to change a lot of the next ten years and I determined to enjoy them as much as I can for as long as I can.
One note on the A2 CofC course is that prior to the pandemic there was a classroom element to the course. This should return in the future but I agree a flight assessment should be added.
I assume if a council run park has a No Drones sign that no drone whether below 250G or with a A2 CofC can be flown? As No Drone signs or notifications on web sites seem to be increasing.
Hey Flycatchers1958! Thank you for taking the time to comment. A 'no drone' sign in itself does not necessarily mean there is a actual byelaw preventing flight and it should be explored as to whether this is council policy rather than byelaw. They are able to prevent you taking off from their land but not flight over at a reasonable height, if everything else is legal about the flight. Actual Byelaws preventing drone flight itself are pretty rare. Hope this helps.
This is impossible to police they don't come to your house these days if your burgled, I can't see them chasing Drone pilots around the countryside and shorelines to check that they are compliant!
Hey The Woods! Ironically you might find they will! 😂 More seriously, the main point this becomes an issue forany is when something happens in flight or a complaint is made etc. Then it helps that the flight itself was compliant.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it!
I like your content buddy, but all the midroll ads just tip the balance for me, sorry.
Hey Steve! Thanks for the feedback. Are they bad? To be honest I leave them all at the standard settings.
I have just looked at the auto settings and they play at 1:05, 10:02, 14:44 and 18:20 with overlays too. How does anyone get to watch a video amongst all that!!???
Changing the settings for this video right now and will keep a close eye on it. Thank you so much, HUGELY appreciate the feedback.
What exactly is the fear they have with ships buildings and what are endangering about small lumps of plastic ?????against the BBC and their large drone with cameras. Or even stupider Amazon delivery drones operating miles away. How many injuries have really been caused?
"within 50 m of people, thats a stupid rule because people are always moving so why not say 50m within VLOS in built of area
Hey BlueKnight001! I think it will be easier once the new class drones are released and we are able to get within 5m. I agree though, at the moment keeping the 50m separation is difficult within built up areas and I like your idea of 50m within VLOS.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it!
Hi guys this may be a stupid question but regarding the 5mtr rule ie drones that can fly slower! Do we not have that ability with the MA2 that can be flicked to tripod and possible with a firmware update fly at that very slow speed! ? Sorry just playing devils advocate ! Lol
Absolutely Nick! Unfortunately it will only count on drones carrying the correct label. We are hopeful but skeptical that any existing drones will get retroactive labels.
Thanks for that answer and I certainly hope that happens as so many of us have bought MA2s! Which has so many abilities hope we don’t have to sell these and buy other expensive drones again! There is going to be a glut of these for sale!
On a slightly different subject how was your A2 CofC ? I am taking my exam in the next week!