23 May 2024

The DJI Mini 4 Pro, a popular choice among drone enthusiasts, falls under two potential classifications: C0 or C1. Each category has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, impacting how and where you can fly the drone. Understanding these differences is crucial for making an informed decision about which category best suits your needs.

Must-Do's for both categories:

• Have insurance.
• Register with Transport Malta as a UAV operator.
• Affix QR code to the drone.
• All Malta is controlled Airspace, therefore all flights should be authorised on the TM Portal.
• Fly within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS).

Category C0

Advantages:

No certificate of competence required.
Can fly in urban areas, close to people and buildings.
Allowed to fly over uninvolved people but not over assemblies.
Must respect privacy at all times.

Definition of "Crowds or Assemblies"
In the context of drone regulations, "crowds and assemblies" refer to gatherings of people where individuals are densely packed, and there is no room for them to move away in case of a drone failure. Examples include concerts, sporting events, and large public gatherings. Flying drones over such assemblies is generally prohibited due to safety risks. The key concern is ensuring that in case of a malfunction, the drone does not pose a danger to people who cannot easily disperse to avoid injury.

Disadvantages:

Maximum altitude is 120 meters.
No Remote-ID, making authorizing flights in No Fly Zones impossible.
Adding aftermarket Remote-ID increases weight and cost.
Recording Issues: Green flashing lights switch off during recording, making the flight illegal.

Category C1

Advantages:

Can fly in urban areas, close to people and buildings.
Remote-ID enabled.
Can fly up to 500 meters in specific areas.
Can record at night.

Disadvantages:

Cannot fly over uninvolved people.
Requires A1/A3 certificate.

Comparison:

The DJI Mini 4 Pro is distributed in C0 CLASS, but can be reclassified to C1 using provided labels. One has to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages prior to proceeding with the Class change as once done, the classification is irreversible.

The next blog will go through the process of switching to CLASS 1.