Dji Phantom UAVs

[Boatbuoy]

Mr Trophy said:

5150 said:

jon- said:

So I have a film project coming up where I'm hiring a cameraman and I need some aerial shots, so I'm thinking of buying a Phantom 3 and flying it.

The camera guy I'm chatting to is refusing to use it as he believes a licence is needed regardless of height, location etc. I'm not so sure, but I'm getting really confused reading between the US and UK forums about what rules apply to what company.

Is there a good link anywhere explaining it for the UK?

Thanks

That's right.

In order to use images taken from a UAV for commercial gain, you need a Permit for Aerial Work from the Civil Aviation Authority. A fairly lengthy process, but it's the only way you can do it (apart from hiring someone with a permit!)

Excuse my ignorance here. Could you not just buy one and do it yourself?

The only way this would perhaps come a problem is if you where stopped and questioned by someone? Once the "project" is together it surely wouldn't matter who's filmed it (you don't need to declare something do you)?

And what happens if during the filming you drop it on someone?

[Mr Trophy]

Boatbuoy said:

Mr Trophy said:

5150 said:

jon- said:

So I have a film project coming up where I'm hiring a cameraman and I need some aerial shots, so I'm thinking of buying a Phantom 3 and flying it.

The camera guy I'm chatting to is refusing to use it as he believes a licence is needed regardless of height, location etc. I'm not so sure, but I'm getting really confused reading between the US and UK forums about what rules apply to what company.

Is there a good link anywhere explaining it for the UK?

Thanks

That's right.

In order to use images taken from a UAV for commercial gain, you need a Permit for Aerial Work from the Civil Aviation Authority. A fairly lengthy process, but it's the only way you can do it (apart from hiring someone with a permit!)

Excuse my ignorance here. Could you not just buy one and do it yourself?

The only way this would perhaps come a problem is if you where stopped and questioned by someone? Once the "project" is together it surely wouldn't matter who's filmed it (you don't need to declare something do you)?

And what happens if during the filming you drop it on someone?

True. Surely the same could be send when you're using it for personal use?

[Boatbuoy]

Indeed, which is why it's highly recommended that you have insurance. I suspect many hobbyists don't bother.

The difference is that if you're filming for 'commercial gain' then you should be approaching it in a professional manner. Hiring in an operator with a CAA Permit for Aerial Work (PfAW) provides the customer with some reassurances, such as: guaranteed insurance (all PfAW holders MUST be insured), the operator knows the regulations (they will have sat an exam), they are a capable operator (they would have passed a flight test), they will know how to manage an emergency, they maintain a log of their flights, maintenance and battery condition, and they wont take unnecessary risks because there's tracability and they are regulated.

If you run a fabrication business would you hire an un-certified welder?

Would a business owner use an amateur accountant?

Would you be happy if an airline used PPL holders for crew?

I hold a PfAW and operate a 8kg commercial drone. I have a vested interest in doing it properly, not only to protect my own investment but also the industry & hobby overall. If people want to break the rules that's fine, but on my CAA course we were encouraged to report any examples we discovered. I can see it going only one way, the pro users are already regulated, and the House of Lords are pushing for hobby pilots to be as well. Also, the CAA has now handed responsibility for prosecutions over to the Police, which has alleviated the bottleneck.

I know it all sounds a bit killjoy, but the UK leads the world in regulating this emerging sector. I started off with a phantom and was very naïve at first, but now I get where they are coming from. They could quite easily have done what the US, Spain and Netherlands did and put a blanket ban on it. But instead they developed a sensible set of regulations.

Edited by Boatbuoy on Wednesday 2nd September 11:06

[Mr Trophy]

Absolutely understand where you're coming from... However, I made a film the other day (see previous page) and I see that as "a bit of a project" but, I went out myself, had a bit of fun with the drone, whilst making sure I / it was safe at all times.

Does that therefore mean I should have a licence?

I've spoken to the Police about the whole legalities of these drones and to be completely honest, the Officer in question was useless, although a nice chap.

As a shotgun certificate holder, I can’t get into any bother with the Police as you can imagine. I would like to think I am an “upstanding citizen” and wouldn’t do anything illegal or put others in danger.

[Boatbuoy]

Mr Trophy said:

Absolutely understand where you're coming from... However, I made a film the other day (see previous page) and I see that as "a bit of a project" but, I went out myself, had a bit of fun with the drone, whilst making sure I / it was safe at all times.

Does that therefore mean I should have a licence?

I've spoken to the Police about the whole legalities of these drones and to be completely honest, the Officer in question was useless, although a nice chap.

As a shotgun certificate holder, I can’t get into any bother with the Police as you can imagine. I would like to think I am an “upstanding citizen” and wouldn’t do anything illegal or put others in danger.

Cheers!

No, I'm not suggesting that you should have a license at all, although I suspect you may be forced down that route in the future. It's commendable that you spoke to the police and act as an upstanding citizen, but you only have to go onto YouTube to see allsorts of irresponsible behaviour, and like everything it'll be the minority who ruin it for everyone else (hobby wise).

The current range of drones make it so accessible too, which is why I bought one in the first place. As a kid I always wanted an RC Helicopter, but the fact that there was a very real risk of smashing up £1000 worth of kit on every flight meant that I never went there. But todays machines are virtually self flying, in fact I've stopped calling it flying and now describe my role as an operator. Unless I'm in manual mode the aircraft does the flying and I just tell it where to be. This means that a lot of the risk is eliminated and that owner/pilot/operator can be lured (subconsciously) into buzzing the thing around the sky without considering wider implications. What happens if a motor or ESC or prop fails on a quadcopter? Where will it go? How much control will you have?

There's absolutely nothing wrong with producing your own films/videos, that was my entry into the hobby and it should be preserved. But anyone who doesn't hold a PfAW you should not be tempted to undertake commercial work, it's not worth the risk, that's all.

[Mr Trophy]

Hi

The drone comes with a 16 GB standard. Can I upgrade this to a bigger micro SD card?

Thanks

[Phunk]

Mr Trophy said:

Hi

The drone comes with a 16 GB standard. Can I upgrade this to a bigger micro SD card?

Thanks

Yup

[andyr30]

Has anyone updated with the new features yet?

It's a shame the update is only for the newer models - I've got a P2V+. I think I'm going to give the litchi app a go...does anyone else use it? Supposedly from what I've read it's a lot better than the dji app and has the features they've only just released. I'm mostly interested in the 'Point of Interest' feature. Although I've almost perfected panning around an object smoothly, the poi feature would be helpful.

So has anyone got experience with the Litchi app?

Cheers

[04helipilot]

andyr30 said:

Has anyone updated with the new features yet?

It's a shame the update is only for the newer models - I've got a P2V+. I think I'm going to give the litchi app a go...does anyone else use it? Supposedly from what I've read it's a lot better than the dji app and has the features they've only just released. I'm mostly interested in the 'Point of Interest' feature. Although I've almost perfected panning around an object smoothly, the poi feature would be helpful.

So has anyone got experience with the Litchi app?

Cheers

Best wait a while and check the dji forums to see if the update is ok.

[Phunk]

I've updated, only flown indoors so far, so not tried the new features.

Seems to work well though

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR_BMucP27w

[andyr30]

Did anyone see the announcment of the new camera's for the Inspire? Look pretty damn impressive...and they have a pretty damn impressive price tag to match!

£1900 including lens and replacement Vibration board

Or you can buy the Inspire Pro with the new camera already fitted for £3699

[V8A*ndy]

Being able to use that Olympus lens like the GH4 on the bigger rigs and having SSD is very cool and the RAW footage with all that "claimed" DR is just great as long as you have the horse power to handle it.

Hope there is no weight issues as one would be using the higher capacity battery as well. I'd also prefer hex or octo with that much cash in the air.

If the reports are good I might go for one of these next spring, though I reckon the inspire is going have an update soon to. Chuck in LB2 as well and they have a winner.

[ecsrobin]

Drone pilot convicted.. http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/15/first-uk-drone-...
First UK drone pilot convicted for flying over packed football grounds

[leggly]

ecsrobin said:

Drone pilot convicted.. http://www.engadget.com/2015/09/15/first-uk-drone-...
First UK drone pilot convicted for flying over packed football grounds

Not surprising.

[Mojocvh]

GetCarter said:

.. but what I'm liking about the reviews I've read of the 3DR Solo is that it can do all the flying, leaving me to do all the filming.

^^^this!^^^

[Boro]

andyr30 said:

Did anyone see the announcment of the new camera's for the Inspire? Look pretty damn impressive...and they have a pretty damn impressive price tag to match!

£1900 including lens and replacement Vibration board

Or you can buy the Inspire Pro with the new camera already fitted for £3699

REALLY looking forward to this!

[V8A*ndy]

Boro said:

andyr30 said:

Did anyone see the announcment of the new camera's for the Inspire? Look pretty damn impressive...and they have a pretty damn impressive price tag to match!

£1900 including lens and replacement Vibration board

Or you can buy the Inspire Pro with the new camera already fitted for £3699

REALLY looking forward to this!

Hope this thing delivers. A lot of worries about bit rate. That would be a real deal breaker for me.

Looks like the X5R version is going to be very expensive .

Would be killer with an Olympus lens.....

If it works out you might get an order ......

[Phunk]

Quick video from Loch Lomond I shot on the Phantom 3

https://youtu.be/LLnpHWkeFuE

[V8A*ndy]

Phunk said:

Quick video from Loch Lomond I shot on the Phantom 3

https://youtu.be/LLnpHWkeFuE

Nice vid, keep them coming.

Wish I could get more airtime (weather crap) and away from the "err mate is that legal" brigade.

[Mr Trophy]

I made one of Fort William last weekend -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMuQeh0RPJo

My mates Dad asked for a video of his horse -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwYlo_PYw4E

Edited by Mr Trophy on Tuesday 22 September 15:58