ADU 01058: What Are the Advantages (Or Disadvantages) to Having a Drone Under 250 Grams?

12/05/19 • 24 min

Should You Buy the DJI Mavic Mini? | Drones Under 250 Grams Rules In today’s blog post, we reveal our experiences with the DJI Mavic Mavic Mini and highlight the benefits (if any) of owning a mini drone with a camera weighing less than 250 grams. Our caller for today, Pete, has come up with an excellent question today about the DJI Mavic Mini. Having recently purchased this DJI drone, he is wondering about the advantages and disadvantages of flying this much-hyped drone. To answer Pete's question, we share our experiences with the DJI Mavic Mini. Paul has been extensively testing out the DJI Mavic Mini at the Drone U headquarters and has some interesting insights to share. First of all, in a bid to appeal to the mass market and keep prices low, has DJI cut any corners with their latest product? We share how the DJI Mavic Mini compares to its cousins like the Mavic Air and Mavic 2 Pro in terms of flying and cinematic capabilities. As is commonly believed, is the DJI Mavic Mini a good drone for flying in confined spaces? In the next segment of the show, we talk about the rules for flying drones under 250 grams. Is it true that drone pilots can fly the DJI Mavic Mini without registration? And, countries like Canada have a different set of laws for drones under 250 grams. Are there any significant advantages to flying these mini drones in such countries? Paul makes some important clarifications. For all this and much more, tune in to our latest show now! Do you wish to learn from world-class pilots with real world experience? This could be your chance. The Drone U Fly-in Challenge will be held from April 4-5 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These unique drone games are designed to test your flying ability as you will be asked to complete carefully designed flight missions that mimic real-world scenarios. Don't miss the chance to participate in the BIGGEST and BEST drone event of the year. Limited Spots Available! Book Now! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Looking for simple, fast, and transparent coverage that gives you peace of mind? Our friends at Skywatch are offering affordable on-demand drone insurance that rewards YOU for flying safely. Check them out NOW! Both hourly and monthly options available. Follow us: Site - https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – http://amzn.to/2nalUDH Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – https://amzn.to/2omQatT/ Check out our upcoming Mapping Classes – https://thedroneu.clickfunnels.com/drone-u-mapping-classes-2019 Timestamps [04:36] A special thanks to our sponsor, Fortress UAV [05:18] Today's question is about the pros and cons of buying drones under 250 grams [07:04] Drone under 250 grams - Rules that you should be aware of [07:53] What are the rules for flying drones under 250 grams in countries like Canada? [10:34] Is the DJI Mavic Mini a good drone to fly? Is it possible to hack the DJI Mavic Mini?

Previous Episode

BONUS: How can Part 107 Pilots Legally Fly a Drone in Canada with Transport Canada

Canadian Drone Laws for Part 107 Drone Pilots In today's show, Paul is joined by Transport Canada's Justin Miller to discuss what Part 107 pilots can do to legally fly a drone in Canada. We start this show by sharing some of the most recent updates to Canadian drone laws. As per these recent updates, what are the rules for Part 107 pilots who wish to fly a drone in Canada? Do Part 107 pilots need any certification to fly a drone in Canada? If yes, what is the procedure for procuring this certification? And, are there a separate set of drone laws for commercial and hobby pilots? Further, you will learn a bit about Canadian airspace, and how to best determine where you can and cannot fly. Other topics discussed on this show include rules for flying drones less than 250 grams (DJI Mavic Mini), flying over people, drone insurance and flying a drone in Canadian National Parks. If you are thinking of flying down to Canada to capture the beautiful surroundings with your drone, this is a show that you must tune in to. Fly Safe! Resources: Transport Canada's Drone Safety Website Instructions for Flying a Drone in a Canadian National Park Get in Touch with Parks Canada Do you wish to learn from world-class pilots with real world experience? This could be your chance. The Drone U Fly-in Challenge will be held from April 4-5 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These unique drone games are designed to test your flying ability as you will be asked to complete carefully designed flight missions that mimic real-world scenarios. Don't miss the chance to participate in the BIGGEST and BEST drone event of the year. Limited Spots Available! Book Now! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Looking for simple, fast, and transparent coverage that gives you peace of mind? Our friends at Skywatch are offering affordable on-demand drone insurance that rewards YOU for flying safely. Check them out NOW! Both hourly and monthly options available. Follow us: Site - https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – http://amzn.to/2nalUDH Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – https://amzn.to/2omQatT/ Check out our upcoming Mapping Classes – https://thedroneu.clickfunnels.com/drone-u-mapping-classes-2019 Timestamps [00:50] Paul welcomes Justin from Transport Canada to the show [01:30] When were the Canadian drone laws last updated? [02:05] What are the drone laws for flying a DJI Mavic Mini in Canada? [03:29] Restricted Airspace and TFR's in Canada [04:19] How can US drone pilots fly in Canada? [04:56] Do you need a SFOC if you already have a Part 107 certificate? [05:56] Are there different set of drone laws for commercial and hobby pilots? [06:57] Are there any drones that are pre-qualified to fly over people? Justin explains the difference between basic airspace and advanced airspace [08:14] Are there different SFOC's for flying in basic and advanced airspace? [09:04] Is it easier for Part 107 pilots to get a SFOC?

Next Episode

BONUS: Drone News – Skydio 2 as Police Drone, Modified Mavic 2 Pro with Thermal Camera, Helicopter Drone Crash in L.A

Skydio 2 Being Used as Police Drone by Chula Vista Police Department, Modified Mavic 2 Pro with FLIR Thermal Camera Enhances Thermal Capabilities, AIR7 HD Helicopter Hit By a Drone in LA?, Drone Delivery in the French Alps, and DJI Mavic Mini Updates We are back with some of the latest and most exciting drone news from last week. Our biggest story this week is about the new Skydio drone, Skydio 2. The Chula Vista Police Department is the first to use the Skydio 2 drone for emergency response. Autonomous flying capabilities and the ability to easily avoid obstacles means that the Skydio 2 could prove to be a very capable police drone. Using drones will result in better assessment of an emergency situation and help save lives of our police officers. Our next story is about a modified Mavic 2 Pro outfitted with a FLIR Boson Thermal Camera. Manufactured by Revolve Drones, the Revolve Thermal, MK. III has impressive thermal capabilities. When compared to the Mavic 2 Dual, this modified Mavic 2 Pro comes double the sensor resolution and 5x heat signature detection range. Other stories covered in todays's show include a drone crashing with a AIR7 HD helicopter in downtown LA, the UAS Integration Pilot Program, Drone Delivery in the French Alps, and the latest DJI Mavic Mini updates. Do you wish to learn from world-class pilots with real world experience? This could be your chance. The Drone U Fly-in Challenge will be held from April 4-5 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. These unique drone games are designed to test your flying ability as you will be asked to complete carefully designed flight missions that mimic real-world scenarios. Don't miss the chance to participate in the BIGGEST and BEST drone event of the year. Limited Spots Available! Book Now! Recently crashed your drone? Unable to find trained technicians who can repair your drone quickly and at a reasonable rate? Don’t fret. The cool folks at Fortress UAV can help you get your drone back up in the air in as little as 7 days! Use Promo Code “DroneU” to get 25% off. Drone U Members get an extra 5% off on total repair costs. Check them out now! Make sure to get yourself the all-new Drone U landing pad! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Looking for simple, fast, and transparent coverage that gives you peace of mind? Our friends at Skywatch are offering affordable on-demand drone insurance that rewards YOU for flying safely. Check them out NOW! Both hourly and monthly options available. Follow us: Site - https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Get your copy of “Livin’ the Drone Life” – http://amzn.to/2nalUDH Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide – https://amzn.to/2omQatT/ Check out our upcoming Mapping Classes – https://thedroneu.clickfunnels.com/drone-u-mapping-classes-2019 Timestamps [01:50] AIR7 HD helicopter pilot speculated to be hit by a drone outside of LA [07:25] DJI joins UAS Integration Pilot Program [12:24] Chula Vista Police starts using Skydio 2 drones [15:50] Modified Mavic 2 Pro with FLIR Boson camera provides enhanced thermal capabilities [18:18] French postal service commences drone delivery in the Alps [21:24] Haye shares his experience with the DJI Mavic Mini; does this mini drone fly better after the recent firmware update? ????????????????????