For non-drone viewers, this is about drone flyers being able to take pictures and videos of landmarks and landscape in more built up areas, but still whilst staying high up. They should still remain around 50 metres above people to ensure privacy; drones' cameras are like mobile phones and people are just dots from that height. Until this announcement, this particular drone would have been permitted to fly in most areas; now it can't. But remember, drones have nothing like the zoom lenses that standard DSLR cameras have. It's not about invasion of privacy; 99.99% of drone flyers have zero interest in the tiny dots of people on the ground! And for the dronies, this means we miss out on a lot more freedoms than were originally planned. What's your thoughts? ** Remember to IGNORE any replies asking you to contact me on Telegram; scammers keep trying to get you to pay for postage for a prize that doesn't exist.**

This will split drone users and would be drone users into two groups 1. Those who will stick with sub 249g drones, 2. Those that will do what they like regardless of the rules

There's never a dull moment. Seems like the only route is to make the MINI series out of carbon fiber and up the camera to their Hasselblad line. Please include controllable f stops.

One can understand why some people ignore rules when they seem unreasonable. One only has to go to any town/city to see that illegal electric scooters are more prevalent than the official trial scooters. It will be the same with drones. Many will not even get a free licence or mark the ID on their drone and there will be am uncontrolled free for all. Lets hope the Government and the CAA get themselves sorted - and soon.

I am an inspecting building surveyor and use drones for my work very successfully. I have a couple of sub 250g drones and a couple of heavier drones, one of which is a thermal drone. I work in congested areas much of the time. I went ahead and obtained A2 C of C and that has also been helpful. However, I was going to buy a Mavic 3 Classic, until now obviously. This appears to be another downside to our non-EU status I'm afraid, fishing was let down badly but that's another story. Feeling sorry for those who purchased the Mavic 3 Classic, I think we will see quite a few being returned/sold. I feel confused by CAA and let down slightly...I have no real faith in them unfortunately.

Wow, so sorry to see what you're going through in the UK. I would be interested to hear what Philip Bloom has to say about all this, I'm sure he has a few choice words : O Here in Canada, with the Advanced Pilot license from Transport Canada, the minimum horizontal distance for none participants is 5 meters which illustrates how out of whack the CAA is with common wealth countries. Hoping they come to their senses sooner than later....

Typical CAA frankly. Have had involvement with their regulatory incompetence over many, many years when it comes to General Aviation in the UK. Left hand not talking with the right one and total ignorance of ALL factors that need to be considered before stating a final decision. Thanks for the update here Ian.

Great summary about some bad news. Thanks for this video

I want to see their risk assessments on this class of drone both in Europe and in the U.K.? I want to see what the differences are? This really doesn’t make logical sense. Are they going to compensate those who bought the classic, after all they announced this a week after the classics release and many people have already received their drone they just purchased?..🤔

The CAA website and drone rules are not fit for purpose. You have to study those rules which include the C Classification to get a flyer id and no doubt it is also in the A2CofC examination 🤔 I suspect that the CAA are looking to 2026 because by then testing for commercial drone operations will be further along (The UK plans to launch the world’s biggest drone superhighway) and they will be looking carefully at the Airspace below 400ft. Paying £10 for an operator id is peanuts to the Millions to be made from Commercial drone Airspace and control.

I think anyone buying the Mavic 3 Classic based on its C class rating in the UK was optimistic at best. Even when it was announced, many UK commentators pointed out that the marking was potentially moot in the UK, as has now been proven the case. Yep, the CAA hasn't helped their own cause here, but from a purely personal perspective, it'll save me a lot of money and I'll milk the living heck out of my Air 2S in the meantime. Unfortunately, I think this will also just make responsible pilots wonder why they bother jumping through the hoops in the first place. Shackled at every turn with stuff like this and the abysmal CE transmission shackles (which by the way we should now be binning off for FCC with our new found 'freedom'), how long before even the most responsible just give up and go Wild West?

I almost bought a Mavic Classic a few weeks ago, but then didn't but only because it's winter and the lack of flight time for a brand new toy. You are right, people pay money for training and insurance to fly both bigger and safer UAV's only to find out it's more restricted than people who don't! Explains why pot isn't legal here either, because we think we are better than any other country! Although when you've watched enough YT videos showing range tests of 5km knowing that it's out of operator visual range, it's not difficult to figure out the CAA's argument. People are openly showing themselves flouting the rules.

Oh my god.The CAA have messed it up again. I am shaking my head in disbelief.😤

many people will just fly them regardless of area if they feel hard done by, CAA hate drones it's so sad they are not supportive

Makes no sense at all. In fact, the change is unreasonable and deserves to be heard in a court of law.

My worry is that with all these auditors sometimes hacking off / embarrasing these big companies at somepoint they will keep complaining to the CAA whom will then look at the sub 250 g drones.

If i had just bought one after reading the CAA's website that clearly shows where you can fly this drone until the end of the year, I would just ignore the CAA and continue to fly it but safety and common sense comes first.

We've played by the rules and we get shafted, time to not give a dam and fly wherever !!

Typical UK government making it hard work for drone operators yet again. Can't just let people go out and have fun flying responsibly 🤷🏻‍♂

No surprises to be honest, brexit has always meant we have no requirement to follow any EU regulations or EASA rules! Hence why I still fly my sub 250g Mini drones, so makes no difference to me ! 👍😁 Saw it coming a country mile away....😳😲🤔😊

Thumbs up given but geez … how utterly ridiculous to make this decision! As you say … this really confirms my order being placed now for the Mini 3 Pro. Cheers for keeping us all up to date mate.

I’m just going to keep flying and use common sense. 👊

I completely agree with your disappointment! I still believe that if the agencies that control the sky don't make money, they are not interested in hobbyists flying drones. So sad.

Once again, we lose out in the UK. There's absolutely no good reason for the CAA to do this, particularly after they had originally committed to following the new regs.

Anyone with an interest in drones or an operator needs to write to the CAA, DfT and their MP to question this decision. Complete lack of joined up thinking.

The Good Old Days Happily Flying Drones Up To 2020, Total Freedom, No Worries, Not Much Confrontation. Now Flying Drones Is Becoming More And More Complex with More Mental Silliness Thrown into The Mix. Keep Flying, Keep Mentally Sane, Keep Positive, Don't Be Beaten, Drone Flyers.

I'm in the film and TV industry. Initially I was quite excited about the possibilities of drones, not only for the sake of doing big spectacular aerial shots but also low-level, low-speed tracking stuff without laying tracking rail. My impression was almost immediately that the rules were so tight as to make the whole endeavour fairly pointless and I lost interest. Sad to see the problem continues.

This is precisely what strips away the essential euphoria and enjoyment of flying drones

Not suprised at the chaos, BUT I think EASA AND manufacturers twisting the prior rules to get a Mavic 3 into C1 is what has pushed it too far. How can the associated risk be the same between a Mini 3 Pro and a Mavic 3 given the latter is more than x3 the mass. The use of MTOM should have persisted accurately and consistently This would have put the Mavic 3 etc into C2 and I suspect we'd then have seen absolutely zero change across the board and just be waiting for the certification bodies to be up and running.

Its a great drone, but how could they even justify it being in the A1 category, when the air 2S is much lighter. That's one heavy drone to potentially come down in a city center.

I wish there was a decent sub 500g option, as with a2cofc you can fly close to uninvolved people as long as you don’t overfly them, that's good enough for me.

I think the reason drones are being regulated to the country side away from any people, buildings, points of interest in the UK is cultural. After reading comments, watching many Geek sessions, it's seems most if not all British agree flying over private property is a privacy violation. Even the drone enthusiasts, drone owners don't want drones over their own property. If this is how everyone feels you're not going to get to fly anywhere near people or property. I live in Southern California my city has passed laws allowing drones up to 55 lbs. Not that they can control the airspace. The local laws are really meant to inform the public don't bother calling the police if you see a drone, waist of resources. You can fly over private property but just not "directly" over people. You can cross roads fly along side roads but not over traffic, but directly over homes. Crash on a roof is not a huge safety issue. Most people understand your not looking at them, there dots. Real-estate companies hover directly over the neighbors homes to get shots of the home forsale. Our culture is here "laid back" for most, they don't freakout. People are interested in the potential of drones. About every construction sight has 3d mapping done weekly to show progress, those drones are computer flown over around all the properties next to the construction site. Nobody is screaming privacy, we're use to cameras everywhere. Drones are used by animal right activists to fly over private farms to document aninmal abuses. Our culture feels you have no privacy rights when in public view. Like the guy next door can look out his window into your backyard, no drone needed. Your culture would call that privacy invasion, looking out my window into your yard? Here you have no expectation of privacy in public. If you can be seen you are in public. Stan's naked in your front window, and scream privacy as childre pass. Lmao, Here cities and states have no control at all over the air space, from 1ft to space is under FAA control, drones are seen as aircraft just like a maned plane. I feel Brits are generally to up tight and really don't want a strange drone over their property even though they want to fly over property, lol but not theirs. What do you think? Cultural?

This is a kick in the teeth for UK Drone flyers.

How disappointing. Good to know I don't have to rush to sell my Air 2 - but gah the CAA... you were doing so well!

Very Interesting. Sorry That This Is Happening. Thank You Ian.

All so the Secretary of State for Transport can get a pat on the back for ditching something with 'EU' written on it. Still, at least we can still fly our Mavic 3s in those 'sunlit uplands', eh? 😕

Well the CAA keeps up it's common name in the General Aviation community, now extended to the drone community CAA = Committee Against Aviation. I was looking at upgrading from my Mavic Mini 2 , now I'll not bother.

making my mini3 pro even more worth owning

Having bought the Mavic Pro prior to previous legislation changes then to be hit with new rules, its never been out the bag since. So glad i purchased the Mini 3 pro…

The IR was always ambiguous and the potential use of the C1 EU certified classic was using that ambiguity as a loophole. I don’t think any reasonable person should have expected that the UK would accept an EU approval. The way out of this is for TUV (UK) to become the approving/certifying body. Chances are there are no differences in the type testing and we may find it gets signed off sooner than later. We can hope.

Just backed my finger away from the BUY button - phew!!

Thanks for the heads up again Ian , very disappointed with the way the CAA have back tracked typical useless government department the drone companies try to accommodated and they move the goal post 😒

All they have done with this is making rules that will be ignored. I ain’t being funny but I’m always mindful of my surroundings, people, etc etc. I’m legal,in certified, I’m just guna continue flying how I have done for years with zero issues, and I’m still getting a mavic 3 classic

this is the first update in weeks i'm hearing of the on going caa decision, and it looks like we have it... typical nanny state Britain. over regulate a non existent problem. i ordered a mavic 3 classic last week and it's due to be shipped in 4 days from dji on a back order. i'm going to cancel it today. i sold my air 2s on ebay last week too as the writing was on the wall so got rid before January 1st 2023. i am beyond pissed off. within months of the new regs coming into law, thy pull this! looks like i'm sticking to the mini 3 but it's little 12mp camera just isnt up to the task on low light environments and i like to shoot sunset photos for canvas wall arts. i'm just sick of being under the thumb of these very unreasonable, uncompromising people. younger me would have risked flying it anyway and kept the classic, but older me wont risk the 1000 quid fine, the drone being confiscated, and flyer id being revoked if you get caught. and it seems coppers are much more aware of drone rules now compared to a few years ago so the chances are much higher of them asking to land it and see it etc when out and about. i'm so gutted

Totally peed off as many others like me , saw this as on opportunity to upgrade my Mavic 2 pro , so this is a big kick in the teeth ! I have my C of C and being in FPV UK still only gives me 30 metres! As you stated only one worth buying for me now is the Mavic 3 pro, though not ideal in windy environment I live! Seems these faceless CAA have had us over........very disappointed !

I've had several drones and I have sold them all now that I have the DJI Mini 3 Pro. It's an outstanding drone without the flying rules drama providing you don't use the bigger battery.

madness indeed, i may still get the M3 Classic, as I fly mostly away from people and homes; will keep the Mini 2 for the town stuff.

I think that rogue drone auditors and The Police have had a big impact on the CAA's decision, especially when you realise that UK Police force's have been buying top-of-the-range drones, to use for whatever purposes they claim to need them for. The CAA are clearly giving the Police a couple of years to get their officers fully trained in drone flying, before they release new rules for drone hobbyists. The Police will by then, already have been given priority over the general UK airspace, and any future announcement from the CAA regarding the rules for drone hobbyists should be treated with suspicion. They say one thing, yet do another, and they've already decided to ignore drone hobbyists, even before they change the rules.

I’d like to know the DfT reasoning why were so different to Europe. I’d also like to know how much public money is spent on staff to come up with their decisions.

To be honest I'm surprised the classic was even C1 makes s mockery out of mini3pro owners

Thanks for the information! I’ve literally just upgraded from the mini 3 pro to the Mavic 3 classic 😂 but, the a2 licence is still giving us an extra 100m reduced distance, so it’s not all lost. We can hope that they will pull their heads out of their arses and change the rules for something they no nothing about, to what will benefit people that use these drones daily.

thank god i live in rural west wales where there are more sheep and mountains than people this will not stop me from buying my mavic 3 classic some of the scenery round hear taken by a drone will be something to desire

I’m using 3, all for different jobs based on restrictions, not everyone has that luxury. It’s very disappointing, and I feel let down by the UK CAA and DfT, like they’ve just pulled the rug from under us. My Mavic 3 is my favourite drone, and I would love to be able to just fly it without going through all the planning for the specific category, even at that, still stuck with 30m separation on take off/landing, which isn’t easily achieved. Air 2S is going to be sold, as I can’t get any advantage with it over the M3. My Mini 3 Pro is probably the most important drone I have now, which is a terrible shame, as it’s lightweight makes wind decisions even more important. Generally pissed off, and sometimes feel like chucking it in altogether. Anyway, your videos are always brilliant, informative and very helpful, thanks again.

Firstly I agree that the information is confusing and the CAA appear to be back tracking. However, as a mini 2 pilot that flies when his drone App is not offering Land only 😭😭, I think the move away from heavier drones over and above members of the public is perhaps not a bad thing. The mini 2 and mini 3 are more than capable drones tbh and will do anything and everything that the plus 250g drones will do. I am sure in the future the CAA will start to put restrictions on the sub 250 gram drones 😔😔 And this is more likely to happen when you have drone fliers like DJ Audits winding up businesses with their "I am gonna fly over the top of your business and there is nothing that you can do about it" attitude 😠😠 This will signal the end for people like me that live in a residential area.

Unfortunately most of the countryside around me here in Devon is Dartmoor National Park... in which drones are banned. Well - I say banned, banned from taking off or landing from. I'm a full size pilot too, and see nothing about any prohibited zones on my latest CAA 250k aircharts, so at least still fair game to fly over in my informed opinion :-)

They should at least allow C1 Classification to be used for the same time as the extended transitional period for fairness. Currently we can fly the C1 Class drone in the A1 category until January 2023, but we can fly the transitional period till 2026, not fair at all

I can't afford the Mavic 3 classic, so will stick with my Mini 2 that is allowed to fly pretty much anywhere!

The bit that frustrates me is that I specifically went to the caa website last week, downloaded there info on C class drones..read the permissions, Purchased a Mavic 3 classic as being disabled it allows me to fly from my garden.. And 7 days later im screwed, and 2 grand down. ( fly more kit too) Quite unbelievable...

love the hand signs, geezer 0:27

Well explained. Thank you.

Nice update Ian, it’s poor all round I believe. Extend the legacy no issue but still make provisions for the C1 marked

Shame, I was personally looking forward to the 5 meter rule for A2 License holders, but looks like that's gone for a burton as well now 🤷‍♂️

Thanks Ian So in a couple of years the the powers that be will change the rules yet again. To much uncertainty

I'm so glad I bought the Mini 3 Pro now! Phew.

It's a joke and will lead to more people bending the rules

Just taken delivery of a M3 Classic for mostly commercial reasons. Absolutely gutted, although the C1 rating did seem a bit to good to be true. It now won't have a resale value either. What are the chances of this being over turned ?

I use to be a Licenced Aircraft Engineer ..the Caa (easa) kill of general avation , huge amounts of pointless paperwork,massive cost to operators and maintenance companies .. so even drones not safe

Cheers Ian, what a complete ball ache though!!

To a certain degree it really should've been expected. Since Brexit, you now have 2 sovereign states and even tho the regulations were agreed upon in principle by all EU states (when the UK was a part of the EU), the UK/EU divorce wasn't amicable so it's inderstandable that no government wants to be a party of the other. But, it's the little man that is screwed over, the answer might be as simple as petitioning the CAA and DfT but we are the ones who pay in the end

Maybe it's the DoT, not CAA, who have decided this ☹

Thanks for highlighting the statement from the CAA. They obviously find the drone community a real pain in the arse compared to airlines, pilots,aircraft maintenance and manufacturers. They are treating us all as if we the type of people who deliberately fly where they shouldn’t and so must be kept in our boxes! I actually thought there was some respect from them when they asked our opinion going forward but that was clearly a PR tick box exercise.

I am a HGV driver in the UK. I still have to follow all the EU rules. How come the EU rules are no good for drone pilots in the UK??? My guess is that the government are trying to figure out how they can make money out of it. As with everything else. Taxed to the eyeballs!!!

I can't really afford a Mavic 3 Classic right now, so I'm selfishly a bit relieved that my A2 Transitional permissions as an A2 CofC holder and also a sub-250g drone are still the best I can do for the time being. Sorry to everybody who has been let down by this announcement though!

As I commented on Sean’s video it’s an absolute farce, extend the transitional but retain the class markings until the new regulations are agreed whether that be mtom or other the update at the end of November better bring better news this debacle yet again will lead to more illegal flying resulting in further limitations for those trying to follow the legislation.

Had enough now of all the B.S I'm going fly and the CAA can let me know when they catch up.

Great piece. Informative and interesting as always.

Well I am fed up with all the chopping and changing. I don't read any of this squit any more and on this occasion I wont watch your video. What I will do is carry on flying my Drones in a responsible and respectful way and wait to see if anyone challenges me. If they do it will be interesting to see if they know the rules. This has gone on way too long and is way to complicated. Good for You tubers I suppose but for the rest of us it is just depressing

Looks like I'll stick with my aging Mavic Pro then

I am registered with the CAA but I have to find out about this from you. Its about time the CAA took their thumbs out of their arses and got this all sorted. They should notify registered users of changes with their over priced computers they purchased with our registration fees.

Jeez. Thanks for letting us know. Such a shame if you have spent all that money on a DJI Mavic Classic thinking you could fly it as an A1 drone. Seems like the DJI Mini series is the only option now.

Well slightly glad I did my A2 CoC because it looked like it was gonna be pointless. I'm just glad I hadn't pulled the trigger on the M3C which I was about to do. Do we ever get a break in this country? 2 years of C rating this and that and then this! bloody infuriating! I will stick with my Air2 S, mini 2 and Parrot anafi for a while longer

As you say, Ian, a very disappointing chain of events. It would be wonderful if people who make laws could use common sense and reasoned thought in making their decisions. Cheers from Wisconsin

I'm sure our english friends won't care about the drones rules cos this is totally unfair. I'm from Ireland and we have totally freedom and a few kms away you have this crazy set of rules. I'm sure CAA will make a update on this very soon.

I have my Mini 3 Pro which I'm very happy with and I'll continue using common sense and fly where I want!

Ian, I fly PPL at Manchester Barton. I also enjoy flying my drone. The CAA cannot control drones because they can be purchased by anybody from Currys PC World, Argos, and many other retailers who only want to make a sale. Many of these buyers will not be interested in learning what they can and can't do or studying and passing a drone qualification. The irresponsible always want a free ride and are not bothered if they wreck it for others. The CAA will know this.

This is also one of the disadvantages of Brexit. And I don't mean this in a bad way. I live in Belgium and I don't know much about UK politics. We are lucky that we can fly with our DJI Mavic 3 Classic in congested places thanks to the C1 label. I hope that people in the UK also have an opportunity to fly like me but this will depend on how the UK politicians will react to this problem. I hope for you that everything gets sorted out and that you can also fly with your Mavic 3 Classic in busier environments because I love your video content as well.

By excluding fliers that have invested in a new drone that is affected by this mess up, it could lead to people taking chances with the rules which could only lead to more draconian action from the CAA. Let's hope that doesn't happen!

Common sense and the CAA rarely are seen in the same sentence. The CAA aren’t known as the Campaign Against Aviation for nothing!

Well said Ian mate and great video. This to me is a funny option that CAA has decided to do. We as drone pilots respect everything we do, and stand by what we are told by CAA and fly safe. Now, lets look at our ground level, death traps we call Cars, motorbikes. These are driven by UNLICENCED drivers, or driven by car thief's that kill on the roads and our Police take chase etc.. We in the Air are just enjoying what we do as a hobby and should not in any shape or form have to be pushed out of a door after sitting tests to fly and fly with caution. Again, our ground Police are chasing killer drivers daily and many in prison... God, I could go on about this but better not.

Lol, the UK is literally the worse place to own a drone. Hence I sold mine.

Thanks for the info, just as well most of my flying is where you are in this video. Which looks like Stanhope area.🙂

Not knocking anybody here . I apply common sense - owning an Inspire 2, P4P v 2.0 - Mini 2 and at the age of 82 - I go where I like - and do what I like . I have no idea what all the current drone classifications are - as you need a lawyer to unravel them all. I stay away from people and animals, do a mental risk assessment and get on with whatever I need to do, weather permitting . I constantly come across people with no qualifications and no insurance - have never taken any training or examinations, and under-cutting my pricing structure, and can do nothing about it . I've got a PPL - there are less regulations flying an aeroplane from A-B anywhere in the UK or Europe than there are to fly a drone in some field, village or town here in the UK. The whole thing has become over-regulated . What is the point of "regulations" if there is no effective way of policing them ? It's jobs for the boys and keeping people employed at the CAA - I'm all for "safety" and have just renewed my Operations Authorisation - but I'm reaching the point where it's easier to leave the bloody things in their boxes !

Great update as always Ian, shocking yet again yet more misery of being out of the EU....lots other moans on this but overall we have taken one right where the sun don't shine!

Hi Ian, iv always said you can rely on people to be unreliable and the CAA and others have proved me right yet AGAIN 🧐😏.

The CCA pulled a stunt similar to this a couple of decades ago, concerning limiting flying heights, weight limits, and clearance distances of model aircraft. The modelling community started a letter/email writing campaign to MPs, and it got to the stage where many MPs had a template letter to use as a response. Questions were asked by MPs, the CCA wound their neck in, but then - extraordinarily - the CAA complained about political interference!! Once again, with drones, it seems that they have forgotten that they live and operate in a democracy. When they upset drone flyers enough, you now know what to do.

That's why I stick with my mini 3 Pro..any bigger than a mini is just to much trouble.

Personally, I have invested in a new business venture that ideally requires the better camera the Mavic series offers. But, more fool me. Yes I have the A2COFc that was part of the plan, but as a forward-thinking person, I sadly believed that the UK would try and at least attempt to benefit society from Brexit and encourage growth aspiration. How wrong that thinking is. Procrastination and lack of faith in new technologies seem to be the way we are these days. Overall, the country seems mired in UTurns, indecision and buck-passing. For some this is a wonderful benefit of Brexit, stop new businesses from emerging so the old guard stays richer. Make the swimming pool smaller so small old fish are bigger and more powerful in a tiny pond. Never mind the loss of business, staffing and security benefits. Stand tall and isolated, buck the trend, ignore the science and keep down people trying to grow into a bigger better more modern space. Perhaps we should have barriers to the wider internet as well so we can't see too much of the world. Maybe like horses being trotted down the road we should all be happy with blinkers on. Fine... lets all of us be happy watching the rest of world move forward and advance itself. After all, they need a head start! Our aging society is just getting warmed up and will soon catch those whippersnappers!

I think the CAA have an agenda somewhere and there preference is not to own a drone at all. So by continually changing the goal posts it allows a form of stalemate to exist. Its a typically British mess. All the best Ian. M

Won't be renewing my drone registration next year, Bollocks to em

I think the CAA should be ashamed of themselves. With the Air 3 coming out, having to keep 50m separation distance to uninvolved people and structures etc while Europe has no such restrictions is crazy. Time to leave the U.K.