DJI forces UK pilots to sit a ‘knowledge quiz’ before takeoff
If you’re hoping for a DJI drone this Christmas, be prepared for one teeny-tiny roadblock as you rush into the back garden with controller in hand. Today, the company has announced a mandatory “Knowledge Quiz” for all of its customers in the UK. It will live in the DJI GO 4 app — which is basically required to use the company’s snap-on controller — and pose eight questions about safe, common sense flying. In short, you won’t be able to fly until you’ve answered them all successfully. So if you haven’t already, it’s worth swatting up on our handy guide to UK drone regulations.
DJI launched a similar quiz for US pilots earlier this year. The UK-specific version has the blessing of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which oversees British drone laws, and the ARPAS-UK, a trade association for remotely piloted aircraft. The quiz also precedes new legislation, due in spring 2018, that will force UK drone pilots to sit a safety awareness test. It’s not clear, however, if DJI’s knowledge quiz is the same, or supplementary, to this government exam. Regardless, it sounds like a good initiative to ensure drone-related accidents are kept to a minimum.
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