Thread: Drone flying in National Parks & Parks Vic zones.

Originally Posted by ramblingboy42

You can't miss the lights on them

I have oft wondered why the lights have green to the front and red to the rear (or is it the other way around?) instead of green to starboard and red to port.

Originally Posted by p38arover

I have oft wondered why the lights have green to the front and red to the rear (or is it the other way around?) instead of green to starboard and red to port.

They’re status Leds. Not navigation. For night flying Navigation and strobes must be fitted - Port and Starboard lighting is not necessary as it’s movement isn’t linear like a fixed wing.

The aircraft gives visual confirmation of status as follows.

Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom Normal States:

Blinking red, green and yellow: Turning on and performing self-diagnostic tests
Blinking yellow 4 times: Warming up
Blinking green slowly: P-mode with GPS
Blinking green twice periodically: P-mode with forward and downward vision sensors active
Blinking Yellow slowly: No GPS, forward or downward vision systems.
Blinking green quickly: Braking

Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom Warning States:

Blinking yellow quickly: Remote controller signal lost
Blinking red slowly: Low battery
Blinking red quickly: Critically low battery
Blinking red: IMU error
Solid red light: Critical error
Blinking red and yellow quickly: Compass calibration required

Originally Posted by p38arover

I have oft wondered why the lights have green to the front and red to the rear (or is it the other way around?) instead of green to starboard and red to port.

And no white masthead light! Do the usual maritime rules apply for drones passing? Green to green or red to red? Signal "Q" in Morse to indicate "I have right of way"?

Originally Posted by p38arover

I have oft wondered why the lights have green to the front and red to the rear (or is it the other way around?) instead of green to starboard and red to port.

If I hadn't just read Mike's post I would have said it was to confuse the bloke with the 12g or the Bofors as he wouldn't know whether he was Arthur or Martha when trying to get a bead on it.

But typically, Mike comes up with a sensible reply. Bastard!

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

And no white masthead light! Do the usual maritime rules apply for drones passing? Green to green or red to red? Signal "Q" in Morse to indicate "I have right of way"?

Excellent comment!

As drones are normally only allowed to fly during daylight hours it isn’t a problem.

For night operations an exemption must be sought from CASA and then anti-collision lighting must be fitted.

Minimum visible range rules apply, strobe on body etc all apply.

With a Mavic the lights can be configured on or off before or during flight


AM

Originally Posted by Ancient Mariner

With a Mavic the lights can be configured on or off before or during flight


AM

I’m not sure if they meet the visibility requirement on the smaller (non-commercial) units though.

They’re status Leds. Not navigation. For night flying Navigation and strobes must be fitted - Port and Starboard lighting is not necessary as it’s movement isn’t linear like a fixed wing.

The aircraft gives visual confirmation of status as follows.

Jayus, does that mean you have an instrument rating.