NOKA Ventures, LLC

Noel T. Garcia

18310 Emerald Oaks

San Antonio, Texas 78259 

NoelGarciaSA@gmail.com 210.454.2061 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Management System 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

August 5, 2015 

Request for Exemption under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization 

and Reform Act of 2012 and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations from 14 C.F.R 21(h); 14 C.F.R. 43.7; 14 C.F.R. 43.11; 14 C.F.R. 

45.11; 14 C.F.R. 45.27; 14 C.F.R. 45.29; 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); 14 C.F.R. 

91.9(b)(2); 14 C.F.R. 91.9(c); 14 C.F.R. 91.103(b)(2); 14 C.F.R. 

91.105; 14 C.F.R. 91.113(b); 14 C.F.R. 91.119(b) and (c); 14 C.F.R. 

121; 14 C.F.R. 91.151; 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) and (b); 14 C.F.R. 215; 14 

C.F.R. 91.403; 14 C.F.R. 405 (a) and (b); 14 C.F.R. 91.407; 14 C.F.R. 

409; and 14 C.F.R. 91.417. 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the 

Reform Act) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Noel T. Garcia, on behalf of NOKA Ventures, 

LLC, an operator of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUAS”) equipped to film 

and photograph real estate and collect aerial data in mostly rural areas in the 

state of Texas, applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of its sUASs, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may 

be established by the FAA as required by Section 333. NOKA Ventures, LLC 

was granted Exemption No. 11642 to fly the DJI Phantom 2 (Exhibit 4). An 

Amendment (No. 11642A) was also approved in January 2016 to include the 

DJI Inspire.

Approval of exemptions for NOKA Ventures, LLC will allow commercial operations of sUASs in rural, remote, low density areas in Texas, for the purpose of 
aerial data collection. The pilot in command (PIC) is a certified Air Transport Pilot 

with several type-ratings, more than 4,100 hours of flight time, and has a first 

class medical certificate. PIC is a decorated combat veteran with extensive experience as an instructor and an evaluator. He also was part of the initial cadre staff 

that developed the Air Forces’ first UAV/UAS undergraduate training program for 

pilots and operators. 

The requested exemption should be granted because the proposed operations of 

the DJI Phantom 3 and the DJI Inspire, DJI S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly 

ALTA UASs that weighs less than 30 lbs., inclusive of battery and payload, conducted in the strict conditions outlined below, will provide an equivalent level of 

safety, as Congress intended, while still allowing commercial operations. The 

lightweight aircraft covered by the exemption are far safer than conventional operations conducted with manned helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft weighing 

thousands of pounds, containing highly flammable fuel, and operating in close 

proximity to the ground and people, as a similar UAS has been previously approved in Exemption No. 11642, NOKA Ventures, LLC. The seven factors Congress directed the FAA to consider when approving Section 333 exemption petitions - size, weight, speed, operational capability, proximity to airports, proximity 

to populated areas, and operation within visual line of sight – each support the 

request. In particular, the aircraft are small and will operate at slow speeds, close 

to the ground, far from airports and in low risk, low population environments. 

In addition, the substantial experience of the PIC weighs heavily in favor of granting an exemption. 

Respectfully, Noel T. Garcia 
Table of Contents 

I. Publishable Summary 

II. Petitioner’s Contact Information

III. NOKA Ventures, LLCs Operations 

A. The sUAS 

B. Flight Conditions 

C. Flight Operations 

IV. Privacy 

V. Public Interest and Safety 

VI. Regulations from Which Exemption is Requested

A. 14 C.F.R. 21(h): Airworthiness Certificates 

B. 14 C.F.R. 43.7: Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component parts for return to service after maintenance, 

preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration 

C. 14 C.F.R. 43.11: Content, form, and disposition of records for 

inspections conducted under parts 91 and 125 and 

§§135.411(a)(1) and 135.419 of this chapter 

D. 14 C.F.R. 45.11: Marking of products 

E. 14 C.F.R. 45.27: Location of marks; nonfixed-wing aircraft 
F. 14 C.F.R. 45.29: Size of marks 

G. 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness 

H. 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and 

placard requirements

I. 14 C.F.R. 91.9(c): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and 

placard requirements

J. 14 C.F.R. 91.103(b)(2): Preflight action 

K. 14 C.F.R. 91.105: Flight crewmembers at stations 

L. 14 C.F.R. 91.113(b): Right-of-way rules: Except water operations 

M. 14 C.F.R. 91.119(c): Minimum safe altitudes: General 

N. 14 C.F.R. 91.121: Altimeter Settings 

O. 14 C.F.R. 91.151: Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions 

P. 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) and (b): Civil aircraft: Certifications required 

Q. 14 C.F.R. 91.215: ATC Transponder and Altitude Reporting 

Equipment and Use 

R. 14 C.F.R. 91.403: General 

S. 14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a) and (d): Maintenance Required 
T. 14 C.F.R. 91.407: Operation after maintenance, preventive 

maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration 

U. 14 C.F.R. 91.409: Inspections 

V. 14 C.F.R. 91.417: Maintenance records

Exhibit List 

Exhibit 1: DJI Phantom 3 Manual

Exhibit 2: DJI Inspire Manual

Exhibit 3: Memorandum from Mark W. Bury, Assistant Chief 

Counsel for Int’l Law, Legislation and Regulations, Fed. Aviation 

Admin., to John Duncan, Dir., Flight Standards Serv. (Aug. 8, 

2014)

Exhibit 4: NOKA Ventures, LLC Exemption No.11642

Exhibit 5: Douglas Trudeau, Realtor® Exemption No. 11138
I. Publishable Summary 

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for 

publication in the Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is needed: 

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules: 

14 C.F.R 21(h); 14 C.F.R. 43.7; 14 C.F.R. 43.11; 14 C.F.R. 45.11; 14 

C.F.R. 45.27; 14 C.F.R. 45.29; 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2); 

14 C.F.R. 91.9(c); 14 C.F.R. 91.103(b)(2); 14 C.F.R. 91.105; 14 C.F.R. 

91.113(b); 14 C.F.R. 91.119(b) and (c); 14 C.F.R. 91.151; 14 C.F.R. 

91.203(a) and (b); 14 C.F.R. 215; 14 C.F.R. 91.403; 14 C.F.R. 405 (a) 

and (b); 14 C.F.R. 91.407; 14 C.F.R. 409; and 14 C.F.R. 91.417. 

Approval of exemptions for NOKA Ventures, LLC will allow commercial 

operations of sUASs in mostly rural, remote, low density areas in 

Texas, for the purpose of aerial data collection. The pilot in command 

(PIC), is a certified Air Transport Pilot with several type-ratings, more 

than 4,100 hours of flight time, and has a first class medical certificate. 

The PIC is a decorated combat veteran with extensive experience as 

an instructor and an evaluator. He also was part of the initial cadre 

staff that developed the Air Force’s first UAV/UAS undergraduate training program for pilots and operators. The requested exemption should 

be granted because the proposed operations of the DJI Phantom 3 

and the DJI Inspire, DJI S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA UASs 

that weighs under 30 lbs., inclusive of battery and payload, conducted 

in the strict conditions outlined below, will provide an equivalent level 

of safety, as Congress intended, while still allowing commercial operations. The lightweight aircraft covered by the exemption are far safer 

than conventional operations conducted with manned helicopters and 
fixed-wing aircraft weighing thousands of pounds, containing highly 

flammable fuel, and operating in close proximity to the ground and 

people, as a similar UAS has been previously approved in Exemption 

No. 11642, NOKA Ventures, LLC. The seven factors Congress directed the FAA to consider when approving Section 333 exemption petitions - size, weight, speed, operational capability, proximity to airports, 

proximity to populated areas, and operation within visual line of sight – 

each support the request. In particular, the aircraft are small and will 

operate at slow speeds, close to the ground, far from airports and in 

low risk, low population environments. 

In addition, the substantial experience of the PIC weighs heavily in favor of granting an exemption. 

II. Petitioner’s Contact Information 

NOKA Ventures, LLC

18310 Emerald Oaks, San Antonio, TX 78259

Tel: 210.454.2061

Email: NoelGarciaSA@gmail.com 

III. NOKA Ventures, LLCs Operations 

A. The sUASs 

The requested exemption will permit the operation of the DJI Phantom 

3, DJI Inspire, DJI S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA. All are 

small, unmanned multi-rotor aircraft, weighing under 30 lbs. inclusive 

of batteries, the propeller guard, and technical payload. These multirotor can operate at a speed up to 35 knots, but NOKA Ventures, LLC 

will limit the speed to no more than 20 knots. The FAA has previously 

granted Exemption No. 11642, allowing commercial flight of a member 

of the DJI Phantom 2 family. Exemption No. 11642 is attached to this 

petition as Exhibit 4. 

The sUASs will have the following specifications: Please refer to Exhibits 1-2 for detailed information.
B. Flight Conditions 

The sUASs will be flown in airspace under 400 feet above ground level (“AGL”) and under controlled conditions in rural areas. The majority 

of flights will take place under 100 feet AGL. NOKA Ventures, LLCs 

operations will occur mostly in rural, remote areas in Texas. NOKA 

Ventures, LLC will avoid congested and densely populated areas 

when able and will only operate its sUASs in VMC, visual meteorological conditions: no less than 500 feet below and no less than 2,000 

feet horizontally from a cloud or when visibility at least 3 statute miles 

from the PIC. NOKA Ventures, LLC will always make a safety assessment of the risk of every operation, and will only operate when it 

is determined that no undue hazards are present. 

C. Flight Operations 

NOKA Ventures, LLCs flight operations require that the sUAS will always be in the line of sight of both a PIC and a monitor specialist, who 

will also act as the visual observer (VO). Flights will be at altitudes of 

no more than 400 feet AGL, and at speeds less than 20 knots. Despite 

the 400 ft. AGL limit, most flights will take place at an altitude of no 

more than 100 ft. AGL. 

The PIC, is a certified Air Transport Pilot with several type-ratings and 

more than 4,100 hours of flight time. The PIC is a decorated combat 

veteran with extensive experience as an instructor 

and an evaluator. He also was part of the initial cadre staff that developed the Air Forces’ first UAV/UAS undergraduate training program for 

pilots and operators 

The PIC will visit and inspect for safety the area in which operations 

will take place. NOKA Ventures, LLC will also contact any neighbors to 

notify them of the filming. The sUAS will only fly over land which it has 

permission from the landowner or landowner’s agent to fly above. The 
notification will consist of, at minimum, the time, place, and type of 

UAS operation being conducted. The PIC will also conduct a safety 

briefing with the property owners. 

Upon arrival at a location for aerial data collection, filming or photography, the flight crew will conduct an aerial and ground preflight inspection.

NOKA Ventures, LLC will then set out traffic cones to designate the 

aircraft’s “home area,” which will be a circle of approximately 20 feet in 

diameter to mark the sUAS take-off and landing zone. 

Note: If the radio control link is broken during flight, the autopilot system will recognize this broken control link and cause the sUAS to automatically return to the home area as recorded by the GPS instrumentation. 

The PIC will conduct a physical inspection of the aircraft as set out in 

Appendix D of the Operations Manual. 

The PIC will then conduct a pre-flight inspection as outlined in the Operations Manual. 

At any time during the flight, should the aircraft lose connection with 

the remote control, the flight control system failsafe will be activated 

automatically, and the aircraft will to return to the previously-set home 

area and land, in order to reduce injuries or damage. If any of the following situations occur, the aircraft will not receive a signal, and enter 

into this failsafe mode: 

For further information regarding the DJI Phantom 3’s and the DJI Inspire failsafe functions, please refer to attached User’s Manuals.

The DJI Phantom 3 and the Inspire also have “no fly zones” programmed into it, which will prevent flights in restricted zones. Although 

NOKA Ventures, LLC will take every precaution to avoid flying in airspace other than class G airspace, the preprogrammed “no fly zones” 

will add an additional level of safety to operations. For further informa-
tion regarding the DJI’s “no fly zones,” please refer to the DJI User 

Manual.

IV. Privacy 

There is little concern that the proposed flights will cause invasions of 

privacy because most flights will occur over rural property with the 

property owner’s prior knowledge and consent. The only people and/

or property to be filmed will have requested and hired NOKA Ventures, 

LLC for the express purpose of filming and photographing the people 

and/or property with the sUAS. 

No attempt will be made to identify any individuals filmed or photographed during the flights who have not consented to be filmed or 

photographed, except in cases where they are trespassing upon or 

damaging customer property, or interfering with the applicant’s or its 

customers’ operations 

V. Public Interest and Safety 

Use of the sUAS will increase ground safety by eliminating the need to 

have a manned, aircraft take the videos or photographs. As the FAA 

recognized in the Douglas Trudeau, Realtor® Exemption, No. 11138: 

“Manned aircraft conducting aerial filming and photography can weigh 

5,000 lbs. or more, are operated by an onboard pilot and may carry 

other onboard crewmembers, as well as 100 gallons or more of fuel. 

The petitioner’s [sUAS] weighs less than 3 lbs. The pilot and crew will 

be remotely located from the aircraft. The limited weight reduces the 

potential for harm to persons or damage to property in the event of an 

incident or accident. The risk of an onboard pilot and crew during an 

incident or accident is eliminated with the use of a (iv) (v) within Class 

G airspace; and outside of 5 statute miles from any airport, heliport, 

seaplane base, spaceport, or other location with aviation activities.” 
As in the cited exemption, NOKA Ventures, LLC will use a member of 

the DJI Phantom family, the DJI Phantom 3, the Inspire, DJI S900, DJI 

S1000, and the Freefly ALTA. These sUAS also weighs under 30 lbs., 

inclusive of battery and payload. 

During NOKA Ventures, LLCs operations, the PIC and VO will similarly 

be safely on the ground, directing the UAS’s at altitudes no higher 

than 400 feet AGL. NOKA Ventures, LLC will minimize flights over 

congested or densely populated locations. The PIC will make a safety 

assessment prior to each operation, and will only operate when there 

are no undue risks.

The small weight, less than 4 lbs., is less than the size envisioned in 

Section 334(c)(2)(C) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 

2012, which allows government agencies “to operate unmanned aircraft weighing 4.4 pounds or less, if operated – 

. (i) within the line of sight of the operator; 

. (ii) less than 400 feet above the ground; 

. (iii) during daylight conditions; 

Congress’s determination that government agencies should be 

allowed to operate such aircraft in these situations, with no further restrictions on location, population density, or pilot experience and training, indicates that Congress did not believe that 

aircraft of this size and weight warranted additional attention. 

VI. Regulations from Which Exemption is Requested 

A. 14 C.F.R. 21(h): Airworthiness Certificates 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 

21(h). This exemption meets the requirements for an equivalent 
level of safety pursuant to Section 333 based on the small size, 

light weight, relatively slow speed, and use in controlled environments on private land, as described previously in this petition. 

In Exemption No. 11138, the FAA stated that the Secretary of 

Transportation has determined that a member of the DJI Phantom and Inspire family, and Freely ALTA meets the statutory conditions of Section 333, considering the size, weight, speed, and 

limited operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLCs proposed exemption meets the requirements for an equivalent level of safety 

of this section, pursuant to Section 333.

B. 14 C.F.R. 43.7: Persons authorized to approve aircraft, airframes, aircraft engines, propellers, appliances, or component 

parts for return to service after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 43.7. This 

part provides, inter alia, that the holder of a mechanic certificate or a 

repair station certificate may approve an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, or component part for return to service. As 

described previously, NOKA Ventures, LLC will be capable to repair 

and maintain the DJI Phantom 3 and DJI Inspire to meet an equivalent 

level of safety of this section. 

Equivalent level of safety: The nature of the sUAS is that of a model 

aircraft, and the operators of NOKA Ventures, LLC who will maintain 

and when necessary repair the sUAS will conduct inspections and 

maintenance based on maintenance guidelines provided by the manufacturer of the sUAS, DJI. See Exhibits 1-2. The capabilities of these 

operators to maintain and repair the sUASs will be listed in the operator’s manual and meet the requirements for an equivalent level of 

safety pursuant to Section 333 for the type of sUASs, its intended use, 

and the rural operating environment. 
C. 14 C.F.R. 43.11: Content, form, and disposition of records for 

inspections conducted under parts 91 and 125 and §§135.411(a)

(1) and 135.419 of this chapter. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 43.11. 

This part provides, inter alia, that maintenance record entries be maintained and for the listing of discrepancies and placards by inspectors. 

The sUAS, due to its small size, does not have room for placards to 

be placed in or on it and no inspections for sUAS have been certified 

by FAA at the present time. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will keep log books 

of all maintenance and repairs at the ground station, as envisioned in 

the FAA Memorandum subject, “Interpretation regarding whether certain required documents may be kept at an unmanned aircraft’s control station,” dated August 8, 2014. See Exhibit 3. This request provides an equivalent level of safety as 14 C.F.R. 43.11 because the 

documentation will be at the ground station with the PIC, where it will 

be useable in case of an emergency, rather than with the sUAS which 

could be up to 1,000 meters from the operator. 

D. 14 C.F.R. 45.11: Marking of products. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 45.11. 

This part provides, inter alia, that the manufacturers of aircraft, engines, propellers, mark such aircraft, engines, or propellers with an 

approved fireproof identification plate. The sUAS, due to its small size, 

does not have room for fireproof placards to be placed in it. Any required placards could become hazardous, due to the additional weight 

and strain placed on the sUAS. Any additional weight or placards on 

the less than 4 lbs. sUAS could create a risk, due to the very small 

size and nature of the DJI Phantom 3 and Inspire. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLCs PIC and VO will 

keep information related to the DJI Phantom 3, DJI Inspire, DJI S900, 

DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA including the user manual, at the 
ground control station and affix its N- Number, once obtained from the 

FAA Registration Office, on the “arms” of the sUAS as large as practicably possible. This exemption provides an equivalent level of safety 

to 14 C.F.R. 45.11 because the relevant documentation containing the 

serial number will be at the ground station with the PIC, where it will 

be useable in case of an emergency, rather than with the sUAS. In 

addition, the fuselage is marked with “DJI,” the manufacturer of the 

sUAS. 

E. 14 C.F.R. 45.27: Location of marks; nonfixed-wing aircraft 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 45.27. 

This part provides, inter alia, that each operator of a rotorcraft must 

display on that rotorcraft horizontally on both surfaces of the cabin, 

fuselage, boom, or tail the marks required by §45.23. The sUAS, due 

to its small size, does not have a cabin, fuselage, boom or tail to display the marks required by §45.23. 

Equivalent level of safety: Once NOKA Ventures, LLC receives its 

N-Number, it will display these marks on the “arms” of the aircraft as 

large as practicably possible. This exemption provides an equivalent 

level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 45.27 because the sUAS will be registered 

with the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch. In the event of incident, the 

sUAS will be traceable to NOKA Ventures, LLC. 

F. 14 C.F.R. 45.29: Size of marks 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 45.27. 

This part provides, inter alia, at subpart (3) that the registration marks 

for rotorcraft must be at least 12 inches high. The sUAS, due to its 

small size, does not have any surface area large enough to display 

marks anywhere near 12 inches high. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will affix its registration number as large as practicably possible on its “arms” once it obtains the N-Number. This exemption provides an equivalent level of 

safety to 14 C.F.R. 45.29 because the sUAS will be registered with the 
FAA Aircraft Registration Branch. In the event of incident, the sUAS 

will be traceable to NOKA Ventures, LLC. 

G. 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness. 

The FAA has previously stated that no exemption is required for a 

member of the DJI Phantom family. NOKA Ventures, LLC requests the 

same determination to be made for its DJI Phantom 3, DJI Inspire, DJI 

S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA 

Alternatively, NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 

C.F.R. 91.7(a). The regulation requires that no person may operate a 

civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft should this exemption be 

granted, no standard will exist for determining airworthiness. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will keep the all 

UAS’s maintenance and safety information at the ground station, 

where it will be readily accessible to the PIC and VO before, during, 

and after operations. This exemption provides an equivalent level of 

safety as 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a) because the PIC will be able to make the 

determination of whether the sUAS is in an airworthy mechanical and 

electrical condition, in accordance with 14 C.F.R. 91.7(b). 

H. 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and 

placard requirements. 

The FAA has previously stated that no exemption is required for a 

member of the DJI Phantom family. NOKA Ventures, LLC requests the 

same determination to be made for its DJI Phantom 3, Inspire, DJI 

S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA .

Alternatively, NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 

C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2). This part provides: 

"(b) No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft... 

(2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by 

§21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in the aircraft a current 
approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination thereof." 

First, there does not currently exist a method of approving manuals for 

sUAS. Second, given the size and configuration of the sUAS, there is 

no space to carry such a flight manual on 

the aircraft. In addition, carrying the manual on the aircraft would be 

pointless, since there is no pilot or other person on board who could 

read or use it. On August 8, 2014, the FAA issued a memorandum entitled “Interpretation regarding whether certain required documents 

may be kept at an unmanned aircraft’s control station.” This document 

stated, in part “maintaining these documents at the pilot’s control station would meet the intent of the rule as the pilot would be able to produce the documents for his or her own information or to an FAA inspector.” See Exhibit 9. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will keep its flight 

manual at the ground station, where both the PIC and VO can access 

it. An equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2) is provided because the intent of this rule – the pilot having access to this material 

during flight – is met. 

I. 14 C.F.R. 91.9(c): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 91.9(c). 

This part provides: "(c) No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil 

aircraft unless that aircraft is identified in accordance with part 45 of 

this chapter." 

As stated above, NOKA Ventures, LLC will obtain an N-Number from 

the FAA Registration Office and the sUAS, due to its small size, does 

not have room to contain fireproof placard or to display aircraft marks 

in a conventional size. However, once NOKA Ventures, LLC obtains 

an N- Number, it will place the number on the “arms” of the aircraft as 

large as practicably possible. 
Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will obtain its NNumber from the FAA Registration Office and affix it to the “arms” of 

the aircraft as large as practicably possible. An equivalent level of 

safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.9(c) is met because the sUAS will be registered 

with the FAA and identifiable in the event of an incident. 

J. 14 C.F.R. 91.103(b)(2): Preflight action. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 91.103(b)

(2) to the extent that is applicable. This part provides: 

"Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. This information 

must include—... (b) For any flight, runway lengths at airports of intended use, and the following takeoff and landing distance information: ... (2) For civil aircraft other than those specified in paragraph (b)

(1) of this section, other reliable information appropriate to the aircraft, 

relating to aircraft performance under expected values of airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight, and wind and temperature." 

NOKA Ventures, LLCs PIC in fact will, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight, including the aircraft performance under expected elevations, the gross 

weight of the aircraft (which will be no more than 2.9 lbs.), and the 

wind and temperature. As the flights of the sUAS will not be at airports 

the information required of Part 91.103(b)(2) does not apply. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC shall perform preflight operations as outlined previously in this petition, and flights will 

not be at airports. An equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.103(b)

(2) will be met because the PIC will become familiar with the conditions prior to the flight, including the aircraft performance under expected elevations, the gross weight of the aircraft (which will be no 

more than 2.9 lbs), and the wind and temperature. 

K. 14 C.F.R. 91.105: Flight crewmembers at stations. 
NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 91.105 

since this part is not applicable due to the sUAS carrying no flight 

crewmembers. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will not operate the 

aircraft unless someone is at the controls at all times, and each flight 

will be manually flown, with the exception of the DJI Phantom 3’s, Inspire’s,DJI S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA automated safety 

features. This will provide an equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 

91.105 because the flight crew will be at their stations at all times during the flight. The stations will not be on the aircraft but on the ground. 

L. 14 C.F.R. 91.113(b): Right-of-way rules: Except water operations. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 113(b) to 

the extent that it applies to overhead aircraft operating at or above 500 

feet AGL as the sUAS will be operating no higher than 400 feet AGL. 

This part provides: 

“(b): General. When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether 

an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight 

rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. When a rule of this section 

gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that 

aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear." 

For example, if another aircraft is operating overhead at 10,000 feet 

AGL there is no danger posed to that other aircraft if the sUAS is operating under it or ahead of it at or beneath 400 feet AGL. Despite this, 

should another aircraft enter the area in which NOKA Ventures, LLC is 

operation, because the flight will be within his line of sight, the PIC will 

be able to give right of way to that aircraft. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will operate its 

sUAS to see and avoid and give way to other aircraft that should enter 

airspace at or below 400 feet AGL, and will give right- of-way to 
manned aircraft. All flights will be in class G airspace and the majority 

of flights will be at no more than 100 feet AGL, which will create a very 

slim chance that NOKA Ventures, LLCs operations will interfere with a 

manned aircraft’s flight. This will provide an equivalent level of safety 

to 14 C.F.R. 91.113(b) because the sUAS has significantly greater 

mobility than a much larger, manned aircraft. As a result, the PIC will 

be able to react and respond much more quickly than the other pilot. 

M. 14 C.F.R. 91.119(c): Minimum safe altitudes: General. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 91.119 

subpart (c). This regulation provides: 

"Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate 

an aircraft below the following altitudes... 

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the 

surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those 

cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any 

person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.” 

NOKA Ventures, LLC will not operate the sUAS any higher than 400 

feet AGL. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will operate the 

sUAS no higher than 400 feet AGL, and it is anticipated that the majority of operations will be no higher than 100 feet AGL. NOKA Ventures, 

LLC will limit operations over congested areas.

The 400 feet AGL maximum will provide an equivalent level of safety 

to 14 C.F.R. 91.119(c) because, since 1981 with AC 91-57, this height 

has been an operating standard for model aircraft. Additionally, in Section 334(c)(2)(C), Congress determined that sUAS operated by public 

agencies flying sUAS the size of and larger than NOKA Ventures, 

LLCs DJI Phantom 3 or Inspire could fly up to 400 feet AGL. 

N. 14 C.F.R. 91.121: Altimeter Settings 
NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. 91.121. 

This Part provides guidelines for altimeter use in maintaining the cruising altitude or flight level of the aircraft. NOKA Ventures, LLC is not requesting a general exemption from the requirement that its sUAS have 

an Altimeter. The DJI Phantom 3’s and Inspire flight controller will 

have an internal measurement unit (“IMU”). The IMU has a built-in internal sensor and a barometric altimeter that measures both attitude 

and altitude. See Exhibit 1, Appendix B, page 5. Rather, NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from the requirement to set its altimeter to a station along the route, of out of an airport, because the 

DJI Phantom 3 and Inspire are not traveling point-to-point and is limited in the distance it can travel from the PIC. Additionally, NOKA Ventures, LLC will not be flying into or out of an airport. 

Equivalent level of safety: The requested exemption provides an 

equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R 91.121 because NOKA Ventures, 

LLC will not operate the sUAS above 400 feet AGL in a sustained 

cruising flight mode such as a manned aircraft will typically fly. The 

PIC will at all times be controlling the maximum height of the sUAS 

through the telemetry features of the DJI controller. Additionally, the 

sUAS will be operated within the line of sight of the PIC. The FAA has 

previously granted this exemption for similar proposed operations. 

See Exhibit 10. 

O. 14 C.F.R. 91.151: Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions. 

The sUAS NOKA Ventures, LLC will fly is powered by electricity, using 

lithium polymer batteries that currently have a flight limit of approximately no more than 25 minutes. Therefore, due to the limitations of 

the batteries, it is currently impossible to comply with Part 91.151. 

However, the sUAS will be operated in a manner with at least the 

equivalent level of safety as that of a manned aircraft complying with 

Part 91.151. 

Operation of an sUAS with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel does 

not engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to 
alleviate. During the entire flight, the PIC will always have a visual line 

of sight of the sUAS and the VO will be monitoring the battery life via 

the telemetry display on the laptop at the ground station. The sUAS 

will always have enough power to land safely, given the minimum level 

of reserve capacity of the batteries. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC will limit flights to 75% of battery capacity. With 

the battery NOKA Ventures, LLC currently uses, the 75% point occurs 

at 18 minutes, leaving 7 minutes for the sUAS to reach the planned 

landing zone. This amount of time will be more than sufficient for the 

PIC to safely return to and land in the “home area.” As battery power 

increases, the number of minutes the sUAS can operate before reaching the 75% mark will also increase. As new batteries are obtained 

and put into use, NOKA Ventures, LLC will continue to terminate 

flights after 75% of battery power has been used. 

Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) is consistent with the scope of similar exemptions already granted to other 

operations. Exhibit 10. 

Equivalent level of safety: NOKA Ventures, LLC will limit flights 75% 

of battery power. The proposed exemption meets an equivalent level 

of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.151 because, given the limitations on NOKA 

Ventures, LLCs proposed operations and the location of those operations, a reduced minimum power reserve for flight in daylight VFR 

conditions is reasonable. 

P. 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) and (b): Civil aircraft: Certifications required. 

The FAA has previously determined that exemption from 14 C.F.R. 

91.203(a) and (b) is not necessary. See Exhibit 10 at 17. 

Alternatively, NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 14 

C.F.R. 91.203(a) and (b). This section provides in part: 
“(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following: 

(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate...

(2) An effective U.S. registration certificate issued to its owner... 

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under § 91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit 

entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.” 

First, there are currently no procedures in effect for providing airworthiness certificates for sUAS. However, as a condition to the approval 

of exemption, NOKA Ventures, LLC will display its N-Number, once 

received, on the sUAS, and the operator will have, at the ground station, the user manual for the DJI Phantom 3 and the DJI Inspire. 

Second, the sUAS NOKA Ventures, LLC will use the DJI Phantom 3 

,Inspire, DJI S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA which has an 

equivalent level of safety as a manned aircraft with an airworthiness 

certificate. Please refer to Exhibit 10, Exemption No. 11138, as NOKA 

Ventures, LLCs DJI Phantom 3 is in the same sUAS family as the DJI 

Phantom 2 Vision+, which was the subject of that exemption. This 

sUAS provides a number of safety features, including the automatic 

return to home failsafe discussed in detail above. The DJI Inspire, DJI 

S900, DJI S1000, and the Freefly ALTA offer the same safety features.

Because of the use of GPS with the sUAS, the operator will set the initial location of flight takeoff ("home position") and if the radio control 

link is broken, the autopilot system will recognize this broken control 

link and cause the sUAS to automatically return to the home position 

as recorded by the GPS instrumentation. Additionally, because the 

sUAS team will mark off an area with traffic cones that has a 20 ft. radius, approximately 30 ft. from the operators that will be used as the 

“home position” for the sUAS to return, no one will be standing in the 

way of the path. 
These safety enhancements provide a greater degree of safety to the 

public and property owners than conventional operations conducted 

with airworthiness certificates issued under 

Subpart H. Application of these same criteria demonstrates that there 

is no credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its 

size, speed of operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a substantial payload. 

In the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed, operation of the sUAS will be at least as safe as a conventional aircraft 

(fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate but 

without the restrictions and conditions proposed. NOKA Ventures, LLC 

will not accept assignments from clients that would take place in Class 

B, C, D, or E airspace. NOKA Ventures, LLC will avoid flying over 

congested and populated areas and will work with local FSDO to 

avoid these areas when planning operations. 

Equivalent level of safety: The sUAS to be operated hereunder is 

less than 4 lbs. inclusive of batteries and technical payload, carries 

neither a pilot nor passengers, and carries no explosive materials or 

flammable liquid fuels. The sUASs operating under this exemption will 

be tightly controlled and monitored by the operator and the observer, 

and in compliance with local public safety requirements, to provide security for the area of operation. Granting the proposed exemption will 

achieve an equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) and (b) 

because of the small size of the sUAS and the operational limits set 

out above. 

Q. 14 C.F.R. 91.215: ATC Transponder and Altitude Reporting 

Equipment and Use 

This section requires that installed Air Traffic Control (ATC) transponder equipment must meet specific performance and environmental re-
quirements, and aircraft must be equipped with an operable coded 

radar beacon transponder. 

There are presently no known commercially available ATC transponders that meet the payload requirements of a sUAS and are available 

at reasonable cost. However, because the sUASs used by NOKA Ventures, LLC will not be flying into or near airports, and will fly no higher 

than 400 feet AGL, there is very low risk of collision with any manned 

aircraft. In addition, because there will be no need to have contemporaneous communication with ATC Control, due to the short distances, 

short flight times, and restricted altitude the sUASs will operate within, 

NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from this section. Additionally, the sUAS is too small to contain ATC transponder equipment 

in any form factor that is known to be available commercially. 

Equivalent level of safety: An equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 

91.215 will be met because NOKA Ventures, LLC will not fly its sUAS 

into or near airports, and all operations will be below 400 feet AGL, so 

there is very low risk of collision with any manned aircraft. NOKA Ventures, LLC also give right of way to any manned aircraft that do appear. 

R. 14 C.F.R. 91.403: General 

This section requires that the owner or operator of an aircraft is primarily responsible for maintaining that aircraft in an airworthy condition. NOKA Ventures, LLC will adhere to this requirement. However, 

this Section also limits maintenance to that “prescribed in this subpart 

and other applicable regulations, including part 43 of this chapter.” Because of this limitation, and because of the exemptions under Part 43 

requested above, NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption from 

this Section. 

This exemption meets the requirements for an equivalent level of safety pursuant to Section 333 based on the small size, light weight, rela-
tively slow speed, and use in controlled rural environments on private, 

secured land, as described previously in this petition. 

Equivalent level of safety: To achieve an equivalent level of safety to 

14 C.F.R. 91.403, NOKA Ventures, LLC will maintain its sUAS in an 

airworthy condition and adhere to all manufacturer requirements for 

inspecting and maintaining the DJI Phantom 3,Inspire, DJI S900, DJI 

S1000, and the Freefly ALTA. NOKA Ventures, LLC will keep records 

of maintenance to the sUAS, and these records will be available to the 

PIC and VO before, during, and after operations of the sUAS. 

S. 14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a) and (d): Maintenance Required 

This section requires that aircraft be inspected as prescribed by Section E, 14 C.F.R. §§91.401-91.421. As shown below, NOKA Ventures, 

LLC is applying for an exemption for these sections, due to the fact 

that its operators will inspect the sUAS prior to each flight and keep 

maintenance records of all parts that are replaced, in accordance with 

DJI’s instructions. Because the Sections discussed below are concerned with manned aircraft, and as such have inspection requirements designed for the safety of passengers, they are inapplicable to 

NOKA Ventures, LLC. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC is also applying for an exemption to subpart (d) 

of this section, which requires a placard to be installed and references 

§43.11. As noted previously, NOKA Ventures, LLC requests an exemption to the placard requirement, because, due to the small size of 

the sUAS, there is no room to place the placard. 

Despite the requested exemption from subparts (a) and (d) of this section, NOKA Ventures, LLC will follow subparts (b) and (c) of this subpart. 

Equivalent level of safety: To achieve an equivalent level of safety to 

14 C.F.R. 91.405(a) and (b), NOKA Ventures, LLC will keep logbooks 

detailing all maintenance and repairs to the sUAS. The logbooks will 

be available to the PIC and VO before, during, and after sUAS operation. Prior to conducting post-maintenance operations, the flight crew 
will conduct a test flight to ensure that the sUAS functions properly. 

The FAA has previously determined that following the manufacturer’s 

requirements for maintenance, inspection, and record keeping are sufficient to ensure that safety is not adversely affected. Exhibit 10 at 13. 

T. 14 C.F.R. 91.407: Operation after maintenance, preventive 

maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration 

This section requires that any aircraft which “has undergone maintenance, preventative maintenance, rebuilding, or alteration unless . . . 

[i]t has been approved for return to service by a person authorized under § 43.7 of this chapter . . ..” 

However, NOKA Ventures, LLC has requested an exemption from §§ 

43.7 and 43.11 as described previously. The capability of the operators to maintain and repair the sUAS meets the requirements for an 

equivalent level of safety pursuant to Section 333 for both the type of 

sUAS, its intended use, and the rural operating environment. Additionally, due to the small size of the sUAS, there is no room to place inspection placards. 

Therefore, because NOKA Ventures, LLC has requested an exemption from 43.7 and 43.11, NOKA Ventures, LLC respectfully requests 

an exemption from 91.407. The PIC, who holds an Air Transport Pilot 

certificate, will conduct maintenance on the sUAS and keep logs of the 

battery cycle and repairs needed on the body or the propellers of the 

DJI Phantom 3 and Inspire. 

Equivalent level of safety: The proposed exemption will meet an 

equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.407 because NOKA Ventures, LLC will regularly inspect and maintain its sUASs in accordance 

with the DJI operator manual, and keep detailed inspection and maintenance records that will be available to the PIC and VO before, during, and after operations. Prior to conducting post- maintenance operations, NOKA Ventures, LLC will conduct a test flight to ensure that 

the sUAS functions properly. 
U. 14 C.F.R. 91.409: Inspections 

This section lays out specific requirements for inspections of aircraft. 

NOKA Ventures, LLC respectfully requests an exemption from these 

requirements because they are intended to maintain the safety of 

manned aircraft significantly larger and capable of significantly longer 

flights than is sUAS. NOKA Ventures, LLCs pre-flight and post-flight 

inspections meet or exceed the level of safety achieved by adherence 

to 14 C.F.R. 91.409. 

Equivalent level of safety: As discussed above and in Appendix D, 

NOKA Ventures, LLC has an inspection procedure that provides an 

equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.409. Before and after each 

flight, the flight crew will conduct an inspection of the sUAS as described previously. 

V. 14 C.F.R. 91.417: Maintenance records 

NOKA Ventures, LLC respectfully requests an exemption from this 

Section, as it is only applicable for aircraft with an airworthiness certificate. Because NOKA Ventures, LLC will not have an airworthiness 

certificate, this Section is inapplicable. 

Equivalent level of safety: The requested exemption will meet an 

equivalent level of safety to 14 C.F.R. 91.417 because NOKA Ventures, LLC will keep detailed maintenance records on every part as it 

is replaced, including but not limited to propellers, batteries, and electrical components. The detailed maintenance records will be accessible to the PIC and the VO before, during, and after operations. 

PHANTOM 3 

PROFESSIONAL 

UserManual V1.2 2015.07 

Using this manual 

Legends 

Warning Important Hints and Tips Reference 

Read Before the First Flight 

Read the following documents before using the Phantom 3 Professional: 

1. In the Box

2. Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

3. Phantom 3 Professional Quick Start Guide

4. Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Safety Guidelines and Disclaimer

5. Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines 

We recommend that you watch all tutorial videos on the official DJI website and read the Disclaimer before you fly. Prepare for your first flight by reviewing the Phantom 3 Professional 

Quick Start Guide and refer to the User Manual for more detailed information. 

Video Tutorials 

Please watch the tutorial videos at the link below, which demonstrates how to use Phantom 3 

Professional safely: 

http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3/video 

Download the DJI Pilot app 

Download and install the DJI Pilot app before using the aircraft. Scan the QR code to the right 

to download the latest version. 

The Android version of the DJI Pilot app is compatible with Android 4.1.2 or later. The iOS version of the DJI Pilot app is compatible with iOS 8.0 or later. 
2 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Contents 

Using this manual 

Legends 2 Read Before the First Flight 2 Video Tutorials 2 Download the DJI Pilot app 2 

Product Profile 

Introduction 6 Feature Highlights 6 Preparing the Aircraft 7 Aircraft Diagram 8 Remote Controller 

Diagram 8 

Aircraft 

Flight Controller 11 Flight Mode 11 Flight Status Indicator 11 Return-to-Home (RTH) 12 Smart RTH 

12 Low Battery RTH 13 Failsafe RTH 14 Vision Positioning System 14 Flight Recorder 16 Attaching 

and Detaching the Propellers 16 DJI Intelligent Flight Battery 17 

Remote Controller 

Remote Controller Profile 23 Using the Remote Controller 23 Remote Controller Status LED 27 

Linking the Remote Controller 28 Remote Controller Compliance Version 29 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 3 

4 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Camera and Gimbal 

Camera Profile 31 Gimbal 32 

DJI Pilot App 

Camera 35 Director 38 Store 38 Discovery 38 

Flight 

Flight Environment Requirements 40 Flight Limits and No-Fly Zones 40 Preflight Checklist 44 Calibrating the Compass 44 Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing 45 Flight Test 46 Starting/Stopping the 

Motors 46 

Troubleshooting (FAQ) 
Appendix 

Specifications 54 Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) 56 FCC Compliance 57 

Product Profile 

This section introduces the Phantom 3 Professional and lists the components of the aircraft and remote controller. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 5 

Product Profile 

Introduction 

The Phantom 3 Professional represents the next generation of DJI quadcopters. It is capable of 

capturing 4K video and transmitting an HD video signal out of the box. The built-in camera has 

an integrated gimbal to maximize stability while minimizing both weight and size. Even when 

no GPS signal is available, the Vision Positioning System allows the aircraft to hover accurately 

in place. 

Feature Highlights 

Camera and Gimbal: With the Phantom 3 Professional, you’re shooting 4K video at up to 30 

frames per second and capturing 12 megapixel photos that look crisper and cleaner than ever. 

An enhanced sensor gives you greater clarity, lower noise, and better pictures than any previous flying camera. 

HD Video Downlink: The low-latency long range HD downlink is powered by an enhanced version of DJI Lightbridge. 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery: The 4480 mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery features upgraded battery cells and an advanced power management system. 

Flight Controller: The next-generation flight controller has been updated to provide a safer, 

more reliable flight experience. A newly implemented flight recorder stores critical data from 

each flight and the Vision Positioning System enhances hovering precision when flying indoors 

or in environments where GPS is unavailable. 

6 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Product Profile 
Preparing the Aircraft Removing Gimbal Clamp 

Remove the gimbal clamp by sliding it to the right (when facing the nose of the aircraft), as 

shown below. 
Attaching the Propellers: 

Mount the propellers with black dots on to motors with black axes and spin counter-clockwise 

to secure. Mount the propellers with sliver dots on to motors with sliver axes and spin clockwise 

to secure. Be sure all propellers are securely in place. 

Place all propellers onto the correct motors and tighten by hand to lock them in position. 

Preparing the Remote Controller:

The mobile device holder is designed for securing tablet or mobile device. Tilt the mobile device holder to the desired position, then adjust the antennas so they are facing outward.

1. Press the button on the top right side of the mobile device holder to release the clamp, then 

adjust the 

clamp to fit the size of your mobile device. 

 2. Secure your mobile device in the clamp by pressing down, and connect your mobile 

device to the 

remote controller using a USB cable. 

 3. Plug one end of the cable into the mobile device, and the other end into the USB port 

on the back of 

the remote controller. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Product Profile 

1 

2 

3 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 7 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual Aircraft Diagram 

[8] 

[4] 

[7] 
[6] 

[12] 

[5] 

[9] [10] [11] 

[13] 

4K 

[15] [14] 

Remote Controller Diagram 

[8] 

[3] 

[7] 

[4] 

[6] 

[5] 

8 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

[1] 

[2] [3] 

[1] GPS

[2] Propeller

[3] Motor

[4] Front LED Indicator

[5] Landing gear

[6] Gimbal and Camera

[7] Camera Status Indicator

[8] Aircraft Micro-USB Port

[9] Aircraft Status Indicator

[10] Intelligent Flight Battery [11] Vision Positioning Sensors [12] Antennas

[13] Camera Micro-SD Card Slot [14] Camera Micro-USB Port [15] Link Button 

Product Profile 

[1] Antennas 

Relays aircraft control and [1] video signal. 

[2] 

[2] Mobile Device Holder 

Securely mounts your mobile device to the remote controller. 

[3] Control Stick 
Controls the orientation and movement of the aircraft. 

[4] Return Home (RTH) Button 

Press and hold the button to initiate Return to Home (RTH). 
. [5] Battery Level LEDs 

Displays the battery level of the remote controller. 
. [6] Status LED 

Displays the remote controller's system status. 

. [7] Power Button 

Used to turn the remote controller on and off. 

. [8] RTH LED 

Circular LED around the RTH button displays RTH status. 

[9] Camera Settings Dial 

[15] 

[16] 

Turn the dial to adjust camera settings.

(Only functions when the remote controller is [13] connected to a mobile device running the DJI

Pilot app. ) 

[10] Playback Button 

Playback the captured images or videos. (Only functions when the remote controller is connected to a mobile device running the DJI Pilot app.) 

[11] Shutter Button 

Press to take a photo. If burst mode is selected, the set number of photos will be taken with 

one press. 

[12] Flight Mode Switch 

Switch between P-mode, A-mode, and F-mode. 

[13] Video Recording Button 

Press to start recording video. Press again to stop recording. 

[17] C1 Button 

Customizable through the DJI Pilot app. 

[18] C2 Button 

Customizable through the DJI Pilot app. 

[19] Power Port 

Use this dial to control the tilt of the gimbal. 
[15] Mircro-USB Port 

Connect to a SD card reader to upgrade the firmware. 

[16] USB Port 

Connect to mobile device or to a USB port for firmware upgrade. 

[18] [17] 

[19] 

Connect to the DJI Phantom 3 Charger to charge the battery of the remote controller. 

[14] 

[12] 

[14] Gimbal Dial 

[9] [10] 

[11] 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Product Profile 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 9 
Aircraft 
This section introduces the features of the Flight Controller, Vision Positioning System, 

and the Intelligent Flight Battery 

10 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Aircraft 

Flight Controller 
The Phantom 3 Professional’s flight controller features several important upgrades, including a 

new flight mode. Safety modes include Failsafe and Return-to-Home. These features ensure 

the safe return of your aircraft if the control signal is lost. The flight controller can also save critical flight data from each flight to the on-board storage device. The new flight controller also 

provides increased stability and a new air braking feature. 

Flight Mode 

Three flight modes are available. The details of each flight mode are found below:

P-mode (Positioning) : P-mode works best when GPS signal is strong. There are three different 

states of P-mode, which will be automatically selected by the Phantom 3 Professional depending on signal strength of GPS and Vision Positioning sensors : 

P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available. The aircraft is using GPS for positioning. 

P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but the GPS signal strength is not sufficient. The aircraft 

is 

using only the Vision Positioning System for positioning.

P-ATTI: Neither GPS nor Vision Positioning is available. The aircraft is using only its barometer 

for 

positioning, so only altitude can be stabilized.

A-mode (Attitude): GPS and Vision Positioning System are not used for stabilization. The aircraft only uses its barometer. The aircraft can still automatically return to the home point if the 

control signal is lost and the Home Point was recorded successfully.

F-mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information about IOC, refer to the IOC section in the Appendix. 

Use the Flight Controller mode switch to change the flight mode of the aircraft, refer to the 

“Flight Mode Switch” on Page 26 for more information. 

Flight Status Indicator 

The Phantom 3 Professional has Front LEDs and Aircraft Status Indicators. The positions of 

these LEDs are shown in the figure below: 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Front LED 

The Front LEDs show the orientation of the aircraft. The Front LEDs glow solid red when the aircraft is turned on to indicate the front (or nose) of the aircraft. The Aircraft Status Indicators 

communicate the system status of the flight controller. Refer to the table below for more information about the Aircraft Status Indicators: 

Aircraft 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 11 
Normal 

Warning 

Green and Yellow Flash Alternatively 

Warming Up 

Safe to Fly (P-mode with Vision Positioning but without GPS) 

Slow Red Flashing 

Red Flashing Alternatively 

Red and Yellow Flash Alternatively 

Low Battery Warning 

IMU Error 

Compass Calibration Required 

GPS 

Description 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

Aircraft Status Indicator Description 

Alternatively 

Red,GreenandYellowFlash 

Green Flashes Slowly X2 Green Flashes Twice 

Yellow Flashes Slowly Fast Yellow Flashing 

Fast Red Flashing — Solid Red 
Return-to-Home (RTH) 

Turning On and Self Diagnostic Testing 

Safe to Fly (P-mode with GPS and Vision Positioning) 

Safe to Fly (A-mode but No GPS and Vision Positioning) 

Remote Controller's Signal Lost Critical Battery Warning Critical Error 

The Return-to-Home (RTH) function brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. 

There are three types of RTH procedures: Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH, and Failsafe RTH. This 

section describes these three scenarios in detail. 

Home Point 

Smart RTH 
If a strong GPS signal was acquired before takeoff, the Home Point is the location from which 

the aircraft was launched. The GPS signal strength is indicated by the GPS icon ( ). The 

aircraft status indicator will blink rapidly when the home point is recorded. 

Use the RTH button on the remote controller (refer to “RTH button” on page 26 for more information) or tap the RTH button in the DJI Pilot app and follow the on-screen instructions when 

GPS is available to initiate Smart RTH. The aircraft will then automatically return to the last 

recorded Home Point. You may use the remote controller’s control sticks to control the aircraft’s 

position to avoid a collision during the Smart RTH process. Press and hold the Smart RTH button once to start the process, and press the Smart RTH button again to terminate the procedure and regain full control of the aircraft. 

12 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Aircraft 

Sufficient battery level(Green) 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Low Battery RTH 

The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a 

point that may affect the safe return of the aircraft. Users are advised to return home or land the 

aircraft immediately when prompted. The DJI Pilot app will display a notice when a low battery 

warning is triggered. The aircraft will automatically return to the Home Point if no action is taken 

after a ten-second countdown. The user can cancel the RTH procedure by pressing the RTH 

button on the remote controller. The thresholds for these warnings are automatically determined based on the aircraft’s current altitude and distance from the Home Point. 

The aircraft will land automatically if the current battery level can only support the aircraft long 

enough to descend from its current altitude. The user can still use the remote controller to alter 

the aircraft’s orientation during the landing process. 

The Battery Level Indicator is displayed in the DJI Pilot app, and is described below: 

Critical Low battery level warning(Red) 

Low battery

level warning(Yellow) 

Power requires to return home 

Battery level Indicator 
Remaining flight time 

Battery Level Warning 

Remark 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

DJI Pilot app 

Flight Instructions 

Low battery level warning 

The battery power is low. Please land the aircraft. 

Aircraft status indicator blinks RED slowly. 

Tap “Go-home” to have the aircraft return to the Home point and land automatically, or “Cancel” 

to resume normal flight. If no action is taken, the aircraft will automatically go home and land 

after 10 seconds. Remote controller will sound an alarm. 

Fly the aircraft back and land it as soon as possible, then stop the motors and replace the battery. 

Critical Low battery level warning 

The aircraft must land immediately. 

Aircraft status indicator blinks RED quickly. 

The DJI Pilot app display will flash red and the aircraft will start to descend. The remote controller will sound an alarm. 

Allow the aircraft to descend and land automatically. 

Estimated remaining flight time 

Estimated remaining flight based on current battery level. 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 13 
Aircraft 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 
When Critical battery level warning is triggered and the aircraft begins to land automatically, 

you may push the throttle upward to make the aircraft hover at its current altitude, giving you an 

opportunity to navigate to a more appropriate landing location.

The colored zones and markers on the battery level indicator bar reflect the estimated remaining flight time. They are automatically adjusted according to the aircraft’s current location and 

status. 

Failsafe RTH 

If the Home Point was successfully recorded and the compass is functioning normally, Failsafe 

RTH will be automatically activated if the remote controller signal is lost for more than three 

seconds. The Return- to-Home process may be interrupted and the operator may regain control of the aircraft if the remote controller signal connection is re-established. 

Aircraft 

Failsafe Illustration 

1 Record Home Point 

Blinking Green

4 Signal Lost Lasts (after 3 sec.) 

2 Confirming Home Point 

Blinking Green

5 RTH (adjustable altitude) 

3 Remote Controller Signal Lost 

×

Fast Blinking Yellow

6 Landing (after hovering for 5 secs) 

×

Fast Blinking Yellow 

>3S

× ×

Height over HP>20m Elevate to 20m Height over HP<=20m 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

20m 

Aircraft cannot return to the Home Point when GPS signal is weak ( [ ] displays grey) or unavailable. 
Aircraft automatically descends and lands if RTH is triggered when the aircraft flies within a 20 

meters (65 feet) radius of the Home Point. Aircraft will stop ascending and immediately return 

to the Home Point if you move the throttle stick if the aircraft reaches 20 meters (65 feet) altitudes or beyond during Failsafe. 

The aircraft cannot avoid obstruction during the Failsafe RTH, therefore, it is important to set a 

suitable Failsafe altitude before each flight. Launch the DJI Pilot app and enter “Camera” and 

select “MODE > Advanced Settings > Failsafe mode” to set the Failsafe altitude.

User cannot control the aircraft while the aircraft is ascending to its failsafe altitude. However 

the user can press Smart RTH button to regain control to cancel the ascending. 

Vision Positioning System 

The DJI Vision Positioning System uses ultrasound and image data to help the aircraft maintain its current position. 

With the help of Vision Positioning, your Phantom 3 Professional can hover in place more precisely and fly indoors or 

in other environments where a GPS signal is not available. The main components of the Vision Positioning System 

are located on the bottom of your Phantom 3 Professional; they include [2] two ultrasonic sensors and [1] one 

monocular camera. 

14 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Using Vision Positioning 

Vision Positioning is activated automatically when the Phantom 3 Professional is turned on. No 

further action is required. Vision Positioning is typically used in indoor environments, where 
GPS is unavailable. Using the sensors that are built into the Vision Positioning system, the 

Phantom 3 Professional can hover precisely even without GPS. 

Follow the steps below to use Vision Positioning: 1. Toggle the flight mode switch to P-mode. 

 2. Place the aircraft on a flat surface. Note that the Vision Positioning system cannot work 

properly on surfaces without clear pattern variations. 

 3. Turn on the aircraft. The aircraft status indicator will flash green two times, which indicates the Vision Positioning system is ready. Gently push the throttle up to lift off and 

the aircraft will hover in place. 

The performance of your Vision Positioning System is affected by the surface over 

which it is flying. The ultrasonic sensors may not be able to accurately measure distances when operating above sound-absorbing materials. In addition, the camera may 

not function correctly in suboptimal environments. The aircraft will switch from P-mode 

to A-mode automatically if neither GPS nor Vision Positioning System are available. Operate the aircraft with great caution in the following situations: 

Flying over monochrome surfaces (e.g. pure black, pure white, pure red, pure green). 

Flying over a highly reflective surfaces.

Flying at high speeds(over 8 m/s at 2 meters or over 4 m/s at 1 meter).

Flying over water or transparent surfaces. 

Flying over moving surfaces or objects.

Flying in an area where the lighting changes frequently or drastically.

Flying over extremely dark (lux < 10) or bright (lux > 100,000) surfaces.

Flying over surfaces that can absorb sound waves (e.g. thick carpet).

Flying over surfaces without clear patterns or texture.

Flying over surfaces with identical repeating patterns or textures (e.g. tiles with the 

same design). Flying over inclined surfaces that will deflect sound waves away from the 

aircraft. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

[1] [2] 

Aircraft 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 15 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Keep the sensors clean at all times. Dirt or other debris may adversely affect the effectiveness 

of the sensors.
Vision Positioning is only effective when the aircraft is at altitudes of 0.3 to 3 meters.

The Vision Positioning System may not function properly when the aircraft is flying over water. 

The Vision Positioning System may not be able to recognize pattern on the ground in low light 

conditions (less than 100 lux). 

Do not use other ultrasonic devices with frequency of 40 KHz when Vision Positioning system is 

in operation.

Vision Positioning System may not be able to stabilize the aircraft when flying close to the 

ground (below 0.5 meters) at fast speeds.. 

Keep the animals away from the aircraft when Vision Positioning system is activated. The sonar 

sensor emits high frequency sounds that are only audible to some animals. 

Flight Recorder 

Flight data is automatically recorded to the internal storage of the aircraft. This includes flight 

telemetry, aircraft status information, and other parameters. To access these data, connect the 

aircraft to the PC through the Micro-USB port and launch the DJI Pilot app. 

Attaching and Detaching the Propellers 

Use only DJI approved propellers with your Phantom 3 Professional. The grey and black nuts 

on the propeller indicate where they should be attached and in which direction whey should 

spin. To attach the propellers properly, match the nut color with the motor axis color. 

Aircraft 

Propellers 

Figure 

Attach On Legends 

Silver Dot Black Dot 

Motors with a grey axes Motors with a black axes 

Lock : Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to mount and tighten. Unlock : Turn the 

propellers in the indicated direction to loosen and remove. 

Attaching the Propellers 

1. Be sure to remove the warning stickers from the motors before attaching the propellers.

2. Attach the propellers with silver dots onto the motors with silver axes and spin the propellers 

clockwise to secure them in place. Attach the propellers with black dots onto the motors with 

black axes and spin the propellers counter-clockwise to secure them in place. Be sure to tighten each propeller by hand 

before flight. 
16 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Ensure propellers are attached to its corresponding motors, otherwise the aircraft cannot take 

off. Wear gloves when handling propellers.

Hand tighten each of the propellers on the corresponding motors to ensure it is attached firmly. 

Detaching the Propellers 

Hold the motor in place with one hand, then spin the propeller in the indicated unlock direction. 

Check that the propellers and motors are installed correctly and firmly before every flight. Ensure that all propellers are in good condition before each flight. DO NOT use aged, chipped, or 

broken propellers.

Toavoidinjury,STAND CLEARofandDONOTtouchpropellersormotorswhentheyarespinning. ONLY 

use original DJI propellers for a better and safer flight experience. 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery 

The DJI Intelligent Flight Battery has a capacity of 4480 mAh, a voltage of 15.2 V, and a smart 

charge/ discharge functionality. It should only be charged using an appropriate charger that 

has been approved by DJI. 

Intelligent Flight Battery 

Charger 

The Intelligent Flight Battery must be fully charged before using it for the first time. Refer to 

"Charging the Intelligent Flight Battery" for more information. 

Be aware that the output power of the supplied Phantom 3 Professional charger is 100W. 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery Functions 

1. Battery Level Display: the LED indicators display the current battery level.

2. Battery Life Display: the LEDs display the current battery power cycle.
3. Auto-Discharging Function: To prevent swelling, the battery automatically discharges to below 65% of 

total power when it is idle for more than ten days. It takes around two days to discharge the 

battery to 65%. It is normal to feel moderate heat being emitted from the battery during the 

discharge process. Discharge thresholds can be set in the DJI Pilot app. 

4. Balanced Charging: Automatically balances the voltage of each battery cell when charging.

5. Overcharge Protection: Charging automatically stops when the battery is fully charged.

6. Temperature Detection: The battery will only charge when the temperature is between 0°C 

(32°F) and 

40°C (104°F).

7. Over Current Protection: The battery stops charging when high amperage (more than 8 A) is 

detected. 8. Over Discharge Protection: To prevent over-discharge damage, discharging automatically stops when 

the battery voltage reaches 12 V.

9. Short Circuit Protection: Automatically cuts the power supply when a short circuit is detected. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 17 

Aircraft 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

10. Battery Cell Damage Protection: The DJI Pilot app displays a warning message when a 

damaged battery cell is detected. 
11. Battery Error History: Browse the battery error history in the DJI Pilot app.

12. Sleep Mode: To save power, the battery enters sleep mode after 20 minutes of inactivity.

13. Communication: Information pertaining to the battery’s voltage, capacity, current, etc. is 

transmitted to 

the aircraft’s main controller. 

Refer to Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines before 

use. Users take full responsibility for all operations and usage. 

Using the Battery 

Turning ON/OFF 

LED1 

LED2 LED3 LED4 

Power Button (Bulit-in LED) Battery Level Indicators 

Aircraft 

Turning On: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to turn on. 

The Power LED will turn red and the Battery Level Indicators will display the current battery 

level. Turning Off: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to 

turn off. The battery power LED will flash when powering off the Phantom to allow automatically 

stopping 

of a recording during the event recording wasn’t stopped. 

Low Temperature Notice: 

1. Battery capacity is significantly reduced when flying in low temperature (< 0°C) environments. 

 2. It is not recommended that the battery be used in extremely low temperature (< -10°C) 

environments. Battery voltage should reach the appropriate level when operating environment with temperatures 

between -10°C and 5°C. 

 3. End the flight as soon as the DJI Pilot app displays the “Low Battery Level Warning” in 

low temperature 

environments. 

 4. Keep the battery indoors to warm it before flying in low temperature environments. 

 5. To ensure optimal performance of the battery, keep the battery temperature above 

20°C. 
 6. The charger will stop charging the battery if the battery cell’s temperature is not within 

the operating 

range (0°C ~ 40°C ). 

In cold environments, insert the battery into the battery compartment and allow the aircraft for approximately 1-2 minutes to warm up before taking off. 

Checking the Battery Level 

The Battery Level Indicators display how much power remains. When the battery is turned off, 

press the Power Button once. The Battery Level Indicators will light up to display the current 

battery level. See below for details. 

18 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

The Battery Level Indicators will also show the current battery level during charging and discharging. The indicators are defined below. 

: LED is on. 

: LED is off. 

: LED is flashing. 

Battery Level 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Battery Level 

87.5%~100% 

75%~87.5% 
62.5%~75% 

50%~62.5% 

37.5%~50% 25%~37.5% 12.5%~25% 0%~12.5% =0% 

Battery life 

Battery life refers to how many more times the battery can be discharged and recharged before it must be replaced. When the battery is turned off, press and hold the Power Button for 5 

seconds to check the battery life. The Battery Level Indicators will light up and/or blink for two 

seconds, as shown below: 

Battery Life 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Battery Life 

90%~100% 

80%~90% 

70%~80% 

60%~70% 

50%~60% 40%~50% 30%~40% 20%~30% below 20% 

When battery life reaches 0%, it can no longer be used. 

For more information about the battery, launch the DJI Pilot app and check the information that 

is listed under the battery tab. 
© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 19 

Aircraft 

Battery Level Indicators While Charging 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Battery Level 

0%~25% 

Battery Level Indicators while Charging 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Blinking Pattern 

LED2 blinks twice per second 

LED2 blinks three times per second 

Battery Protection Item 

Over current detected 
Short circuit detected Over charge detected 

LED3 blinks twice per second LED3 blinks three times per second 

Over-voltage charger detected Charging temperature is too low 

LED4 blinks twice per second 

LED4 blinks three times per second 

Charging temperature is too high 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual Charging the Intelligent Flight Battery 

1. Connect the Battery Charger to a power source (100-240 V 50/60 Hz). 

 2. Open the Protection Cap and connect the Intelligent Flight Battery to the Battery 

Charger. If the battery 

level is above 95%, turn on the battery before charging. 

 3. The Battery Level Indicator will display the current battery level as it is charging. 

 4. The Intelligent Flight Battery is fully charged when the Battery Level Indicators are all 

off. 

 5. Air-cool the Intelligent Flight Battery after each flight. Allow its temperature to drop to 

room temperature 

before storing it for an extended period. 

We do not recommend charging the Intelligent Flight Battery and remote controller with 

the standard charger at the same time, otherwise the charger may overheat.

Always turn off the battery before inserting it or removing it from the Phantom 3 Professional. Never insert or remove a battery when it is turned on. 
Intelligent Flight Battery Charger 

Power Outlet 

50%~75% 75%~100% Fully Charged 

25%~50% 

Battery Protection LED Display 

The table below shows battery protection mechanisms and corresponding LED patterns. 

20 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Aircraft 

After these issues are resolved, press the Power Button to turn off the Battery Level Indicator. 

Unplug the Intelligent Flight Battery from the charger and plug it back in to resume charging. 

Note that you do not need to unplug and plug in the charger in the event of a room temperature 

error; the charger will resume charging when the temperature is within the allowable range. 

DJI does not take any responsibility for damage caused by third-party chargers. 

How to discharge your Intelligent Flight Battery:

Slow : Place the Intelligent Flight Battery into the Phantom 3 Professional’s Battery Compartment and turn it on. Leave it on until there is less than 8% of power left, or until the battery can 

no longer be turned on. Launch the DJI Pilot app to check battery levels.

Rapid : Fly the Phantom 3 Professional outdoors until there is less than 8% of power left, or until 

the battery can no longer be turned on. 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 21 

Aircraft 
Remote Controller 
This section describes the features of the remote controller and includes instructions 

for controlling the aircraft and the camera. 

22 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Remote Controller 

Remote Controller Profile 
The Phantom 3 Professional remote controller is a multi-function wireless communication device that integrates the video downlink system and aircraft remote control system. The video 

downlink and aircraft remote control system operate at 2.4 GHz. The remote controller features 

a number of camera control functions, such as taking and previewing photos and videos, as 

well as controlling gimbal motion. The remote controller is powered by a 2S rechargeable battery. The battery level is displayed via LED indicators on the front panel of the remote controller. 

Compliance Version: The remote controller is compliant with both CE and FCC regulations. Operating Mode: Control can be set to Mode 1 or Mode 2, or to a custom mode.

Mode 1: The right stick serves as the throttle.

Mode 2: The left stick serves as the throttle. 

To prevent transmission interference, do not operate more than three aircrafts in the same area. 

Using the Remote Controller Turning the Remote Controller On and Off 

The Phantom 3 Professional remote controller is powered by a 2S rechargeable battery that 

has a capacity of 6000 mAh. The battery level is indicated via the Battery Level LEDs on the 

front panel. Follow the steps below to turn on your remote controller:

1. When the remote controller is turned off, press the Power Button once. The Battery Level 

LEDs will 

display the current battery level. 

 2. Press and hold the Power Button to turn on the remote controller. 

 3. The remote controller will beep when it is turned on. The Status LED will rapidly blink 

green, indicating 

that the remote controller is linking to the aircraft. The Status LEDs will glow solid green 

when linking is 

complete. 

 4. Repeat Step 2 to turn off the remote controller. 

Remote Controller 

Charging the Remote Controller 

Charge the remote controller using the included charger. Refer to the figure on next page below for more details. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 23 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Power Button 

Controlling the Camera 
Shoot videos/pictures, view recorded images, and adjust camera settings via the Shutter Button, Camera Settings Dial, Playback Button, and Video Recording Button on the remote controller. 

[1] Camera Settings Dial 

[5] [1] [4] [2] 

[3] 

Turn the dial to adjust camera settings such as ISO, shutter speed, and aperture without letting 

go of the remote controller. Move the dial to left or right to scroll through pictures and videos in 

playback mode. Press down on the dial to toggle between these settings. 

. [2] Playback Button 

Press to view images and videos that have already been captured. 

. [3] Shutter Button 

Press to take a photo. If burst mode is activated, multiple photos will be taken with a 

single press. 

. [4] Video Recoding Button 

Press once to start recording video, then press again to stop recording. 

. [5] Gimbal Dial 

Use this dial to control the tilt of the gimbal. 

Controlling Aircraft 

This section explains how to control the orientation of the aircraft through the remote controller. 

The Remote Control is set to Mode 2 by default. 

24 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Charger 

Power Outlet 

Remote Controller 
Stick Neutral/Mid-Point: Control sticks are in the center position.

Moving the Control Stick: The control stick is pushed away from the center position. 

Remote Controller (Mode 2) 
Aircraft

( Indicates Nose Direction) 

Remarks 

Moving the left stick up and down changes the aircraft’s elevation.

Push the stick up to ascend and down to descend. When both sticks are centered, the Phantom 3 Professional will hover in place. 

The more the stick is pushed away from the center position, the faster the Phantom 3 Professional will change elevation. Always push the stick gently to prevent sudden and unexpected 

elevation changes. 

Moving the left stick to the left or right controls the rudder and rotation of the aircraft.

Push the sick left to rotate the aircraft counter- clockwise, push the stick right to rotate the aircraft clockwise. If the stick is centered, the Phantom 3 Professional will maintain its current orientation. The more the stick is pushed away from the center position, the faster the Phantom 3 

Professional will rotate. 

Moving the right stick up and down changes the aircraft’s forward and backward pitch.

Push the stick up to fly forward and down to fly backward. Phantom 3 Professional will hover in place if the 

stick is centered. 

Push the stick further away from the center position for a larger pitch angle (maximum 30 ̊) and faster flight. 

Moving the right stick control left and right changes the aircraft’s left and right pitch.

Push left to fly left and right to fly right. The Phantom 3 Professional will hover in place if the 

stick is centered. 

Gimbal Dial: Turn the dial to the right, and the camera will shift to point upwards. Turn the dial 

to the left, and the camera will shift to point downwards. The camera will remain in its current 

position when dial is static. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Remote Controller 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 25 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Adjusting Controller Sticks 
Hold and twist the controller sticks clockwise or counter clockwise to adjust the length of the 

controller sticks. A proper length of controller sticks can improve the controlling accuracy. 

Flight Mode Switch 

Toggle the switch to select the desired flight mode. You may choose between; P-mode, F-mode 

and A- mode. 

Position 

Position 1 Position 2 Position 3 

Figure 

Flight Mode 

F-mode Position 2 A-mode

P-mode Position 3 

P-mode (Positioning): P-mode works best when the GPS signal is strong. There are three different versions of P-mode, which will be automatically selected by the Phantom 3 Professional 

depending on GPS signal strength and the Vision Positioning sensors: 

P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available; the aircraft is using GPS for positioning. 

P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but a sufficient GPS signal is not available. Aircraft is using 

only Vision Positioning for position holding.

P-ATTI: Neither GPS nor Vision Positioning is available, the aircraft is using only its barometer 

for 

positioning, so only altitude is maintained.

A-mode (Attitude): GPS and Vision Positioning System are not used for stabilization. The aircraft uses only its barometer to stabilize. The aircraft can automatically return to the Home Point 

if remote controller signal is lost and the Home Point was recorded successfully.

F-mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information about IOC, refer to the IOC section in the Appendix.

By default, the Flight Mode Switch is locked to P-mode. To unlock other flight modes, launch 

the DJI Pilot app, enter the “Camera” page, and tap “Mode”, then activate “Multiple Flight 

Mode”. 

RTH Button 

Press and hold the RTH button to start the Return-to-Home (RTH) procedure. The LED ring 

around the RTH Button will blink white to indicate that the aircraft is entering RTH mode. The 

aircraft will then return to the last recorded Home Point. Press this button again to cancel the 

RTH procedure and regain control of the aircraft. 

Remote Controller 

26 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Position 1 

Connecting Your Mobile Device 
Tilt the mobile device holder to the desired position. Press the button on the side of the mobile 

device holder to release the clamp, and then place your mobile device into the cradle. Adjust 

the clamp down to secure the mobile device. To connect your mobile device to the remote controller using a USB cable, plug one end of the cable into your mobile device and the other end 

into the USB port on the back of the remote controller. 

Optimal Transmission Range 

The transmission signal between the aircraft and the remote controller is most reliable within 

the area that is depicted in the image below: 

Optimal Transmission Range 

strong weak 

Ensure that the aircraft is flying within the optimal transmission zone. To achieve the best 

transmission performance, maintain the appropriate relationship between the operator and the 

aircraft. 

Remote Controller Status LED 

The Status LED reflects the strength of the connection between the remote controller and the 

aircraft. The RTH LED indicates the Return-to-Home status of the aircraft. The table below contains more information about these indicators. 

RTH LED 

Status LED 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Remote Controller 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 27 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Status LED

— Solid Red 
— Solid Green

Slow Blinking Red 

/

Red and Green/ Red and Yellow Alternate Blinks 

RTH LED

— Solid White 

Blinking White Blinking White 

Alarm Chime 

Chime D-D-D...... 

None 

Sound Chime 

D . . . DD .. .. .. 

Remote Controller Status

The remote controller is disconnected from the aircraft. The remote controller is connected to 

the aircraft. Remote controller error. 

HD downlink is disrupted. 

Remote Controller Status

Aircraft is returning home.

Sending Return-to-Home command to the aircraft. Return-to-Home procedure in progress. 

The Remote Status Indicator will blink red and sound an alert, when the battery level is critically 

low. 

Linking the Remote Controller 

The remote controller is linked to your aircraft before delivery. Linking is only required when using a new remote controller for the first time. Follow these steps to link a new remote controller: 

1. Turn on the remote controller and connect to the mobile device. Launch the DJI Pilot app. 2. 

Turn on the Intelligent Flight Battery.

3. Enter “Camera” and tap on and then tap “Linking RC” button as shown below. 

Remote Controller 

28 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

RC Calibration 

Stick Mode 
RC Control Setting 

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changing stick modes alters the way the aircraft is controlled. Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

C1 Not Defined C2 Not Defined 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back of the RC. 

Linking RC 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 4. The remote controller is ready to link. The Remote Controller Status Indicator blinks blue and a beep is 

emitted. 
RC Calibration 

Stick Mode 

RC Control Setting 

Searching for aircraft frequency, timeout in 54 seconds 

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changing stick modes alters the way the aircraft is controlled. Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

Press the linking button on the aircraft to link this remote controller 

C1 Not Defined C2 Not Defined 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back of the RC. 

Linking RC 

Cancel 

Remote Controller 

5. Locate the linking button on the side of the aircraft, as shown in the figure below. Press the 

link button to start linking. The Remote Controller Status Indicator LED will display a solid green 

once the remote controller is successfully linked to the aircraft. 

Link Button 

The remote controller will un-link itself from an aircraft if a new remote controller is linked to the 

same aircraft. 

Remote Controller Compliance Version 

The remote controller is compliant with both CE and FCC requirements. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 29 
Camera and Gimbal 
This section provides the technical specifications of the camera and explains the gimbal’s operation modes. 

30 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Camera and Gimbal 

Camera Profile 
The on-board camera uses the 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor to capture video (up to 4096x2160p at 

24fps or 4K at up to 30fps with the Phantom 3 Professional) and 12 megapixel stills. You may 

choose to record the video in either MOV or MP4 format. Available picture shooting modes include burst, continuous, and time-lapse mode. A live preview of what the camera sees can be 

monitored on the connected mobile device via the DJI Pilot app. 

Camera Micro-SD Card Slot 

To store your photos and videos, insert the Micro-SD card into the slot, as shown below, before 

turning on the Phantom 3 Professional. The Phantom 3 Professional comes with a 16 GB MicroSD card and supports Micro-SD cards up to 64 GB. A UHS-1 Micro-SD card is recommended 

due to their fast read and write speeds allowing you to save high-resolution video data. 

Gimbal Camera 

Do not remove the Micro-SD card from the Phantom 3 Professional when it is turned on. 

Camera Data Port 

Turn on the Phantom 3 Professional and connect a USB cable to the Camera Data Port to 

download photos and videos to your computer. 

The aircraft must be turned on before attempting to access the files on the Micro-SD card. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 31 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual Camera Operation 
Use the Shutter and Video Recording buttons on the remote controller to shoot the images or 

videos through the DJI Pilot app. For more information about how to use these buttons, refer to 

“Controlling the Camera Page 24”. 

Camera LED Indicator 

Camera LED Indicator lights up after the flight battery is powered on. It provides information on 

the working status of the camera. 

Camera LED Indicator 

Green Fast Blink (0.2s off, 0.1s on ) Green Blink Once (0.5s off, 0.4s on ) Green Blink 3 Times 

(0.3s off, 0.1s on ) Slow Red Blink (1.6s on, 0.8s off ) 

Fast Red Blink (0.5s off, 0.2s on )

Double Red Blink (0.1s on, 0.1s off, 0.1s on, 0.1s off) 

Solid Red

Green and Red Blink (0.8s green on, 0.8s red on) 

Gimbal Gimbal Profile 

Camera status 

System is warming up. Taking a single picture. Taking 3 or 5 photos per shot. Recording.

SD card error.

Overheated Camera

System error.

Firmware Upgrading 

Gimbal Camera 

The 3-axis gimbal provides a steady platform for the attached camera, allowing you to capture 

clear, stable images and video. The gimbal can tilt the camera within a 120 ̊ range. 

30° 0° 

-90°

Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control the tilt movement of the camera. 

32 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Gimbal Operation Modes 
Two gimbal operation modes are available. Switch between the different operation modes on 

the camera settings page of the DJI Pilot app. Note that your mobile device must be connected to the remote controller for changes to take effect. Refer to the table below for details: 

Follow Mode 

The angle between gimbal’s orientation and aircraft’s nose remains constant at all 

times. 

The gimbal will synchronize with the movement of the aircraft to provide a first-person perspective flying experience. 

A gimbal motor error may occur in these situations: (1) the aircraft is placed on uneven ground 

or the gimbal’s motion is obstructed (2) the gimbal has been subjected to an excessive external force, such as a collision. Please take off from flat, open ground and protect the gimbal at 

all times. 

Flying in heavy fog or clouds may make the gimbal wet, leading to temporary failure. The gimbal will recover full functionality after it dries. 

Anti-Drop Kit 

The anti-drop kit helps keep the gimbal and camera connected to the aircraft. Two pins have 

been mounted prior to shipping. If new or additional pins are required, see the diagram below. 

Press Part 1 through the hole of the vibration absorber and into the center hole of Part 2 , then 

lock them together as shown 3 . Mounting the anti-drop kit pins diagonally from each other is 

recommended. 

FPV Mode 

1 

2 

3 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Gimbal Camera 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 33 

DJI Pilot App 

This section introduces the four main functions of the DJI Pilot app. 

34 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

DJI Pilot App 
The DJI Pilot app is a mobile application designed specifically for the Phantom 3 Professional. 

Use this app to control the gimbal, camera, and other aircraft functions. The app also features 

Map, Academy, and User Center, which are used for configuring your aircraft and sharing your 

photos and videos with others. It is recommended that you use a tablet for the best experience. 

United States 

Mountain View 

CAMERA DIRECTOR STORE DISCOVERY 

Camera 

The Camera page contains a live HD video feed from the Phantom 3 Professional’s camera. 

You can also configure various camera parameters from the Camera page. 

[1] 

[2] 

[3] 

[4] [5] [6] 

[7] [8] 

MODE P-GPS CL Safe to Fly (GPS) 

ISO 100 1/320 EV 0 4821 JPEG 

H: 39M D: 1039M V.S: 8.3M/S H.S:24.2M/S 1.2M 
[18] [17] 

[16] [15] [14] 

[13] 

[9] 

[10] 

[12] 

[11] 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 35 

DJI Pilot App 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

[1] Flight Mode 

: The text next to this icon indicates the current flight mode.

Tap to configure the MC (Main Controller) Settings. These settings allow you to modify flight 

limits and set the gain values. 

The aircraft is set to “Beginner Mode” by default. The aircraft cannot fly 30 meters (98 feet) 

higher and beyond the recorded Home Point under beginner mode. Disable this mode in the 

MODE setting page. 

[2] GPS Signal Strength 

: This icon shows the current strength of GPS signals. Green bars indicate adequate GPS 

strength. 

[3] IOC Settings 

CL : This icon displays the IOC setting when the aircraft has entered F-mode. Tap to view the 

IOC settings menu and select the desired IOC setting. 

[4] System Status 

: This icon indicates the current aircraft system status and GPS signal strength. 

[5] Battery Level Indicator 

: The battery level indicator provides a dynamic display of the battery level. The colored zones 

on the battery level indicator represent the power levels needed to carry out different functions. 
[6] Remote Controller Signal 

: This icon shows the strength of remote controller’s signal. 

[7] HD Video Link Signal Strength 

: This icon shows the strength of the HD video downlink connection between the aircraft and the remote controller. 

[8] Battery Level 

: This icon shows the current battery level. 

Tap to view the battery information menu, set the various battery warning thresholds, and view 

the battery warning history. 

[9] General Settings 

: Tap this icon to view the General Settings page. From this page, you can set flight parameters, reset the camera, enable the quick view feature, adjust the gimbal roll value, and toggle 

the flight route display. 

[10] Camera Operation Bar

Shutter and Recording Settings 

: Tap to enter various camera value settings, including color space for the recording, resolution 

of the videos, image size and so on. 

DJI Pilot App 

36 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Shutter 

: Tap this button to take a single photo. Press and hold this button to select single shot, triple 

shot or time-lapsed shooting modes. 

Record 

: Tap once to start recording video, then tap again to stop recording. You can also press the 

Video Recording Button on the remote controller, which has the same functionality. 

Playback 

: Tap to enter the playback page. You can preview photos and videos as soon as they are captured. 
Camera Settings 

: Tap to set ISO, shutter and auto exposure values of the camera. 

[11] Vision Positioning 

: This icon shows the distance between the surface and the Vision Positioning System’s sensors. 

[12] Flight Telemetry 

H: 39M D: 1039M V.S: 8.3M/S H.S:24.2M/S 1.2M 

The Vision Positioning Status icon is highlighted when the Vision Positioning is in operation. 

Flight attitude is indicated by the flight attitude icon.

(1) The red arrow shows which direction the aircraft is facing.

(2) Light blue and dark blue areas indicate pitch.

(3) The angle of the boundary between the light blue and dark blue areas indicates the roll angle. 

[13] Map 

Display the flight path of the current flight. Tap to switch from the Camera GUI to the Map GUI. 

[14] Dynamic Home Point 

: Press this button to enable the dynamic home point feature, the home point then will be reset to position of the mobile device. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 37 

DJI Pilot App 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual [15] Return to Home (RTH) 

: Initiate RTH home procedure. Tap to have the aircraft return to the last recorded home point. 

[16] Auto Takeoff/Landing 

/ : Tap to initiate auto takeoff or landing. 
[17] Livestream 

: Livestream icon indicates the current video feed is broadcasting live on YouTube. Be sure the 

mobile data service is available on the mobile device. 

[18] Back 

: Tap to return to the main GUI. 

Director 

Director is an automatic video editor built into the DJI Pilot app. After recording several video 

clips, simply tap “Director” from the app’s home screen. You can then select a template and a 

specified number of clips, which are automatically combined to create a short film that can be 

shared immediately. 

Store 

Tap “Store” to visit the official DJI Online Store to see the latest information about DJI products 

and easily buy new products. 

Discovery 

Sync pictures and videos to your mobile device, view flight logs, and check your DJI account 

status in "Discovery". Use your registered DJI account to login to "Discovery". 

DJI Pilot App 

38 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Flight 

This section describes safe flight practices and flight restrictions. 
© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 39 

Flight 

Once pre-flight preparation is complete, it is recommended that you use the flight simulator in 

the DJI Pilot app to hone your flight skills and practice flying safely. Ensure that all flights are 

carried out in an open area. 

Flight Environment Requirements 

 1. Do not use the aircraft in severe weather conditions. These include wind speeds exceeding 10 m/s , snow, rain and fog. 

 2. Only fly in open areas. Tall structures and large metal structures may affect the accuracy of the on- board compass and GPS system. 

 3. Avoid obstacles, crowds, high voltage power lines, trees, and bodies of water. 

 4. Minimize interference by avoiding areas with high levels of electromagnetism, including 

base stations 

and radio transmission towers. 

 5. Aircraft and battery performance is subject to environmental factors such as air density 

and 

temperature.Be very careful when flying at altitudes greater than 19, 685 feet (6000 meters) above sea 

level, as the performance of the battery and aircraft may be affected. 

6. The Phantom 3 Professional cannot operate within the polar areas. 

Flight Limits and No-Fly Zones 

All unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators should abide by all regulations set forth by government and regulatory agencies including the ICAO and the FAA. For safety reasons, flights 

are limited by default, which helps users operate this product safely and legally. Flight limitations include height limits, distance limits, and No-Fly Zones. 

When operating in P-mode, height limits, distance limits, and No-Fly Zones function concurrently to manage flight safety. In A-mode, only height limits are in effect, which by default prevent the aircraft altitude from exceeding 1640 feet (500 m) . 

Maximum flight altitude & Radius Limits 
Maximum flight altitude and radius limits may be changed in the DJI Pilot app. Be aware that 

the maximum flight altitude cannot exceed 1640 feet (500 meters). In accordance with these 

settings, your Phantom 3 Professional will fly in a restricted cylinder, as shown below: 

Flight 

Maximum Flight Altitude 

Max Radius Home Point 

Height of aircraft when turned on 

40 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

GPS Signal Strong 

Max Radius 

Blinking Green 

Flight Limits 

Flight distance must be within the max radius. 

DJI Pilot app 

Warning: Distance limit reached. 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Rapid red flashing when close to the 

max radius limit. 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Maximum Flight Altitude 
Aircraft's altitude cannot exceed the specified value. 

Warning: Height limit reached. 

None. 

GPS Signal Weak 

Blinking Yellow 

Flight Limits 

DJI Pilot app 

Maximum Flight Altitude 

Max Radius 

Height is restricted to 400 feet. (120m) and under. 

Warning: Height limit reached. 

None. 

No limits 

If you fly out of the limit, you can still control the Phantom 3, but cannot fly it any father. If the 

Phantom 3 flies out of the max radius in Ready to Fly (non-GPS) mode, it will fly back within 

range automatically. 

If the Phantom 3 flies out of the max radius in Ready to Fly (non-GPS) mode, it will fly back 

within range automatically. 

No-Fly Zones 

All No-Fly Zones are listed on the DJI official website at http://flysafe.dji.com/no-fly. No-Fly 

Zones are divided into Airports and Restricted Areas. Airports include major airports and flying 

fields where manned aircraft operate at low altitudes. Restricted Areas include border lines between countries or sensitive institute. The details of the No-Fly Zones are explained as follow: 

Airport 
 . (1) Airport No-Fly Zone are comprised of Take-off Restricted zones and Restricted Altitude Zones. Each zone features circles of various sizes. 

 . (2) R1 miles (value of the R1 depends on the size and shape of the airport) around the 

airport is a Take- off restricted zone, inside of which take off is prevented. 

 . (3) From R1 mile to R1 + 1 mile around the airport the flight altitude is limited to a 15 

degree inclination. Starting at 65 feet (20 meters) from the edge of airport and radiating 

outward. The flight altitude is limited to 1640 feet (500 meters) at R1+1 mile 

 . (4) When the aircraft enters within 320 feet (100 meters) of No-Fly Zones, a warning 

message will appear on the DJI Pilot app. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 41 

Flight 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

1640 feet 

320 feet 

1640 feet 

320 feet 
Restricted Area 

66 feet 

1 mile R1 R2 

1 mile 

66 feet R1 

R2 

 . (1) Restricted Areas does not have flight altitude restrictions. 

 . (2) R miles around the designated restriction area is a Take-off Restricted area. Aircraft 

cannot take off 

within this zone. The value of R varies based on the definition of the restricted areas. 

 . (3) A “warning zone” has been set around the Restricted Area. When the aircraft approaches within 0.062 

miles (100 m) of this zone, a warning message will appear on the DJI Pilot app. 

Flight 
100 m R 

100m R 

42 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

GPS Signal Strong Blinking Green 

Zone 

Restriction 

DJI Pilot App Prompt 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

No-fly Zone 

Motors will not start. 

Warning: You are in a No-fly zone. Take off prohibited. 

Red flashing 

If the aircraft enters the restricted area in A-mode, but is switched to P-mode, the aircraft will 

automatically descend, land, and stop its motors. 
Warning: You are in a no-fly zone. Automatic landing has begun. 

Restricted- altitude flight zone 

If the aircraft enters the restricted area in A-mode, but is switched to P-mode, it will descend to 

an appropriate altitude and hover 15 feet below the altitude limit. 

R1: Warning: You are in a restricted zone. Descending to safe altitude.

R2: Warning: You are in a restricted zone. Maximum flight altitude is restricted to between 20m 

and 500m. Fly cautiously. 

Warning zone 

No flight restriction applies, but there will be a warning . 

Warning: You are approaching a restricted zone, Fly cautiously. 

Free zone 

No restrictions. 

None. 

None. 

Semi-automatic descent: All stick commands are available except the throttle stick command 

during the descent and landing process. Motors will stop automatically after landing. 

When flying in a safety zone, the aircraft's status indicator will blink red rapidly and continue for 

3 seconds, then switch to indicate current flying status and continue for 5 seconds at which 

point it will switch back to blinking red.

For safety reasons, please do not fly close to airports, highways, railway stations, railway lines, 

city centers, or other sensitive areas. Fly the aircraft only within your line of sight. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 43 

Flight 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual Preflight Checklist 

1. Remote controller, Intelligent Flight Battery, and mobile device are fully charged. 2. Propellers are mounted correctly and firmly.
3. Micro-SD card has been inserted, if necessary.

4. Gimbal is functioning normally. 

5. Motors can start and are functioning normally.

6. The DJI Pilot app is successfully connected to the aircraft. 

Calibrating the Compass 

IMPORTANT: Always calibrate the compass in every new flight location. The compass is very 

sensitive to electromagnetic interference, which can produce abnormal compass data and 

lead to poor flight performance or flight failure. Regular calibration is required for optimal performance. 

Do not calibrate your compass where there is any possibility of strong magnetic interference. 

Sources of potential interference include magnetite, parking structures, and subterranean metal structures

Do not carry ferromagnetic materials with you during calibration such as keys or cellular 

phones. 

Do not calibrate in direct proximity to large metal objects. DO NOT calibrate indoors. 

Calibration Procedures 

Choose an open area to carry out the following procedures.

1. Ensure that the compass is calibrated. If you did not calibrate the compass as part of your 

pre-flight 

preparations, or if you have moved to a new location since the last calibration, tap the Aircraft 

Status 

Bar in the app and select “Calibrate”, then follow the on-screen instructions.

2. Hold the aircraft horizontally and rotate 360 degrees. The Aircraft Status Indicators will display a solid 

green light. 

Flight 

44 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 3. Hold the aircraft vertically, with nose pointing downward, 

and rotate it 360 degrees around the center 

axis. Recalibrate the compass if the Aircraft Status Indicator glows solid red. 
Flight 

If the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks red and yellow after the calibration procedure, move your 

aircraft to a different location and try again. 

Calibrate the compass before each flight. Launch the DJI Pilot app and follow the on-screen 

instructions to calibrate the compass. DO NOT calibrate the compass near metal objects such 

as a metal bridge, cars, scaffolding. 

When to Recalibrate 

1.When compass data is abnormal and the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking green and yellow. 2.When flying in a new location or in a location that is different from the most recent flight. 

3.When the mechanical or physical structure of the Phantom 3 Professional has been changed. 

4.When severe drifting occurs in flight, i.e. Phantom 3 Professional does not fly in straight line. 

Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing 

Auto Takeoff

Use auto takeoff only if the Aircraft Status Indicators are blinking green. Follow the steps below 

to use the auto takeoff feature:

1. Launch the DJI Pilot app, and enter “Camera” page.

2. Ensure the aircraft is in P- mode.

3. Complete all steps on the pre-flight checklist.

4. Tap“ ”, and confirm that conditions are safe for flight. Slide the icon to confirm and takeoff.

5. Aircraft takes off and hovers at (1.2 meters) above ground. 

Aircraft Status Indicator blinks rapidly when it is using the Vision Position System for stabilization. The aircraft will automatically hover below 3 meters. It is recommended to wait until there 

is sufficient GPS lock before using the Auto Take-off feature. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 45 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Auto-Landing

Use auto-landing only if the Aircraft Status Indicators are blinking green. Follow the steps be-
low to use the auto-landing feature:

1. Ensure the aircraft is in P- mode.

2. Check the landing area condition before tapping “ ”, to begin landing. Then follow the onscreen 

instructions. 

Starting/Stopping the Motors Starting the Motors 

A Combination Stick Command (CSC) is used to start the motors. Push both sticks to the bottom inner or outer corners to start the motors. Once the motors have started spinning, release 

both sticks simultaneously. 

OR 

Stopping the Motors 

There are two methods to stop the motors.

Method 1: When Phantom 3 Professional has landed, push the throttle down , then conduct the 

same CSC that was used to start the motors, as described above . Motors will stop immediately. Release both sticks once motors stop.

Method 2: When the aircraft has landed, push and hold the throttle down. The motors will stop 

after three seconds. 

OR 

Method 2 

Do not perform a CSC when the aircraft is in midair, otherwise the motors will suddently stop. 

Flight Test Takeoff/Landing Procedures 

1. Place the aircraft in an open, flat area with the battery level indicators facing towards you.

2. Turn on the remote controller and your mobile device, then turn on the Intelligent Flight Battery.

3. Launch the DJI Pilot app and enter the Camera page.

4. Wait until the Aircraft Indicators blink green. This means the Home Point is recorded and it is 

now safe 

to fly. If they flash yellow, the Home Point has not been recorded.

5. Push the throttle up slowly to take off or use Auto Takeoff.

6. Shoot photos and videos using the DJI Pilot app.

7. To land, hover over a level surface and gently pull down on the throttle to descend.

8. After landing, execute the CSC command or hold the throttle at its lowest position until the 

motors stop. 9. Turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery first, then the Remote Controller. 

46 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Flight 

Method 1 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

When the Aircraft Status Indicators blink yellow rapidly during flight, the aircraft has entered 

Failsafe mode.

A low battery level warning is indicated by the Aircraft Status Indicators blinking red slowly or 

rapidly during flight. 

Watch our video tutorials for more flight information. 

Video Suggestions and Tips 

1. Go through the full pre-flight checklist before each flight.

2. Select the desired gimbal operation mode in the DJI Pilot app.

3. Only shoot video when flying in P-mode.

4. Always fly in good weather and avoid flying in rain or heavy wind.

5. Choose the camera settings that suit your needs. Settings include photo format and exposure compensation. 6. Perform flight tests to establish flight routes and preview scenes.

7. Push the control sticks gently to keep the aircraft’s movement smooth and stable. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 47 

Flight 

FAQ 

48 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Troubleshooting (FAQ) 

What is the difference between the Phantom 3 Professional and the Phantom 3 Advanced? 

The biggest difference between the Phantom 3 Professional and the Phantom 3 Advanced is in the camera. The 

Phantom 3 Professional is capable of shooting spectacular 4K video at up to 30 frames per second, and the Phantom 3 Advanced is capable of shooting at resolutions up to 1080p60. Both models shoot 12 megapixel photos. 

The other main difference is the Intelligent Flight Battery charger. The Phantom 3 Advanced comes with a 57-watt 

charging unit and the Phantom 3 Professional comes with a 100-watt charger, the latter of which allows for shorter 

charging times. 

Can I remove the camera and attach my own? 

No. The cameras that come with both models are permanently attached. Attempting to remove, replace, or modify 

the camera may damage the product and will void your warranty. 

Can I charge my Remote Controller and Intelligent Flight Battery at the same time? 
While the Remote Controller charger and Intelligent Flight Battery charger have been integrated into one unit for 

your convenience, it is recommended that you only charge one item at a time. We recommend that you never 

charge both items using the same charger at the same time. 

What are the buttons on the back of my Remote Controller for? 

The two buttons on the back of the Remote Controller can be customized and assigned to function as you choose 

through the DJI Pilot app. Refer to the manual for more information. 

How far can I fly my Phantom 3? 

The signal transmission distance will vary depending on environmental conditions, but the Phantom 3 series can 

reach distances of up to 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) away from the pilot. 

What app should I use with my Phantom 3? 

The Phantom 3 is compatible with the DJI Pilot app for iOS and Android, which is already used with the DJI Inspire. 

The app will detect which aircraft is connected and automatically adjust accordingly. 

Which mobile devices are compatible with the app? 

The DJI Pilot app is only compatible with devices running iOS 8.0 or later or Android v4.1.2 or later.

The following devices are recommended:

iOS: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, 

iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular. This app is optimized for iPhone 

5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus

Android: Samsung S5, Note 3, Sony Z3 EXPERIA, Google Nexus 7 II, Google Nexus 9, Mi 3, Nubia Z7 mini Support 

for additional Android devices will become available as testing and development continues. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 49 

FAQ 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

How do I use the Director automatic video editor? 

Director is an automatic video editor built into the DJI Pilot app. After recording several video clips, simply tap “Director” from the app’s home screen. You can then select a template and a specified number of clips, which are automatically combined to create a short film that can be shared immediately. 

How do I change the control mode of my Phantom 3? 

By default, the Remote Controller is set to Mode 2. This means that the right control stick controls the movement of 

the aircraft and the left control stick controls the throttle and orientation of the aircraft. These controls can be 

changed to Mode 1 or set to a customized configuration in the DJI Pilot app. This is only recommended for advanced users. 

Can I use a Phantom 2 Remote Controller with the Phantom 3? 

No. The Phantom 2 Remote Controller operates on a different frequency. The Phantom 2 Remote Controller operates 

at 5.8 GHz and the new Phantom 3 Remote Controller operates at 2.4 GHz. 

Can I use a Phantom 2 Intelligent Flight Battery with the Phantom 3? 
No. The Phantom 3 uses a newly designed Intelligent Flight Battery with greater power. The Phantom 3 has a 4 cell 

battery with a capacity of 4480 mAh and a voltage of 15.2 V. 

My Phantom 3 does not turn off right away, is something wrong? 

This is normal. After you attempt to power off the Intelligent Flight Battery, it may remain on for a few seconds as any 

video data is saved to the Micro SD card. This helps prevent your data from being lost or corrupted. 

Do I have to buy the Remote Controller separately? 

No, there is no need to buy a separate Remote Controller. Your Phantom 3 comes with a Remote Controller that is 

already linked to the aircraft. 

Does my Phantom 3 support dual Remote Controllers? 

No. The included Remote Controller can be used to control both the aircraft and the gimbal tilt at the same time. 

What does the “P, A, F” switch on the Remote Controller do? 

This switch, called the Flight Mode Switch, allows you to toggle different flight modes:

P-mode, or Positioning mode, indicates that both GPS and the Vision Positioning System are active and your Phantom 3 will attempt to stabilize using both.

In A-mode, or Attitude mode, the aircraft does not use GPS or the Vision Positioning System. Only the barometer is 

used for stabilization. The aircraft can still return to the Home Point as long as a sufficient GPS signal is available.

F-mode, or Function mode, activates Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) functionality. Refer to the IOC section in the 

Appendix of the User Manual.

By default, only P-mode may be used. Refer to your user manual for instructions on unlocking the other modes. 

50 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

FAQ 

What is the Phantom 3 flight time? 

Flight times will vary depending on environmental conditions and usage patterns, but the Intelligent Flight Battery is 

designed to provide up to 23 minutes of uninterrupted flight time when fully charged. 

How can I restore a video file if the power is turned off during recording? 

Do not remove the Micro-SD card from the camera. If it has been removed, place it back in the camera. Turn the 

Phantom 3 on and wait approximately 30 seconds as the video file is restored. 

How can I ensure that my pictures and videos will be synchronized to my iOS album? 

You may need to adjust the settings of your mobile device. Open the Settings menu, select the Privacy tab, select 

the Photos tab, and then toggle the switch next to the DJI Pilot app icon. If the Pilot app has not been granted access to your albums, the photos and videos cannot be synchronized. 

What should I do to land my Phantom 3 smoothly as possible? 

Hover the aircraft over a flat, level surface. Slowly pull the throttle stick down until the aircraft touches the ground. 

Why is the discharge time of the battery not zero, even though I have never used it? 
Every battery is tested prior to being packaged and shipped. This affects the discharge time of a new battery and is 

the reason that the discharge time is not zero. The battery is safe to use. 

Can the mobile device holder be used on the Phantom 2 series Remote Controller? 

No, it cannot. 

How to safely operate the aircraft when encountering compass error? 

A compass error may occur when the aircraft is flying close to strong electric magnetic sources (e.g. power transmission lines). Aircraft Status Indicators blink red and yellow rapidly when a compass error occurs and the DJI Pilot 

app will display one of the following messages:

• Compass error, calibration required 

This warning message indicates the aircraft is receiving abnormal compass readings. It is recommended 

to power off the aircraft and re-calibrate the compass at a different location and then resume the flight. • Compass 

error, exit P-GPS Mode 

This warning message indicates that the aircraft is drifting severely. Bring the aircraft to a higher altitude to gain 

enough GPS satellite locks when this warning message is prompted. The flight controller will automatically adjust the 

orientation of the aircraft in the midair to mitigate the drifts. The aircraft will switch back to P-GPS mode when the 

automatic adjustment is completed. 

How to troubleshoot aircraft initialization error? 

If you observe the following symptoms, it indicates the aircraft has failed to initialized:

• The aircraft status indicator display flashing red, yellow and green. Even the aircraft is stationed on the 

flat surface.

• The System Status Bar in the app prompts “Initialization Error”. • No resistance drive if felt on the gimbal. 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 51 

FAQ 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Various factors contribute to the aircraft initialization error, try resolve the issue by following the suggestions listed 

below:

• Sensor performance degraded. This may be due to the excessive bias detected from the IMU or the 

compass reading is interfered. Try restarting and calibrating the IMU and compass to resolve this issue. • Sensor is 

defective. If the sensors remains unchanged at all time and the problem persist even when the aircraft is restarted, it 

indicates the sensor is not working normally. Users should return the aircraft to DJI 

for repairing.

• Minor vibration is detected during aircraft initialization. Put the aircraft on the flat surface, power on the 

aircraft and ensure the aircraft is stationed for more than 5 seconds to resolve the issue.

• Serious vibration is detected during aircraft initialization. This instance generally occurs when the aircraft is being 

initialization on the violent moving surface, for instance, ships that are on the rough sea. Do not 
attempt to power on the aircraft in this scenario. 

FAQ 

52 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Appendix 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 53 

Aircraft 

Weight (Battery & Propellers Included) 

1280 g 

Max. Ascent Speed 

5 m/s 

Max. Descent Speed 

3 m/s 

Max. Speed 

16 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) 

Max. Flight Altitude 

6000 m 

Max. Flight Time 

Approximately 23 minutes 

Operating Temperature 

0°C to 40°C 

GPS Mode 

GPS/GLONASS 
Gimbal 

Controllable Range 

Pitch: - 90° to + 30° 

Vision Positioning 

Velocity Range 

< 8 m/s (2 m above ground) 

Altitude Range 

30 cm-300 cm 

Operating Environment 

Brightly lit (lux > 15) patterned surfaces 

Camera 

Sensor 

Sony EXMOR 1/2.3” Effective pixels:12.4 M (total pixels: 12.76 M) 

Lens 

FOV 94° 20mm(35mm format equivalent ) f/2.8 

ISO Range 

100-3200(video) 100-1600(photo) 

Electronic Shutter Speed 

8s -1/8000s 

Image Max. Size 

4000 x 3000 

Still Photography Modes 
Single shot

Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames

Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 Bracketed frames at 0.7EV Bias Time-lapse 

Supported SD Card Types 

Micro SD

Max. capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required 

Video Recording Modes 

UHD : 4096x2160p 24/25, 3840x2160p24/25/30 FHD:1920x1080p 24/25/30/48/50/60 HD:1280x720p 

24/25/30/48/50/60 

Max. Bitrate Of Video Storage 

60 Mbps 

Supported File Formats 

FAT32/exFAT

Photo: JPEG, DNG

Video: MP4/MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) 

Operating Temperature Range 

0°C to 40°C 

Appendix 

Specifications 

Operating Range 30 cm-300 cm 

54 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Appendix 

Green and Yellow Flash Alternatively 

Aircraft Warming Up 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Remote Controller 

Operating Frequency 

2.400 GHz-2.483 GHz 
Transmitting Distance 

2000 m (Outdoor And Unobstructed) 

Video Output Port 

USB 

Operating Temperature Range 

0°C- 40°C 

Battery 

6000 mAh LiPo 2S 

Mobile Device Holder 

Tablets and smartphones 

Transmitter Power(EIRP) 

FCC: 20 dbm; CE:16 dbm 

Working Voltage 

1.2 A @7.4 V 

Charger 

Voltage 

17.4 V 

Rated Power 

100 W 

Intelligent Flight Battery ( PH3-4480 mAh-15.2 V ) 

Capacity 

4480 mAh 
Voltage 

15.2 V 

Battery Type 

LiPo 4S 

Energy 

68 Wh 

Net Weight 

365 g 

Operating Temperature 

-10°C- 40°C 

Max. Charging Power 

100 W 

Aircraft Status Indicator Description 

Alternatively 

Red,GreenandYellowFlash 

Green Flashes Slowly 

Yellow Flashes Slowly Fast Yellow Flashing 

Fast Red Flashing — Solid Red 

Turning on and Self-Diagnostics 

Safe to Fly (P-mode with GPS and Vision Positioning) 

Safe to Fly (A-mode but No GPS and Vision Posi- tioning) 

Remote Controller Signal Lost Critical Battery Warning Critical Error 
Normal 

X2 Green Flashes Twice 

Warning 

Safe to Fly (P-mode with Vision Positioning but without GPS) 

Slow Red Flashing 

Red and Yellow Flash Alternatively 

Low Battery Warning 

Red Flashing Alternatively 

IMU Error 
Compass Calibration Required 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 55 

Appendix 

Course Lock (CL) 

The nose direction, at the time that CL is set, will remain the forward direction regardless of 

how the orientation and position of the aircraft changes. This will remain fixed until you reset it 

or exit CL mode. 

Point of Interest (POI)* 

Point of Interest. Record a point of interest (POI). The aircraft can then circle around the POI 

and the nose will always points toward the POI. 

Modes IOC 

GPS enabled 

GPS counts 

Flight Distance Limits 

Home Lock 

Yes 

Aircraft ≥10m Home Point 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) 

IOC allows users to lock the control orientation of the aircraft in different modes. There are three 

working modes for IOC that can be selected in the DJI Pilot app. IOC only works when the aircraft is in F-mode, therefore the user must toggle the flight mode switch to activate IOC. Refer 

to the table below: 

Record a Home Point (HP) and enter HL mode. The forward and backward Home Lock (HL)* 

controls will move the aircraft farther from and closer to the established Home 

Pont, regardless of how the orientation and position of the aircraft changes. 

*Home Lock and Point of Interest feature are coming soon. 
IOC Requirements 

IOC is only available under the following conditions: Course Lock No None 

POI Yes 

Using IOC 

Aircraft 

None 

5m~500m Point of Interest 

Toggle the Flight Mode Switch F-mode and follow the instructions prompted on the DJI Pilot 

app to select the desired IOC mode. 

56 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Appendix 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

FCC Compliance FCC Compliance 

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 

conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and

(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause 

undesired 

operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance 

could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. 

Compliance Information 

FCC Warning Message 

Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance 

could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 

conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: 
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator& your body. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. 

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital 

device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable 

protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates 

uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with 

the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no 

guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does 

cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning 

the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or 

more of the following measures: 

—Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

—Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is 

connected. —Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. 

IC RSS warning 

This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard (s). Operation is 

subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this 

device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Le présent areil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada licables aux areils radio exempts de 

licence. 

L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes:

(1) l'areil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et

(2) l'utilisateur de l'areil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage 

est 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 57 

Appendix 

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement. 

IC Radiation Exposure Statement: 

This equipment complies with IC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 

20cm between the radiator& your body. 

Any Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance 

could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. 
KCC Warning Message 

“해당무선설비는 운용 중 전파혼신 가능성이 있으므로 인명안전과 관련된 서비스는 할 수 없습니

다 .” “해당 무선설비는 운용 중 전파혼신 가능성이 있음” 

NCC Warning Message 

低功率電波輻射性電機管理辦法 第十二條經型式認證合格之低功率射頻電機,非經許可,公司、商

號或使用者均不得擅自變更頻率、加 大功率或變更原設計之特性及功能。 第十四條低功率射頻電

機之使用不得影響飛航安全及干擾合法通信;經發現有干擾現象時,應改善至無 干擾時方得繼續使

用。前項合法通信,指依電信法規定作業之無線電通信。低功率射頻電機須忍受合法 通信或工業、

科學及醫療用電波輻射性電機設備之干擾。

Appendix 

58 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

The content is subject to change. 

Download the latest version from http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3 

If you have any questions about this document, please contact DJI by sending a message to DocSupport@dji.com. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 
User Manual 2015.7 

V1.4 

Using this manual 

Legends 

Warning Important Hints and Tips Reference 

Before Flight 

The following tutorials and manuals have been produced to ensure you to make full use of your 

Inspire 1. 

1.Disclaimer

2.In the Box

3.Inspire 1 Quick Start Guide

4.Safety Guidelines

5.Inspire 1 User Manual

6.Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines 

Watching all the tutorial videos and reading the Disclaimer before flight is recommended. Afterwards, prepare for your first flight by using the Inspire 1 Quick Start Guide. Refer to this 

manual for more comprehensive information. 

Watch the video tutorials 

Please watch the tutorial video below to learn how to use Inspire 1 correctly and safely: www.dji.com/product/inspire-1/video 

Download the DJI Pilot app 

Download and install the DJI Pilot app before use. Scan the QR code or visit “http://m.dji.net/

djipilot” to download the app. 

For the best experience, use mobile device with Andriod V 4.1.2 or above. Requires iOS 8.0 or 

later. 
2 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Contents 

Using this manual 

Legends 2 Before Flight 2 Watch the video tutorials 2 Download the DJI Pilot app 2 

Product Profile 

Introduction 6 Feature Highlights 6 Assemble the Aircraft 7 Aircraft Diagram 9 Remote Controller 

Diagram 9 

Aircraft 

Flight Controller 12 Flight Mode 12 Flight Status Indicator 12 Return to Home (RTH) 13 Dynamic Home Point 15 Vision Positioning System 16 Flight Recorder 17 Attaching and Detaching the 

Propellers 17 DJI Intelligent Flight Battery 18 

Remote Controllers 

Remote Controller Profile 24 Remote Controller Operations 24 Dual Remote Controllers Mode 

29 Remote Controller Status LED 31 Linking the Remote Controller 32 Remote Controller Compliance Version 33 

Gimbal and Camera 

Camera Profile 35 Gimbal 36 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 3 

DJI Pilot App 

Camera 40 Map 43 Academy 43 User Center 43 

Flight 

Flight Environment Requirements 45 Flight Limits and Flight Restriction Area 45 Preflight 

Checklist 49 Calibrating the Compass 49 Auto Take-off and Auto Landing 50 Starting/Stopping 

the Motors 51 Flight Test 51 

FAQ 

Appendix 

Specifications 57 Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) 60 How to Update Firmware 61 FCC 

Compliance 62 

4 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Product Profile 

This chapter describes the features of Inspire 1, instructs you to assemble the aircraft 

and explains the components on the aircraft and remote controllers. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 5 
Product Profile 

Introduction 
The Inspire 1 is brand new quadcopter capable of capturing 4K video and transmitting an HD 

video signal (up to 2km) to multiple devices straight out of the box. Equipped with retractable 

landing gear, it can capture an unobstructed 360 degree view from its camera. The built-in 

camera has an integrated gimbal to maximize stability and weight efficiency while minimizing 

space. When no GPS signal is available, Vision Positioning technology provides hovering precision. 

Feature Highlights 

Camera and Gimbal: Up to 4K video recording and 12 megapixel photo capture. Reserved 

mounting space for ND filters for better exposure control. New quick-release mount allows you 

to remove the camera with ease. 

HD Video Downlink: Low latency, HD downlink powered by an enhanced version of the DJI 

Lightbridge system. It also provides dual controllers mode. 

Landing gear: Retractable landing gear that enables an unobstructed panoramic view from the 

camera. DJI Intelligent Flight Battery: 4500 mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery employs new battery cells and a battery management system. 

Flight Controller: The next generation flight controller system provides a more reliable flight experience. A new flight recorder stores the flight data from each flight, and Vision Positioning 

enhances hovering precision when no GPS is available. 

Assemble the Aircraft Unlocking Travel Mode 

The aircraft is in Travel Mode during delivery. Follow these steps to change it to Landing Mode 

before your first flight:

1. Insert the Intelligent Flight Battery into the battery compartment.

2. Power on the Remote Controller and the Intelligent Flight Battery. 

3. Toggle the Transformation Switch up and down at least four times. 4. Power off the aircraft. 

Travel Mode Toggle×4 Landing Mode 

Product Profile 

6 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Battery must be fully charged before using it for the first time. Refer to "Charging the Intelligent 

Flight Battery" (P21) for more information .

If you have purchased the dual remote controller version, you must use the Master remote con-
troller to deactivate Travel Mode. Refer to "Setting Up Dual Remote Controllers Mode" (P30) 

section for more infromation about Master remote controller. 

Be sure to remove the gimbal from the aircraft before switch from Landing Mode to Travel 

Mode. Place the aircraft on the smooth and reflective surface (e.g. table or tile) before switching between the travel modes to the landing mode. Do not place the aircraft on the rough and 

sound-absorbing surface (e.g. carpet) before switching between the travel modes and landing 

mode. 

Installing Gimbal and Camera 

1. Remove Gimbal Cover.

2. Rotate the Gimbal Lock to the unlocked position (to the right when facing the nose of the aircraft). 3. Insert the gimbal by aligning the white mark on the Gimbal.

4. Rotate the Gimbal Lock back into the locked position. 

1 

Gimbal Cover 

3 Gimbal Lock Mounting Place 

Gimbal Connector 

2 

Ensure the Micro-SD card is correctly inserted into the camera. 

Attaching Propellers 

Locked 

Attach propellers with the black nut onto motors with the black dot and spin counter-clockwise 

to secure. Attach propellers with gray nut onto motors without a black dot and spin clockwise 

to secure. 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Product Profile 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 7 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual

Place all propellers onto the correct motor and tighten by hand to ensure security before flight. 

Attaching 1345s Quick-Release Propellers 
The 1345s Quick-Release propeller is the upgrade version of the propellers that greatly enhance the reliability of the 

propeller during the flight. Following the steps below to attach the 1345s Quick-Release propellers. 

1. Install the propellers with a white dot onto the mounting plates that have a white dot, and install the propellers without a white dot onto the mounting plates that do not have a white dot. 

White dot White dot 

Without white dot 

Product Profile 

2. Align the hook (A) on the propellers with the securing spring (B), then press down the propeller onto the mounting plate then rotate the propellers according to the lock direction until it 

is secured. 

Preparing Remote Controller 

Tilt the Mobile Device Holder to the desired position then adjust the antenna as shown. 

 1. Press the button on the side of the Mobile Device Holder to release the clamp, adjust it 

to fit then attach 

your mobile device. 

 2. Connect your mobile device to the remote controller with a USB cable. 

 3. Plug one end of the cable into your mobile device, and the other end into the USB port 

on the back of 

the remote controller. 

8 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Without white dot 
Aircraft Diagram 

[6] 

[11] 
[1] 

[7] [8] 

 . [1] GPS 

 . [2] Propeller (P17) 

Remote Controller Diagram 

[9] [8] 

[7] 

[1] [2] 

[3] [4] [5] [6] 

[1] Antennas (P29) 

Relays aircraft control and video signal. 

[2] Mobile Device Holder 

Mounting place for your mobile device. 

[3] Control Stick 

Controls aircraft orientation. 

[4] Return Home (RTH) Button (P13) 

Press and hold the button to initiate Return to Home (RTH). 

[5] Transformation Switch (P27) 

Toggle the switch up or down to raise or lower the landing gear. 

[2]

[3] [3] 

Motor 

[4] 

[4] [5] 

[9]

[10] [8] 

[12] 
[13] 

Aircraft Micro-USB Port 

 . [9] Rear LED (P12) 

 . [10] Camera Micro-USB Port 

 . [11] Camera Micro-SD Card Slot (P35) 

 . [12] Vision Positioning Sensors (P16) 

 . [13] Aircraft Status Indicator (P13) 

Front LED (P12) [5] Landing gear 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

Product Profile 

 . [6] Gimbal and Camera (P35) 

 . [7] Intelligent Flight Battery (P18) 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 9 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

[6] Battery Level LEDs 

Displays the current battery level. 
[7] Status LED 

Displays the power status. 

[10] Camera Settings Dial 

Turn the dial to adjust camera settings. Only functions when the remote controller is connected 

to a mobile device running the DJI Pilot app. 

[11] Playback Button 

Playback the captured images or videos. 

[12] Shutter Button 

Press to take a photo. If in burst mode, the set number of photos will be taken with one press. 

. [13] Flight Mode Switch 

Used to switch between P, A and F mode. 

. [14] Video Recording Button 

Press to start recording video. Press again to stop recording. 

. [15] Gimbal Dial 

Use this dial to control the tilt of the gimbal. 

. [16] Mini-HDMI Port 

Connect an HD compatible monitor to this port to get a live HD video preview of what 

the camera sees. 

. [17] Micro-USB Port 

For connecting the remote controller to your computer. 

[20] 

[23] [21] 

[22] 

[18] CAN Bus Port 

Reserved for future use. 

[19] USB Port 

10 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
[8] Power Button 

Used to power on or power off the remote controller. 

[9] RTH LED 

Circular LED around the RTH button displays RTH status. 

[16] [17] [18] [19] 

[15] [10] 

[14] [13] 

[11] [12] 

Product Profile 

Connect to mobile device to access all of the DJI Pilot app controls and features. 

[20] GPS Module 

Used to pinpoint the location of the remote controller. 

[21] Back Left Button 

Customizable button in DJI Pilot app. 

[22] Power Port 

Connect to a power source to charge the remote controller’s internal battery. 

[23] Back Right Button 

Customizable button in DJI Pilot app. 
Aircraft 
This chapter describes the features of the Flight Controller, Vision Positioning System 

and the Intelligent Flight Battery. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 11 
Aircraft 

Flight Controller 
The Inspire 1’s flight controller is based on DJI flight controller with several enhancements such 

as new flight mode and new safe mode. Three safe modes are available: Failsafe, Return 

Home and Dynamic Home Point. These features ensure the safe return of your aircraft if the 

control signal is lost. A flight recorder stores crucial flight data for each flight. 

Flight Mode 

Three flight modes are available. The details of each flight mode are found in the section below:

P mode (Positioning) : P mode works best when GPS signal is strong. There are three different 

states of P mode, which will be automatically selected by the Inspire 1 depending on GPS signal strength and Vision Positioning sensors: 

P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available, and the aircraft is using GPS for positioning. P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but the GPS signal is not. Aircraft is using only 

Vision Positioning for hovering

P-ATTI: Neither GPS or Vision Positioning available, aircraft is using only its barometer for positioning, so only altitude is controlled. 

A mode (Attitude): The GPS and Vision Positioning System is not used for holding position. The 

aircraft only uses its barometer to maintain altitude. If it is still receiving a GPS signal, the aircraft can automatically return home if the Remote Controller signal is lost and if the Home Point 

has been recorded successfully. F mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information about IOC, refer to the IOC in Appendix. 

Use the Flight Controller mode switch to change the flight mode of the aircraft, refer to the 

“Flight Mode Switch” on P27 for more information. 

Flight Status Indicator 

The INSPIRE 1 comes with the Front LED, Rear LED and Aircraft Status Indicator. The positions 

of these LEDs are shown in the figure below: 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Front LED Rear LED 

The Front and Rear LED show the orientation of the aircraft. The Front LED displays solid red 

and the Rear LED displays solid green.

Aircraft Status Indicator shows the system status of the flight controller. Refer to the table below 

for more information about the Aircraft Status Indicator: 

12 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Aircraft 

Normal 
Alternatively 

Red,GreenandYellowFlash 

Green Flashes Slowly 

Yellow Flashes Slowly Fast Yellow Flashing 

Fast Red Flashing — Solid Red 

Return to Home (RTH) 

Power on and self-check 

Safe to Fly (P mode with GPS and Vision Positioning) 

Safe to Fly (A mode but No GPS and Vision Positioning) Remote Controller Signal Lost 

Critical Low Battery Warning Critical Error 

Green and Yellow Flash Alternatively 

Aircraft warming up 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Aircraft Status Indicator Description 
X2 Green Flashes Twice 

Safe to Fly (P mode with Vision Positioning but without GPS) 

Warning 

Slow Red Flashing 

Low Battery Warning 

Red Flashing Alternatively 

IMU Error 

Red and Yellow Flash Alternatively 

Compass Calibration Required 
The Return to Home (RTH) brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. There are 

three cases that will trigger RTH procedure; they are Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH and Failsafe 

RTH. 

Home Point 

Smart RTH 

The Home Point is the location at which your aircraft takes off when the GPS signal is strong. 

You can view the GPS signal strength through the GPS icon ( ). If you are using the Dynamic Home Point setting, the Home Point will be updated to your current position as you move 

around and when the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks green. 

GPS 

Description 

Using the RTH button on the remote controller (refer to “RTH button” on P28 for more information) or the RTH button in the DJI Pilot app when GPS is available to enables smart RTH. The 

aircraft return to the latest recorded Home Point, you may control the aircraft's orientation to 

avoid collision during the Smart RTH. Press the Smart RTH button once to start the process, 

press the Smart RTH button again to exit Smart RTH and regain the control. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 13 

Aircraft 

Battery Level Warning 

Remark 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

DJI Pilot app 

Flight Instructions 

Low battery level warning 

The battery power is low. Please land the aircraft. 

Aircraft status indicator blinks RED slowly. 
Tap “Go-home” to have

the aircraft return to the Home point and land automatically, or “Cancel” to resume normal 

flight. If no action is taken, the aircraft will automatically go home and land after 10 seconds. 

Remote controller will sound an alarm. 

Fly the aircraft back and land it as soon as possible, then stop the motors and replace the battery. 

Critical Low battery level warning 

The aircraft must land immediately. 

Aircraft status indicator blinks RED quickly. 

The DJI Pilot app screen will flash red and aircraft starts to descend. Remote controller will 

sound an alarm. 

The aircraft

will begin to descend and land automatically. 

Estimated remaining flight time 

Estimated remaining flight based on current battery level. 

N/A 

N/A 

N/A 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual Low Battery RTH 

The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a 

point that may affect the safe return of the aircraft. Users are advised to return home or land the 

aircraft immediately when these warnings are shown. DJI Pilot app will advise user to return the 

aircraft to the Home Point when low battery warning is triggered. Aircraft will automatically return to the Home Point if no action is taken after 10 seconds countdown. User can cancel the 

RTH by pressing once on the RTH button. The thresholds for these warnings are automatically 

determined based on the current aircraft altitude and its distance from the Home Point. 

Aircraft will land automatically if the current battery level can only support the aircraft to land to 

the ground from the current altitude. User can use the remote controller to control the aircraft’s 

orientation during the landing process. 

The Battery Level Indicator is displayed in the DJI Pilot app, and is described below 

Critical Low battery level warning(Red) 

Low battery level warning 
Power requires to return home 

Sufficient battery level(Green) 

Remaining flight time 

Battery level indicator 

14 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Aircraft 
When the critical battery level warning activates and the aircraft is descending to land automatically, you may push the throttle upward to hover the aircraft and navigate it to a more appropriate location for landing.
Color zones and markers on the battery level indicator reflect estimated remaining flight time 

and are adjusted automatically, according to the aircraft’s current status. 

Failsafe RTH 

Failsafe RTH is activated automatically if remote controller signal (including video relay signal) 

is lost for more than 3 seconds provided that Home Point has been successfully recorded and 

compass is working normally. Return home process may be interrupted and the operator can 

regain control over the aircraft if a remote controller signal is resumed. 

Failsafe Illustration 

1 Record Home Point (HP) 

Blinking Green

4 Signal Lost Lasts 3secs. 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

2 Confirm Home Point 

Blinking Green

5 Go Home(20m can be set) 

Height over HP>20m 

20m 

Elevate to 20m 

Height over HP<=20m 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

3 Remote Controller Signal Lost 

Fast Blinking Yellow

6 Landing after Hovering 15secs 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

Aircraft automatically descends and lands if RTH is triggered when the aircraft flies within a 20 

meter (65 feet) radius of the Home Point.

Aircraft cannot avoid obstruction during the Failsafe RTH, therefore it is important to set an reasonable Failsafe altitude before each flight. Launch the DJI Pilot app and enter “Camera” view 

and select “MODE” to set the Failsafe altitude. 

Aircraft will stop ascending and immediately return to the Home Point if you move the throttle 

stick if the aircraft reaches 20 m altitudes or beyond during Failsafe. 

Dynamic Home Point 

Dynamic home point is useful in situations when you are in motion and require a Home Point 

that is different from the takeoff point. GPS module is located at the position shown in the figure 

below: 
Ensure the space above the GPS module is not obstructed when using Dynamic Home Point. 

GPS 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Aircraft 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 15 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 
There are two options for Dynamic Home Point.

1. Set the aircraft current coordinate as the new Home Point.

2. Set the remote controller’s coordinate as the new Home Point. 

Setting Up Dynamic Home Point 

Follow the steps below to setup Dynamic Home Point: 

1. Connect to the mobile device and launch the DJI Pilot app and go to the “Camera” page. 

2. Tap“ ”and select“ ”, to reset the remote controller’s coordinates as the new Home Point. 

3.Tap“ ”andselect“ ”,toresettheaircraft’scoordinatesasthenewHomePoint. 4. The aircraft status 

indicator blinks green to show Home Point is set successfully. 

Vision Positioning System 

DJI Vision Positioning is a positioning system that uses ultrasonic and image data to help the 

aircraft identify its current position. With the help of Vision Positioning, your Inspire 1 can hover 

in place more precisely and fly indoors or in other environments where there is no GPS signal 

available. The main components of DJI Vision Positioning are located on the bottom of your Inspire 1, including [1]two sonar sensors and[2]one monocular camera. 

Aircraft 

Using Vision Positioning 

[1] 

Vision Positioning is activated automatically when the Inspire 1 is powered on. No manual action is required. Vision Positioning is typically used in the indoor environment where no GPS is 

available. By using the sensors on the Vision Positioning system, Inspire 1 can perform precision hovering even when no GPS is available. 

16 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

[2] 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

Follow the steps below to use Vision Positioning:

1. Toggle the switch to “P” as shown the figure to the right:

2. Place the Inspire 1 on a flat surface. Notice that the Vision Positioning system 

cannot work properly on surfaces without pattern variations.

3. Power on the Inspire 1. The aircraft status indicator will flash twice in green light, which indicates the Vision Positioning system is ready. Gently push the throttle up 
to lift off, and the Inspire 1 will hover in place. 

The performance of your Inspire 1’s Vision Positioning System is subject to the surface you are 

flying over. The ultrasonic waves may not be able to accurately measure the distance over 

sound absorbing materials, and the camera may not function correctly in suboptimal environments. The aircraft will switch from “P” mode to “A” mode automatically if both GPS and Vision 

Positioning System are not available. So operate the aircraft cautiously when in any of the following situations: 

Flying over monochrome surfaces (e.g. pure black, pure white, pure red, pure green). Flying 

over a highly reflective surfaces.

Flying at high speeds(over 8m/s at 2 meters or over 4m/s at 1 meter).

Flying over water or transparent surfaces. 

Flying over moving surfaces or objects.

Flying in an area where the lighting changes frequently or drastically.

Flying over extremely dark (lux < 10) or bright (lux > 10,000) surfaces.

Flying over surfaces that can absorb sound waves (e.g. thick carpet).

Flying over surfaces without clear patterns or texture.

Flying over surfaces with identical repeating patterns or textures (e.g. tiles with same design). 

Flying over inclined surfaces that will deflect sound waves away from the aircraft.

In the event of loss of remote controller’s signal, the aircraft will hover for 8 seconds and then 

auto-land if it is in “P” mode. 

Keep the sensors clean at all times. Dirt or other debris may adversely affect the effectiveness 

of the sensors.

The effective hovering altitudes of the aircraft is from 0 to 2.5 meters.

Vision Positioning system may not function properly when the aircraft is flying over water. Vision 

Positioning system may not be able to recognize pattern on the ground in low light conditions 

(less than 100lux). 

Do not use other ultrasonic devices with frequency of 40 KHz when Vision Positioning system is 

in operation.

Vision Positioning system may not be able to stabilize the aircraft when flying close to the 

ground (below 0.5 meters) in fast speed. 

Keep the animals away from the aircraft when Vision Positioning system is activated. The sonar 

sensor emits high frequency sound that is only audible to some animals. 

Flight Recorder 

Flight data is automatically stored in the internal storage device of the aircraft. User can gain 

access to these data through the DJI Pilot app. This includes flight duration, orientation, distance, aircraft status information, speed, and other parameters. 

Attaching and Detaching the Propellers 

Use only DJI approved propellers with your Inspire 1. The grey or black nut on the propeller 

indicates the rotation direction of the propeller and where it should be attached. To attach the 

propellers properly, 
© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 17 

Aircraft 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual

match the nut with the dots on the motors of your Inspire 1: 

Propellers 
Figure 

Attach On Legends 

Grey cap(1345) Black cap(1345R) 

Motors without a black dot Motors with a black dot 

Lock : Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to mount and tighten 

Unlock : Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to loosen and remove 

Attaching the Propellers 

1. Attach the propellers with a grey nut onto a motor without a black dot and spin the propellers 

clockwise to secure them in place. Attach the propellers with a black nut onto a motor with a 

black dot and spin the propellers counter clockwise to secure its position. Be sure to completely tighten each propeller by hand before flight. 

Ensure propellers are attached to its corresponding motors, otherwise the aircraft cannot take 

off. Handling the propellers with care.

Manually tighten each of the propellers on the corresponding motors to ensure it is attached 

firmly. 

Detaching the Propellers 

Hold the motor still. Then spin the propeller in the unlock direction indicated on the propeller 

itself. 

Detaching 1345s Quick-Release Propellers 

Press the 1345s Quick-Release propellers downward firmly then rotate the propeller in the unlock direction to unlock the propellers. 

Check that the propellers and motors are installed correctly and firmly before every flight. Ensure that all propellers are in good condition before each flight. DO NOT use old, chipped, or 

broken propellers.

Toavoidinjury,STAND CLEARofandDONOTtouchpropellersormotorswhentheyarespinning. ONLY 

use original DJI propellers for a better and safer flight experience. 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery 

The DJI Intelligent Flight Battery has a capacity of 4500mAh, voltage of 22.2V, and smart 

charge- discharge functionality. It can only be charged with an appropriate DJI approved 

charger. 

Intelligent Flight Battery Charger 

Aircraft 

18 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual Battery must be fully charged before using it for the first time. Refer to 

"Charging the Intelligent 

Flight Battery" P21 for more information . 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery Functions 

1. Battery Level Display: LEDs display the current battery level.

2. Battery Life Display: LEDs display the current battery power cycle.

3. Auto-discharging Function: The battery automatically discharges to below 65% of total power when it 

is idle (press the power button to check battery level will cause battery to exit idle state) for 

more than 10 days to prevent swelling. It takes around 2 days to discharge the battery to 

65%.It is normal to feel moderate heat emitting from the battery during the discharge process. 

Discharge thresholds can be set in the DJI Pilot app. 

 4. Balanced Charging: Automatically balances the voltage of each battery cell when 

charging. 

 5. Over charge Protection: Charging automatically stops when the battery is fully charged. 

 6. Temperature Detection: The battery will only charge when the temperature is between 0 

°C(32°F) and 

40°C (104°F). 

 7. Over Current Protection: Battery stops charging when high amperage (more than 10A) 

is detected. 

 8. Over Discharge Protection: Discharging automatically stops when the battery voltage 

reaches 18V to 

prevent over-discharge damage 

9. Short Circuit Protection: Automatically cuts the power supply when a short circuit is detected.

10. Battery Cell Damages Protection: DJI Pilot app shows warning message when damaged 

battery cell 

is detected.

11. Battery Information History: Show the last 32 entries of battery information records that include warning 

messages and so on.

12. Sleep Mode: Sleep mode is entered after 10 minutes of inactivity to save power.

13. Communication: Battery voltage, capacity, current, and other relevant information is provided to the 
aircraft’s to the main controller. 

Refer to Disclaimer and Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelins before use. Users take full 

responsibility for all operations and usage. 

Using the Battery 

LED4 LED2 

LED3 LED1 

Power Button (Built-in LED) 

Powering ON/OFF 

Powering On: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to power 

on. The Power LED will turn red and the Battery Level Indicators will display the current battery 

level. 

Powering Off: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to power 

off.

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 19 

Aircraft 

Battery Level 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 
LED4 

Battery Level 

75%~87.5% 50%~62.5% 25%~37.5% 0%~12.5% 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual Low Temperature Notice: 

1. The performance of the intelligent Flight Battery is significantly reduced when flying in a low 

temperature environments (those with air temperatures below 5°C). Ensure that the battery is 

fully charged and the cell voltage is at 4.35 V before each flight. 

 2. Using the Intelligent Flight Battery in extremely low temperature environments (those 

with air temperatures below -10°C) is not recommended. When flying in environments 

with temperatures between 5°C and -10°C, the Intelligent Flight Battery should be able 

to achieve the appropriate voltage levels (above 4.2 V), but it is recommended that you 

apply the included insulation sticker to the battery in order to prevent a rapid drop in 

temperatures. 

 3. If the DJI Pilot app displays the “Critical Low Battery Level Warning” when flying in low 

temperature environments, stop flying and land the aircraft immediately. You will still be 

able to control the aircraft’s movement when this warning is triggered. 

 4. Store the Intelligent Flight Battery in a room temperature environment and ensure that its 

temperature exceeds 5°C before using it in the low temperature environment. 

 5. When using the Inspire 1 in a low temperature environment, begin by allowing the aircraft to hover at a low altitude, for approximately one minute, to heat the battery. 

 6. To ensure optimum performance, keep the Intelligent Flight Battery’s core temperature 

above 20°C when in use. 

In cold environments, insert the battery into the battery compartment and allow the aircraft to warm up for approximately 1-2 minutes before taking off. 

Checking the battery level 

The Battery Level Indicators display how much remaining power the battery has. When the battery is powered off, press the Power Button once. The Battery Level Indicators will light up to 

display the current battery level. See below for details. 
The Battery Level Indicators will also show the current battery level during charging and discharging. The indicators are defined below. 

: LED is on. 

: LED is off. 

: LED is flashing. 

87.5%~100% 

62.5%~75% 37.5%~50% 12.5%~25% =0% 

20 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Aircraft 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Battery life 

The battery life indicates how many more times the battery can be discharged and recharged 

before it must be replaced. When the battery is powered off, press and hold the Power Button 

for 5 seconds to check the battery life. The Battery Level Indicators will light up and/or blink as 

described below for 2 seconds: 

Battery Life 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Battery Life 
90%~100% 

80%~90% 

70%~80% 

60%~70% 

50%~60% 

40%~50% 

30%~40% 

20%~30% 

below 20% 

When battery life reaches 0%, it can no longer be used. 

For more information about the battery, launch DJI Pilot app and check the information under 

the battery tab. 

Charging the Intelligent Flight Battery 

1. Connect Battery Charger to a power source (100-240V 50/60Hz). 

 2. Open the Protection Cap and connect the Intelligent Flight Battery to the Battery 

Charger. If the battery 

level is above 95%, turn on the battery before charging. 

 3. The Battery Level Indicator will display the current battery level during charging. 

 4. The Intelligent Flight Battery is fully charged when Battery Level Indicators are all off. 

 5. Air cool the Intelligent Flight Battery after each flight. Allow its temperature to drop to 

room temperature 

before storing it for an extended period. 

Do not charge the Intelligent Flight Battery and remote controller with standard charger 

(model: A14-100P1A) at the same time, otherwise the charger may overheat.

Always turn off the battery before inserting it or removing it from the Inspire 1. Never 

insert or remove a battery when it is powered on. 
Power Outlet 

Intelligent Flight Battery 

Charger 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 21 

Aircraft 

Battery Level Indicators while Charging 

LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Battery Level 

0%~25% 

25%~50% 50%~75% 

75%~100% 

Battery Level Indicators while Charging 
LED1 

LED2 

LED3 

LED4 

Blinking Pattern 

LED2 blinks twice per second 

LED2 blinks three times per second LED3 blinks twice per second 

LED3 blinks three times per second 

Battery Protection Item 

Over current detected 

Short circuit detected Over charge detected 

Over-voltage charger detected 

LED4 blinks twice per second 

LED4 blinks three times per second 

Charging temperature is too high (>40°C) 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Fully Charged The table below shows battery protection mechanisms and corresponding LED 

patterns. 

Charging Protection LED Display 

Charging temperature is too low (<0°C) 
After any of the above mentioned protection issues are resolved, press the button to turn off the 

Battery Level Indicator. Unplug the Intelligent Flight Battery from the charger and plug it back 

in to resume charging. Note that you do not need to unplug and plug the charger in the event 

of a room temperature error, the charger will resume charging when the temperature falls within 

the normal range. 

DJI does not take any responsibility for damage caused by third-party chargers. 

How to discharge your Intelligent Flight Battery: 

To effectively calibrate the battery capacity, it is recommended to charge and discharge the 

battery thoroughly for every 10 charge-and-discharge cycle. User should install the battery 

onto the aircraft and then power on the aircraft to initiate the discharge process, discharge the 

battery until the aircraft is powered off automatically. User should then fully charge the battery 

to ensure the battery is working at its optimal. 

Slow: Place the Intelligent Flight Battery into the Inspire 1’s Battery Compartment and power it 

on. Leave it on until there is less than 5% of power left, or until the battery can no longer be 

turned on. Launch the DJI Pilot app to check battery level. 

Rapid: Fly the Inspire 1 outdoors until there is less than 5% of power left, or until the battery can 

no longer be turned on. 

22 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Aircraft 
Remote Controllers 
This chapter describes the features of the remote controller that includes aircraft and 

remote controller operations and dual remote controller mode. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 23 
Remote Controller 

Remote Controller Profile 
The Inspire 1 Remote Controller is a multi-function wireless communication device that integrates the video downlink ground system and aircraft Remote Controller system. The video 

downlink and aircraft Remote Controller system operate at 2.4 GHz with maximum transmission 

distance of 2km. The remote controller features a number of camera functions, such as taking 

and previewing photos and video, and controlling gimbal motions. The remote controller is 

powered by a 2S rechargeable battery. The current battery level is displayed by LEDs on the 

front panel of the remote control. 

Compliance Version: The Remote Controller is compliant with both CE and FCC regulations. 

Operating Mode: Control can be set to Mode 1 , Mode 2.

Mode 1: The right stick serves as the throttle.

Mode 2: The left stick serves as the throttle. 

Do not operate more than 3 aircrafts within in the same area (size equivalent to a soccer field) 

to prevent transmission interference. 

Remote Controller Operations Powering On And Off The Remote Controller 

The Inspire 1 remote controller is powered by a 2S rechargeable battery with a capacity of 

6000mAh. The battery level is indicated by the Battery Level LEDs on the front panel. Follow 

the steps below to power on your remote controller:

1. When powered off, press the Power Button once and the Battery Level LEDs will display the 

current 

battery level. 

 2. Then, press and hold the Power Button to power on the remote controller. 

 3. The Remote Controller will beep when it powers on. The Status LED will blink green 

(slave remote 

controller blinks solid purple) rapidly, indicating that the remote controller is linking to 

the aircraft. The 

Status LED will show a solid green light when linking is completed. 

 4. Repeat step 2 to power off the remote controller after finish using it. 

Remote Controllers 

Charging Remote Controller 

Charge the remote controller via supplied charger. 

24 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Power Button 

Controlling Camera 
Shoot videos or images and adjust camera settings via the Shutter Button, Camera Settings 

Dial, Playback Button and Video Recording Button on the remote control. 

[1] Camera Settings Dial 

[1] [4] [2] 

[3] 

Turn the dial to quickly adjust camera settings such as ISO and shutter speed without letting 

go of the remote controller. Move the dial button to left or right to view the pictures or videos in 

playback mode. 

[2] Playback Button 

Press to view images or videos that have already been captured. 

[3] Shutter Button 

Press to take a photo. If burst mode is activated, multiple photos will be taken with a single 

press. 

[4] Recoding Button 

Press once to start recording video, then press again to stop recording. 

Controlling Aircraft 

This section explains how to use the various features of the remote controller. The Remote Controller is set to Mode 2 by default. 

Charger 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 25 

Power Outlet 

Remote Controllers 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual

Stick Neutral/ mid point: Control sticks of the Remote Controller are placed at the central position. 
Move the Stick: The control stick is pushed away from the central position. 

Remote Controllers 

26 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Remote Controller (Mode 2) 

Aircraft

( indicates nose direction) 

Remarks 

Moving the left stick up and down changes the aircraft’s elevation.

Push the stick up to ascend and down to descend. Push the throttle stick up to takeoff. 

When both sticks are centered, the Inspire 1 will hover in place.

The more the stick is pushed away from the center position, the faster the Inspire 1 will change 

elevation. Always push the stick gently to prevent sudden and unexpected elevation changes. 

Moving the left stick to the left or right controls the rudder and rotation of the aircraft.

Push the sick left to rotate the aircraft counter clock-wise, and push the stick right to rotate the 

aircraft clockwise. If the stick is centered, the Inspire 1 will stay facing its current direction. 

The more the stick is pushed away from the center position, the faster the Inspire 1 will rotate. 

Moving the right stick up and down changes the aircraft’s forward and backward pitch.

Push the stick up to fly forward and down to fly backward. The Inspire 1 will hover in place if the stick is centered. 

Push the stick further away from the center position for a larger pitch angle (maximum 35 ̊) and faster flight. 

Moving the right stick control left and right changes the aircraft’s left and right pitch.

Push left to fly left and right to fly right. The Inspire 1 will hover in place if the stick is centered. 

Push the stick further away from the center position for a larger pitch angle (maximum 35 ̊) and faster flight. 

Gimbal Dial: Turn the dial to the right, and the camera will shift to point upwards. Turn the

dial to the left, and the camera will shift to point downwards. The camera will remain in its current position when dial is static. 
Flight Mode Switch 

Toggle the switch to select the desired flight mode.

You may choose between; P mode, F mode and A

mode. F 
Figure Flight Mode 

F Fmode A Amode P Pmode 

A P 

P mode (Positioning) : P mode works best when GPS signal is strong. There are three different 

states of P mode, which will be automatically selected by the Inspire 1 depending on GPS signal strength and Vision Positioning sensors: 

P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available, and the aircraft is using GPS for positioning. P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but the GPS signal is not. Aircraft is using only 

Vision Positioning for hovering

P-ATTI: Neither GPS or Vision Positioning available, aircraft is using only its barometer for positioning, so only altitude is controlled. 

A mode (Attitude): The GPS and Vision Positioning System is not used for holding position. The 

aircraft only uses its barometer to maintain altitude. If it is still receiving a GPS signal, the aircraft can automatically return home if the Remote Controller signal is lost and if the Home Point 

has been recorded successfully.

F mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information about IOC, refer to the IOC in Appendix. 

The Flight Mode Switch is locked in P mode by default. To unlock the switch, launch the DJI 

Pilot app, enter the "Camera" page, tap "MODE", and then activate "Multiple Flight Mode" . 

Transformation Switch / RTH Button 

The Transformation Switch / RTH Button combination serves two functions. Toggle the switch 

up or down to raise or lower the landing gear. Or, press the button to activate the Return to 

Home (RTH) procedure. Transformation Switch 

This switch has two positions. The effect of toggling the switch to any of these positions is defined below: 

Lower Raise 

1. Raise: Raise the landing gear to its upper most position. 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

Remote Controllers 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 27 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual

2. Lower: The landing gear will lower to its lowest position for landing. 
Do not raise the landing gear when the aircraft is on the ground. Ensure the landing gear is 

lowered before landing. 

RTH button 

Press and hold this button to start the Return to Home (RTH) procedure. The LED around the 

RTH Button will blink white to indicate the aircraft is entering RTH mode. The aircraft will then 

return to the last recorded Home Point. Press this button again to cancel the RTH procedure 

and regain the control of the aircraft. 

Remote Controllers 

Connecting Mobile Device 

Tilt the Mobile Device Holder to the desired position. Press the button on the side of the Mobile 

Device Holder to release the clamp, and then place your mobile device into the clamp. Adjust 

the clamp to secure your mobile device. Then connect your mobile device to the remote controller with a USB cable. Plug one end of the cable into your mobile device, and the other end 

into the USB port on the back of the remote controller. 

28 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Optimal Transmission Range 

The signal transmission between aircraft and remote controller perform best within the range 

that displayed in the picture shown below: 
Optimal Transmission Range 

Strong Weak 

Ensure the aircraft is flying within the optimal transmission range. Adjust the distance and position between the operator and the aircraft to achieve optimal transmission performance. 

Dual Remote Controllers Mode 

More than one remote controller can connect to the same aircraft in Dual Remote Controller 

mode. In Dual Controllers mode, the “Master” remote controller operator controls the orientation of the aircraft, while the “Slave” remote controller controls the movement of the gimbal and 

camera operation. When multiple “slave” remote controllers (max of 6) are connect to the aircraft, only the first connected “slave” remote controller is able to control the gimbal, the remaining “slave” remote controller can view the live feed video from the aircraft and set the camera 

parameters, but they cannot control the gimbal. 

Master Remote Slave Remote Controller Controller 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Remote Controllers 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 29 

Master 

Slave 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control the pitch movement of the camera in the 

single remote controller mode, however, you cannot control the pan movement of the camera. 

Setting Up Dual Remote Controllers Mode 

Dual Remote Controllers mode is disabled by default. Users must enable this feature on the 

“Master” remote controller by through the DJI Pilot app. Follow the steps below for setup: 

“Master” Remote Controller: 

1. Connect the remote controller to your mobile device and launch the DJI Pilot app.

2. Go to the Camera page, and tap to enter the remote controller settings window.

3. Tap “Set RC Status” to enable Master-and-Slave mode.

4. Select “Master” in the “Set RC Status” section to set the remote controller as “Master” remote 

controller. 
RC Control Settings 

Master and Slave Set RC Status 

RC Name 

Slave RC List 

OFF

Connection Password 1234 

RC Settings 

5. Enter the connection password for the “Slave” remote controller. 

“Slave” Remote Controller: 

1. Tap “Search for Master Controller” to search the “Master” remote controller. 

Slave 

T12254 
RC Settings 

RC Control Setting 

Master and Slave Set RC Status 

RC Name 

Master RC List 

OFF Master 

S88642 

Request Control Search for Master Controller 

30 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Remote Controllers 
Remote controller cannot link to the aircraft if the remote controller is set as “Slave”. Meanwhile, 

the “Slave” remote controller cannot control the orientation of the aircraft. Reset the remote controller to “Master” in DJI Pilot app if you wish to link the remote controller to the aircraft. 
2. Search the “Master” remote controller in the surrounding area in the “Request Control” section. 

RC Control Settings 

RC Control Settings 

Master and Slave 

Set RC Status 

OFF 

Master and Slave 

Master Slave 

S88642

Request Control 

RC Name 

S88642 

Set RC Status RC Name 

Master RC List 

Request Control 

RC Settings 

OFF Master Slav 

RC Settings RC Settings 

Search for Master Controller 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Remote Controllers 

RC Control Settings Master and Slave 

Set RC Status 

OFF Connection Password 

Master Slave 1234 

T12254 

RC NameT12254 T12254 Master RC List 
Slave RC List 

Remote Controller Status LED 

Search for Master Controller 

3. Select the “Master” remote controller from the “Master RC List” and input the connection 

password to 

connect to the desired “Master” remote controller. 

Master RC List 

The Status LED reflects connection status between Remote Controller and aircraft. The RTH 

LED shows the Return to Home status of the aircraft. The table below contains details on these 

indicators. 

Status LED 

RTH LED 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 31 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual Status LED 

— Solid Red — Solid Green — Solid Purple — Solid Blue 
Slow Blinking Red 

/

Red and Green/ Red and Yellow Alternate Blinks 

RTH LED

— Solid White 

Blinking White Blinking White 

Alarm chime 

chime D-DD-D- chime D-D-D...... 

None 

Sound chime 

D . . . DD .. .. .. 

Remote Controller Status 

The remote controller set as "Master" but it is not connected with the aircraft. 

The remote controller set as "Master" and it is connected with the aircraft. 

The remote controller set as "Slave" but it is not connected with the aircraft. 

The remote controller set as "Slave" and it is connected with the aircraft. 

Remote controller error. 

HD Downlink is disrupted. 

Remote Controller Status.

Aircraft is returning home.

Sending Return to Home command to the aircraft. Aircraft Return to Home in progress. 

Remote Controllers 

The Remote Status Indicator will blink red, sound an alert, when the battery level is critically 

low. 

Linking the Remote Controller 

The remote controller is linked to your aircraft before delivery. Linking is only required when using a new remote controller for the first time. Follow these steps to link a new remote controller: 
1. Power on the remote controller and connect to the mobile device. Launch DJI Pilot app.

2. Power on the Intelligent Flight Battery.

3. Enter “Camera” view and tap on and then tap “Linking Remote Controller” button as shown 

below. 

32 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Remote Control Calibration 

Stick Mode 

RC Control Setting 

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changing stick modes alters the way the aircraft is controlled. Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

C1 Gimbal Pitch/Yaw C2 Reset gimbal yaw 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back of the remote controller. 

Linking Remote Controller 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 4. The remote controller is ready to link. The Remote Controller Status 

Indicator blinks blue and "beep" 

sound is emitted. 
Stick Mode 

RC Control Setting 

Remote Control Calibration 

Searching for aircraft frequency,

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changingtismtiecokumt oind5e4s saeltceorsndthse way the aircraft is controlled. 

Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

C1 Gimbal Pitch/Yaw C2 Reset gimbal yaw 

Press the linking button on the aircraft to link this remote controller 

Remote Controllers 

Cancel 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back of the remote controller. 

Linking Remote Controller 

5. Locate the Linking button on the front of the aircraft, as shown in the figure shown below. 

Press the Linking button to start linking. The Remote Controller Status Indicator will display solid green if Link is succeed. 

Remote controller cannot link to the aircraft if the remote controller is set as “Slave”. Meanwhile, 

the “Slave” remote controller cannot control the orientation of the aircraft. Reset the remote controller to “Master” in DJI Pilot app if you wish to link the remote controller to the aircraft. Remote 

controller will disconnect from the linked aircraft if a new remote controller is linked to the same 

aircraft. 

Remote Controller Compliance Version 

The remote controller is compliant with both CE and FCC requirements. 

C2 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 33 
Gimbal and Camera 
This chapter provides the technical specifications of the camera and explains the working mode of the gimbal. 

34 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Camera and Gimbal 

Camera Profile 
The on-board camera supports 4K video capture up to 4096x2160p24 and 12M pixel photos 

capture by using the 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor. You may export the video in either MOV or MP4 

format for editing. Available picture shooting modes include burst, continuous, and timer 

mode. A live preview of what the camera is seeing before you shoot videos and pictures is 

supported through the DJI Pilot App. 

Camera Micro-SD Card Slot 

To store your photos and videos, plug in the micro-SD card into the slot shown below before 

powering on the Inspire 1. The Inspire 1 comes with a 16GB micro-SD card and supports up to 

a 64GB micro-SD card. A UHS-1 type micro-SD card is recommended, because the fast read 

and write capability of these cards enables you to store high-resolution video data. 

Gimbal and Camera 

Do not remove micro-SD card from the Inspire 1 when it is powered on. 

Camera Data Port 

Power on the Inspire 1 and then connect a USB cable to the Camera Data Port to download 

photos or videos from the camera to your computer. 

Power on the aircraft before attempting to download the files. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 35 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual Camera Operation 
Use the Shutter and Record button on the remote controller to shoot the images or the videos 

through the DJI Pilot app. For more information about how to use these buttons, refer to “Controlling Camera” P25. 

ND Filter 

Attach an ND filter to the front of the camera to reduce over-exposure and “jello” effect. 

Gimbal Gimbal Profile 

The 3-axis Gimbal provides a steady platform for the attached camera, allowing you to capture 

stabilized images and video. The Gimbal can tilt the camera up to 120 degrees and rotate 360 

degrees. 

+30° 0° 

-90° 

+330° -330° 

Gimbal and Camera 

Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control pitch movement of the camera by default. Note that you cannot control the pan motion of the camera by default. Enable the “Masterand-Slave” mode and set the remote controller to “Slave” state if you wish to control both the 

pan and pitch movement of the camera. 

Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control the pitch movement of the camera in the 

single remote controller mode, however, you cannot control the pan movement of the camera. 

Pan Control

Follow the instructions below to use the gimbal dial to control the pan movement of the gimbal:

1. Power on the aircraft and remote control, launch DJI Pilot app and enter “Camera” page.

2. Tap “RC Control Settings” icon and select either C1 or C2 customizable button as the gimbal 

pitch/ 

yaw switching button.

3. Select “Gimbal Pitch/Yaw” from the dropdown list. 

36 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Using DJI Pilot App to Control Gimbal 

Follow the steps below to use DJI Pilot app to control the gimbal orientation:

1. Launch DJI Pilot app, enter “Camera” page.
2. Tap and press on the screen until a blue circle is shown.

3. Slide to control the gimbal orientation within the “Camera” page as shown below. 

MODE P-GPS CL Safe to Fly (GPS) 

RC Control Setting 

Remote Control Calibration 

Stick Mode 

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changing stick modes alters the way the aircraft is controlled. Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

C1 Gimbal Pitch/Yaw C2 Reset gimbal yaw 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back of the remote controller. 

Linking Remote Controller 

Press C1 or C2 button to switch from pitch mode to yaw mode. You may use the gimbal dial to 

pan the gimbal under yaw mode. Press C1 or C2 again to exit yaw mode. 

H: 39M D: 1039M V.S: 8.3M/S H.S:24.2M/S 1.2M 

ISO 100 1/320 EV 0 

4821 JPEG 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

Gimbal and Camera 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 37 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual Gimbal Operation Modes 
Three Gimbal operation modes are available. Switch between the different operation modes on 

the Camera page of the DJI Pilot App. Note that your mobile device must be connected to the 

remote controller for changes to take effect. Refer to the table below for details: 

Pitch 

Follow Mode FPV Mode 

Free Mode Re-alignment 

Pan 

The angle between Gimbal’s orientation and aircraft’s nose remains constant at all times. One 

user alone can control the pitch motion of the Gimbal, but a second user is required to control 

the pan motion using a second remote controller. 

The Gimbal will lock to the movements of the aircraft to provide a First- Person-View flying experience. 

The Gimbal’s motion is independent of the aircraft’s orientation. One user alone can control the 

pitch motion of the Gimbal, but a second user is required to control the pan motion using a 

second remote controller. 

Tap to force the Gimbal orientation to re-align with aircraft’s orientation by panning from gimbal’s current orientation. Pitch angle will remain unchanged during the re-alignment. 

Gimbal and Camera 

Gimbal motor error may occur in these situations: (1) Gimbal is placed on uneven ground. (2) 

Gimbal has received an excessive external force, e.g. a collision. Please take off from flat, 

open ground and protect the gimbal after powering up.

Flying in heavy fog or cloud may make the gimbal wet, leading to a temporary failure. The gimbal will recover when it dries out. 

38 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

DJI Pilot App 

This chapter describes the four main GUI of the DJI Pilot app. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 39 

United States 

Mountain View 

CAMERA DIRECTOR STORE DISCOVERY 
MODE P-GPS CL Safe to Fly (GPS) 

ISO 100 1/320 EV 0 4821 JPEG 

H: 39M D: 1039M V.S: 8.3M/S H.S:24.2M/S 1.2M 

DJI Pilot App 

The DJI Pilot app is a new mobile app designed specifically for the Inspire 1. Use this app to 

control the gimbal, camera and other features of your flight system. The app also comes with 

Map, Store a User Center, for configuring your aircraft and sharing your content with friends. It 

is recommended that you use a tablet for the best experience. 

Camera 

The Camera page contains a live HD video feed from the Inspire 1’s camera. You can also configure various camera parameters from the Camera page. 

[1] 

[2] 

[3] [4] 

[5] [6] [7] 

[8] 

[19] [18] 

[17] [16] 
[15] [14] 

[13] 

[9] 

[10] 

40 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

[12] 

[11] 

DJI Pilot App 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

[1] Flight Mode 

: The text next to this icon indicates the current flight mode.

Tap to configure the MC (Main Controller) Settings. These settings allow you to modify flight 

limits and set the gain values. 

[2] GPS Signal Strength 

: This icon shows the current strength of GPS signals. Green bars indicate adequate GPS 

strength. 

[3] IOC Settings 

CL : This icon displays the IOC setting when the aircraft has entered F-mode. Tap to view the 

IOC settings menu and select the desired IOC setting. 

[4] System Status 

: This icon indicates the current aircraft system status and GPS signal strength. 

[5] Battery Level Indicator 

: The battery level indicator provides a dynamic display of the battery level. The colored zones 

on the battery level indicator represent the power levels needed to carry out different functions. 

[6] Remote Controller Signal 

: This icon shows the strength of remote controller’s signal. 

[7] HD Video Link Signal Strength 

: This icon shows the strength of the HD video downlink connection between the aircraft and the remote controller. 
[8] Battery Level 

: This icon shows the current battery level. 

Tap to view the battery information menu, set the various battery warning thresholds, and view 

the battery warning history. 

[9] General Settings 

: Tap this icon to view the General Settings page. From this page, you can set flight parameters, reset the camera, enable the quick view feature, adjust the gimbal roll value, and toggle 

the flight route display. 

[10] Camera Operation Bar

Shutter and Recording Settings 

: Tap to enter various camera value settings, including color space for the recording, resolution 

of the videos, image size and so on. 

Shutter 

: Tap this button to take a single photo. Press and hold this button to select single shot, triple 

shot or time-lapsed shooting modes. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 41 

DJI Pilot App 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual Record 

: Tap once to start recording video, then tap again to stop recording. You can also press the 

Video Recording Button on the remote controller, which has the same functionality. 

Playback 

: Tap to enter the playback page. You can preview photos and videos as soon as they are captured. 

Camera Settings 

: Tap to set ISO, shutter and auto exposure values of the camera. 

[11] Vision Positioning 

: This icon shows the distance between the surface and the Vision Positioning System’s sensors. 

[12] Flight Telemetry 

H: 39M D: 1039M V.S: 8.3M/S H.S:24.2M/S 1.2M

The Vision Positioning Status icon is highlighted when the Vision Positioning is in operation. 
Flight attitude is indicated by the flight attitude icon.

(1) The red arrow shows which direction the aircraft is facing.

(2) Light blue and dark blue areas indicate pitch.

(3) The angle of the boundary between the light blue and dark blue areas indicates the roll angle. 

[13] Map 

Display the flight path of the current flight. Tap to switch from the Camera GUI to the Map GUI. 

[14] Home Point Settings 

: Tap this button to reset the current home point. You may choose to set the aircraft take-off location, the remote controller’s current position, or the aircraft’s current position as the Home 

Point. 

[15] Return to Home (RTH) 

: Initiate RTH home procedure. Tap to have the aircraft return to the latest home point. 

[16] Gimbal Operation Mode 

Refer to "Gimbal Operation Mode" P38 for more information. 

DJI Pilot App 

42 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

[17] Auto Takeoff/Landing 

/ : Tap to initiate auto takeoff or landing. 

[18] Livestream 

: Livestream icon indicates the current video feed is broadcasting live on YouTube. Be sure the 

mobile data service is available on the mobile device. 

[19] Back 
: Tap to return to the main GUI. 

Director 

Director is an automatic video editor built into the DJI Pilot app. After recording several video 

clips, simply tap “Director” from the app’s home screen. You can then select a template and a 

specified number of clips, which are automatically combined to create a short film that can be 

shared immediately. 

Store 

Tap “Store” to visit the official DJI Online Store to see the latest information about DJI products 

and easily buy new products. 

Discovery 

Sync pictures and videos to your mobile device, view flight logs, and check your DJI account 

status in "Discovery". Use your registered DJI account to login to "Discovery". 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 43 

DJI Pilot App 
Flight 

This chapter describes the flight safety and flight restrictions. 
44 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Flight 

Once pre-flight preparation is complete, it is recommended to use the flight simulator to learn 

how to fly safely. Ensure that all flights are carried out in a suitable location. 

Flight Environment Requirements 

 1. Do not use the aircraft in severe weather conditions. These include wind speed exceeding 10m/s , snow, rain and smog. 

 2. Only fly in open areas. Tall buildings and steel structures may affect the accuracy of the 

on-board compass and GPS signal. 

 3. Avoid from obstacles, crowds, high voltage power lines, trees or bodies of water. 

 4. Minimize electromagnetic interference by not flying in area with high levels of electromagnetism, 

including mobile phone base stations or radio transmission towers. 

5. Aircraft and battery performance is subject to environment factor such as air density and 

temperature. 

Be very careful when flying 14700 feet (4500 meters) or more above sea level as battery and 

aircraft 

performance may be reduced.

6. The Inspire 1 cannot operate within the polar areas in “P” mode. 

Flight Limits and Flight Restriction Area 

Flight limits on height and distance can be set. The details of these flight limits are described in 

the following section.

All unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators should abide by all regulations from such organizations as the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), FAA and their own national airspace regulations. For safety reasons, the flight limits function is enabled by default to help 

users use this product safely and legally. The flight limits function includes height limits, distance limits and No Fly Zones. 

When operating in P Mode, height, distance limits and No Fly Zones work together to manage 

flight. In A mode only height limits work and flights cannot go higher than 120 meters. 

Max Height & Radius Limits 
Max Height & Radius limit flying height and distance, and the user may change these settings 

in the DJI Pilot App. Once complete, your Inspire 1 will fly in a restricted cylinder that is determined by these settings. The tables below show the details of these limits. 

Max Height 

Max Radius Home Point 

Height of aircraft when powered on 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 45 

Flight 

GPS Signal Strong Blinking Green 

Max Height 

Flight altitude must be under the set height. 

Warning: Height limit reached. 

None. 

GPS Signal Weak 

Blinking Yellow 

Flight Limits 

DJI Pilot App 

Max Height 

Flight height restricted to 120m and under. 
Warning: Height limit reached. 

None. 

No limits 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Max Radius 

Flight Limits 

Flight distance must be within the max radius. 

DJI Pilot App 

Warning: Distance limit reached. 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Rapid red flashing when close to the 

max radius limit. 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Max Radius 

If you fly out of the limit, you can still control the Inspire 1, but cannot fly it further.

If the Inspire 1 flies out of the max radius in Ready to Fly (non-GPS) mode, it will fly back within 

range automatically. 

No-Fly Zones 

All No-Fly Zones are listed on the DJI official website at http://flysafe.dji.com/no-fly. No-Fly 

Zones are divided into Airports and Restricted Areas. Airports include major airports and flying 

fields where manned aircraft operate at low altitudes. Restricted Areas include borders between countries or sensitive sites. The details of the No-Fly Zones are explained below: 

Airport: 

 . (1) Airport No-Fly Zones are comprised of Takeoff Restricted Zones and Restricted-Altitude Zones. Each zone features circles of various size. 
 . (2) R1 depends on the size and shape of the airport, and is an area around the airport 

that is a Takeoff Restricted Zone, inside of which take-off and flight is prevented. 

 . (3) From R1 to R1+1 mile around the airport, the flight altitude is limited on a 15 degree 

incline, starting at 65 feet (20 meters) from the edge of airport and radiating outward. 

The flight altitude is limited to 1640 feet (500 meters) at R1+1 mile. 

 . (4) When the aircraft is within 320 feet (100 meters) of the No-Fly Zones, a warning 

message will appear in the DJI Pilot app. 

46 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Flight 

1640 feet 

320 feet 

1640 feet 

320 feet 

Restricted Areas: 

66 feet R1 

66 feet R1 

Airports 

1 mile 

1 mile 

R2 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 
R2 

 . (1) Restricted Areas do not have a flight altitude restriction. 

 . (2) R around the designated Restricted Area is a Take-off Restricted area. Aircraft cannot takeoff within 

this zone. The value of R varies depending on the definition of the Restricted Area. 

 . (3) A “warning zone” has been set around each Restricted Area. When the aircraft is 

within 0.6 miles (1 

km) of this zone, a warning message will appear in the DJI Pilot app. 

Restricted Areas 
100m R 

as 

100m 

R 

Restricted Are 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 47 

Flight 

GPS Signal Strong Blinking Green 

Zone 

Restriction 

DJI Pilot App Prompt 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

No-fly Zone 

Motors will not start. 

Warning: You are in a No-fly zone. Take off prohibited. 

Red flashing 

If the aircraft enters the restricted area in A mode but P mode activates the aircraft will automatically descend to land then stop its motors after landing. 
Warning: You are in a No-fly zone, automatic landing has begun. (If you are within 1.5 mile radius) 

Restricted- altitude flight zone 

If the aircraft enters the restricted area in A mode but P mode activates, it will descend to a 

safe altitude and hover 15 feet below the safe altitude. 

Warning: You are in a restricted zone. Descending to safe altitude. (If you are between the 

range of 1.5 mile and 5 mile radius) 

Warning: You are in a restricted zone. Max flight height restricted to between 10.5m and 120m. 

Fly Cautiously. 

Warning zone 

No flight restriction applies, but there will be warning message. 

Warning: You are approaching a restricted zone, Fly Cautiously. 

Free zone 

No restrictions. 

None. 

None. 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Semi-automatic descent: All stick commands are available except the throttle stick command 

during the descent and landing process. Motors will stop automatically after landing. 

When flying in the safety zone, aircraft status indicator will blink red quickly and continue for 3 

seconds, then switch to indicate current flying status and continue for 5 seconds at which point 

it will switch back to red blinking.

For safety reasons, please do not fly close to airports, highways, railway stations, railway lines, 

city centers and other special areas. Try to ensure the aircraft is visible. 

48 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Flight 
Preflight Checklist 

1. Remote controller, aircraft battery, and mobile device are fully charged. 2. Propellers are 

mounted correctly and firmly.
3. Micro-SD card has been inserted if necessary.

4. Gimbal is functioning as normal. 

5. Motors can start and are functioning as normal. 6. DJI Pilot app connected to the aircraft. 

Calibrating the Compass 

IMPORTANT: Make sure to calibrate the compass in every new flight location. The compass is 

very sensitive to electromagnetic interference, which can cause abnormal compass data leading to poor flight performance or even failure. Regular calibration is required for optimum performance. 

DO NOT calibrate your compass where there is a chance of strong magnetic interference, 

such as magnetite, parking structures, and steel reinforcements underground.

DO NOT carry ferromagnetic materials with you during calibration such as keys or cellular 

phones. 

DO NOT calibrate beside massive metal objects. 

Calibration Procedures 

Choose an open space to carry out the following procedures.

1. Ensure that the compass is calibrated. If you did not calibrate the compass as part of your 

pre-flight 

preparations, or if you have moved to a new location since the last calibration, tap Aircraft Status 

Indicator bar in the app and select “Calibrate”, then follow the on-screen instructions.

2. Hold and rotate the aircraft horizontally 360 degrees, and the Aircraft Status Indicator will 

display a 

solid green light. 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

Flight 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 49 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual

3. Hold the aircraft vertically with nose pointing downward, and rotate it 360 degrees around 

the center 
axis. Recalibrate the compass if the Aircraft Status Indicator show solid red. 

Flight 

If the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks red and yellow after the calibration, move your aircraft to a 

different location to carry out compass calibration. 

Calibrate the compass before each flight. Launch DJI Pilot App, follow the on-screen instruction to calibrate the compass. 

When to Recalibrate 

1. When compass data is abnormal, and the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking red and yellow.

2. When flying in a new location, or a location that is different from your last flight.

3. When the mechanical structure of the Inspire 1 has changed, i.e. changed mounting position 

of the 

compass.

4. When severe drifting occurs in flight, i.e. the Inspire 1 does not fly in straight lines. 

Auto Take-off and Auto Landing 

Auto Take-off

Use auto take-off to take off your aircraft automatically if the Aircraft Status Indicator displays 

blinking green. Follow the steps below to use auto take-off:

1. Launch DJI Pilot app, enter “Camera” page.

2. Ensure the aircraft is in “P” mode.

3. Go through the pre-flight checklist.

4. Tap“ ”, and confirm flight condition. Slide to confirm and take-off.

5. Aircraft takes off and hovers at 1.2 meters above ground. 

50 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Auto-Landing

Use auto-landing to land your aircraft automatically if the Aircraft Status Indicator displays 

blinking green. Follow the steps below to use auto-landing:

1. Ensure the aircraft is in “P” mode.
2. Check the landing area condition before tapping “ ”, to perform landing.

3. Aircraft lowers the landing gear and proceed to land automatically. 

Landing gear will automatically raise when the aircraft reaches an altitude of 1.2m for the first 

time, and automatically lower every time it descends to 0.8m. Users can turn this feature ON/

OFF in the Pilot app. 

Starting/Stopping the Motors Starting Motors 

The Combination Stick Command (CSC) listed below are used to start the motors instead of 

simply push- ing the stick up. Ensure that you perform the CSC in one motion. 

OR 

Stopping Motors 

There are two methods to stop the motors.

Method 1: When the Inspire 1 has landed, push the throttle down

immediately. Release both sticks once motors stop.

Method 2: When the aircraft has landed, push the throttle down and hold. The motors will stop 

after 3 seconds. 

OR 

Do not perform CSC when aircraft is in midair, otherwise the motors will be stopped. 

Flight Test

Take off/Landing Procedures 

1. Place the aircraft on open, flat ground with battery indicators facing towards you.

2. Power on the remote controller and your mobile device, then the Intelligent Flight Battery.

3. Launch the DJI Pilot App and enter the Camera page.

4. Wait until the Aircraft Indicator blinks green. This means the Home Point is recorded and it is 

safe to fly 

now. If it flashes yellow, it means Home Point is not recorded, and you should not take off. 5. 

Push the throttle up slowly to take off or using Auto Take-off to take off. 

, then conduct CSC 

. Motors will stop 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Flight 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 51 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 
 6. Shoot photos and videos using the DJI Pilot app. 

 7. To land, hover over a level surface and gently pull down on the throttle slowly to descend. 

 8. After landing, execute the CSC command or hold the throttle at its lowest position for 3 

seconds or 

more until the motors stop. 

 9. Turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery first, followed by the Remote Controller. 

When the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks yellow rapidly during flight, the aircraft has entered Failsafe mode.

A low battery level warning is indicated by the Aircraft Status Indicator blinking red 

slowly or rapidly during flight. 

Watch video tutorials about flight for more flight information. 

Video Suggestions and Tips 

1. Work through the checklist before each flight.

2. Select desired gimbal working mode in the DJI Pilot app.

3. Aim to shoot when flying in P mode only.

4. Always fly in good weather, such as sunny or windless days.

5. Change camera settings to suit you. These include photo format and exposure compensation. 6. Perform flight tests to establish flight routes and scenes.

7. Push the sticks gently to make aircraft movements stable and smooth. 

Flight 

52 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

FAQ 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 53 

Troubleshooting (FAQ) 

1. How can I put a GoPro camera on the Inspire 1? 

The Inspire 1 does not currently support GoPro attachments. The gimbal is designed to hold 

DJI cameras only. 

2. When will ground station functionality be available? 
The Inspire 1 does not currently support ground station. Ground station will be available with 

future firmware updates. 

3. Is the camera’s exposure automatic? 

The exposure can be set to Auto, for automatic changes, or Manual, if you wish to use a specific setting. 

4. Can I see the size of images through the app? 

Yes, you can preview image or video sizes through the DJI Pilot app. 

5. How much weight can the Inspire 1 carry without its included camera? 

We do not recommend flying with any payload other than the included DJI gimbal and camera. 

6. Do you have an LCD monitor available for the Inspire 1? 

No, DJI does not sell LCD or HD monitors for the Inspire 1. However, you can output the live 

streaming video to a compatible monitor or mobile device of your own. 

7. How long does it take to charge the battery? Does it comes with a charger? 

Yes, all Inspire 1 units come with standard TB47 charger.

With the standard TB47 100W charger, it takes 85min to fully charge a 4500mAh battery. 

8. Are the two remote controllers the same? Should I setup the remote controllers in the app or 

somewhere else to control the camera and aircraft separately? 

The two remote controllers are physically identical. You can set the remote controllers to either 

"Master" or "Slave" through the DJI Pilot app if you wish to use dual controller mode. 

9. Where can I find info on the simulation application that plugs into the trainer port? Can you 

suggest a simulation program? 

There is no trainer port on the remote controller for the Inspire 1. 

10. Can the mobile device holder be used on the Phantom 2 series remote controller? 

No, it cannot. The mobile device holder can only be used with the Inspire 1 remote. 

11. Does the Inspire 1 have a SD card included? 

The Inspire 1 comes with a 16GB micro-SD card. It supports SD cards up to 64GB. 

12. Can I upgrade and buy a second remote controller if I only buy a single remote controller 

now? 

Yes. 

13. How big is the Inspire 1? 
Its length x height x width dimensions without the propellers attached are 44 x 30 x 45cm (17.3 

x 11.8 x 17.7in). 

FAQ 

54 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
14. What flight controller does the Inspire 1 use? 

The Inspire 1 uses its own new flight controller. 

15. Which motors and propellers does the Inspire 1 come with? 
The Inspire 1 uses 3510 motors and 1345 propellers. 

16. Aircraft frame arm joints appear loosen, is that normal? 

The space of the joins shown in the below figure is normal and it will not affect the performance 

of aircraft, do not adjust the position of the screws on your own. 

17. Failed to complete self-check? 

Place the aircraft on the flat surface before powering on. Do not move the aircraft during the 

self- check. 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

FAQ 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 55 

Appendix 

56 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Appendix 

Specifications 

Model

Hovering Accuracy (P Mode) 

Max Tilt Angle

Max Descent Speed

Max Flight Altitude

Max Flight Time

Propeller Model

Operating Temperature Range Dimensions

Model

Operating Current

Mounting 

Mechanical Range 

T600 

Vertical: 0.5 m Horizontal: 2.5 m 

35°

4 m/s

4500 m
Approximately 18 minutes

DJI 1345

-10° to 40° C

438x451x301 mm

ZENMUSE X3

Station: 750 mA; Motion: 900 mA Detachable 

Pitch: -125° to +45° Pan: ±330° 

Aircraft 

Weight (Battery Included) 

2935 g 

Max Angular Velocity 

Pitch: 300°/s Yaw: 150°/s 

Max Ascent Speed 

5 m/s 

Max Speed 

22 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) 

Max Wind Speed Resistance 

10 m/s 

Motor Model 

DJI 3510 

Indoor Hovering 

Enabled by default 

Diagonal Distance 

559 to 581 mm 

Gimbal 

Output Power (With Camera) 

Static: 9 W; In Motion: 11 W 

Angular Vibration Range 

±0.03° 
Controllable Range 

Pitch: -90° to +30° Pan: ±320° 

Max Controllable Speed 

Pitch: 120°/s Pan: 180°/s 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 57 

Appendix 

Camera 

Model 

FC350 

Effective Pixels 

12.4M 

ISO Range 

100-3200 (video) 100-1600 (photo) 

FOV (Field Of View) 

94° 

Lens 

20mm (35mm format equivalent) f/2.8 focus at ) 9 Elements in 9 groups

Anti-distortion 

Video Recording Modes 

UHD (4K): 4096x2160p24/25, 3840x2160p24/25/30 FHD: 1920x1080p24/25/30/48/50/60

HD: 1280x720p24/25/30/48/50/60 

Supported File Formats 

FAT32/exFAT

Photo: JPEG, DNG

Video: MP4/MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) 

Operating Temperature Range 

0° to 40° C 

Remote Controller 

Operating Frequency 
922.7MHz~927.7 MHz (Japan Only) 5.725~5.825 GHz;2.400~2.483 GHz 

EIRP 

10dBm@900m, 13dBm@5.8G, 20dBm@2.4G 

Power Supply 

Built-in battery 

Dual User Capability 

Host-and-Slave connection 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Name

Total Pixels

Image Max Size Electronic Shutter Speed CMOS 

Still Photography Modes 

Max Bitrate Of Video Storage 

Supported SD Card Types 

Name 

Transmitting Distance Video Output Port Charging 

X3

12.76M

4000x3000

8 s to 1/8000 s Sony EXMOR 1/2.3” 

Single shoot

Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames

Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7EV Bias

Time-lapse 

60 Mbps 

Micro SD

Max capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required. 

C1 

2 km (Outdoor And Unobstructed) USB, Mini-HDMI

DJI charger 

58 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Appendix 

Mobile Device Holder Operating Temperature Range 
Charging Temperature Range 

Model

Rated Power Name Capacity Battery Type Net Weight 

Storage Temperature Range 

Max Charging Power Name

Capacity

Battery Type 

Net Weight

Storage Temperature Range 

Tablet or Smart Phone -10° to 40° C 

0-40° C 

A14-100P1A 

100 W 

Intelligent Flight Battery 

4500 mAh 

LiPo 6S High voltage battery 

570 g 

Less than 3 months: -20° to 45° C More than 3 months: 22° C to 28° C 

180 W

Intelligent Flight Battery 5700 mAh

LiPo 6S

670 g 

Less than 3 months: -20 to 45° C More than 3 months: 22° to 28° C 

INSPIRE 1 

User Manual 

Output Power 

9W 

Storage Temperature Range 

Less than 3 months: -20° to 45° C More than 3 months: 22° to 28° C 

Battery 

6000 mAh LiPo 2S 
Charger 

Voltage 

26.3 V 

Battery (Standard) 

Model 

TB47 

Voltage 

22.2 V 

Energy 

99.9 Wh 

Operating Temperature Range 

-10° to 40° C 

Charging Temperature Range 

0° to 40° C 

Battery (Optional) 

Model 

TB48 

Voltage 

22.8 V 

Energy 

129.96 Wh 

Operating Temperature Range 

-10 to 40° C 

Charging Temperature Range 

0° to 40° C 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 59 
Appendix 

Vision Positioning 

Altitude Range 

5-500 cm 

Operating Range 

0-250 cm 

DJI Pilot App 

Supported Mobile Devices 

* iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5S, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Air, iPad Mini 2, iPad 4;* 

Samsung Note 3, Samsung S5, Sony Z3 EXPERIA;* Note: It is recommended that you use a 

tablet for the best experience 

Course Lock (CL) 

Its forward direction is pointing to the nose direction when recording, which is fixed until you rerecord it or exit from CL. 

Point of Interest (POI)* 

Point of Interest. Record a point of interest (POI), the aircraft can circle around the POI, and the 

nose always points to the POI. 

Modes IOC 

GPS enabled 

GPS 

Flight Distance Limits 

Home Lock 

Yes 

Aircraft ≥10m Home Point 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual Max Charging Power 

Velocity Range Operating Environment 

Mobile Device System Requirements 
180 W

Below 8 m/s (2 m above ground) Brightly lit (lux > 15) patterned surfaces 

iOS version 7.1 or later; Android version 4.1.2 or later 

Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) 

IOC allows users to lock the orientation of aircraft in different fashions. There are three working 

modes for IOC and you may select the desired IOC modes from the DJI Pilot app. IOC only 

works under F mode, and user must toggle the flight mode switch to “F” mode to activate IOC. 

Refer to the table below: 

Home Lock (HL)* 

Record a Home Point (HP), and push Pitch stick to control the aircraft far from or near to the 

HP. 

*Home Lock and Point of Interest feature are coming soon. 

Prerequisites of IOC 

Use the IOC feature under the following condition: Course Lock No None 

POI Yes 

Using IOC 

Aircraft 

None 

5m~500m Point of Interest 

Enable the IOC feature by tapping “Enable IOC” in the setting page of the DJI Pilot app. Toggle 

the Flight Mode Switch to “F” mode and follow the on-screen instruction to use IOC feature. 

60 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Appendix 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 
How to Update Firmware 

Follow the process described below to upgrade the aircraft, remote controller and battery. 

Updating the Aircraft Firmware

Step 1- Check Battery and SD Card Capacity

Ensure the Intelligent Flight Battery has at least 50% power and there is at least 100 MB of free 

space on the SD card. 

Step 2- Prepare the Firmware Update Package 

 1. Download the firmware update package from the official DJI website (http://www.dji.-

com/product/ phantom-3/download). 

 2. Insert the SD card into your PC. Extract the all downloaded files into the root directory of 

the SD card. Remove the SD card from your PC. Ensure the aircraft is powered off then 

insert the SD card into the SD card slot on the camera. 

Step 3- Update the Aircraft 

1. Ensure the remote controller is powered off and then power on the aircraft. Upgrade will begin automatically after aircraft is powered on. 

2. It will take approximately 25 minutes to complete the firmware update. The camera status 

indicator will blink green and red to indicate the upgrade is in progress and stop blinking when 

the update is complete with success. 

3. Check the upgrade status by opening the “.txt” file that is automatically generated after the 

update. The update is successful if the text “result: successful” is in the document. Try upgrading the firmware again if the text “result: failed” is found or the camera status indicator shows 

solid red. 

Updating the Remote Controller Firmware 

Ensure the DJI GO app has been updated to v1.2.0 before updating the remote controller. The 

System Status bar in Camera View of the DJI GO App will flash several times if a firmware update is available. Follow these steps to update the firmware via the DJI GO App. 

Step 1- Check Battery and SD Card Capacity 

1. The remote controller has at least 50% battery level.

2. Your mobile device is able to access the internet.

3. There is at least 30 MB of free space on your mobile device. 

Step 2- Download and Update the Firmware 
1. Go to the DJI GO App > Camera View > System Status bar > Overall Status. Tap Download 

the firmware update package to download and update the firmware. Track the update progress 

from progress bar in the DJI GO App. The status LED on the remote controller will blink blue 

during update and blink green when update is complete with success. 

Firmware update through the DJI GO app will not work with older versions of the remote controller firmware. If the firmware update fails, follow the instructions below to update the firmware 

using the traditional method:

a. Update the latest firmware package files from DJI official web site. 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 61 

Appendix 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

b. Extract all downloaded files into the root directory of an SD card or USB flash drive.

c. Turn off the remote controller, Insert the SD card into a SD card reader or the USB disk onto 

the 

remote controller USB port when remote controller is turned off.

d. Power on the remote controller and wait 60 seconds until the upgrade begins. Do not power 

off 

the remote controller during the update.

e. It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete the firmware update. The camera will 

sound 

a beeping sound and the Status LED on the remote controller shows solid blue to indicate the 

update is in progress. The Status LED on remote controller shows solid green and beeping 

sound will stop if the upgrade is completed with success. 

f . If you do not have a SD card reader, you may insert the SD card into the gimbal and connect 

the gimbal with remote controller to upgrade the remote controller. 

You will only be able to update the remote controller firmware through the DJI GO app from this 

point onwards. 

Updating Intelligent Flight Battery Firmware 

The Intelligent Flight Battery is upgraded during the aircraft firmware upgrade process. It is 

recommended to keep the upgrade package files in your SD card. The upgrade will start automatically after power cycling the aircraft. 

Ensure there is only one firmware package file stored on your SD card.

Only storage devices that are formatted for FAT32 and exFAT file systems are supported for 

aircraft and remote controller firmware updates.

Ensure the internet connection of your mobile device is stable when downloading the firmware 
update package.

Turn on Airplane Mode on your mobile device before updating the firmware, as any incoming 

calls may disrupt the update process.

Do not perform firmware update while the aircraft is still flying in the air. Only carry out firmware 

update when the aircraft is landed.

Be sure to update the remote controller’s firmware to the latest version after you upgrade the 

aircraft’s firmware.

The remote controller may become unlinked from the aircraft after updating. Re-link the remote 

controller and aircraft.

Confirm the update results based on the blinking pattern of camera status indicator or gimbal 

sound. It is normal for the aircraft to sound or the LED to blink during the update process. 

FCC Compliance FCC Compliance 

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 

conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and

(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause 

undesired 

operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly roved by the party responsible for compliance could 

void the user's authority to operate the equipment. 

Appendix 

62 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Compliance Information FCC Warning Message 

Any Changes or modifications not expressly roved by the party responsible for compliance 

could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 

conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: 

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator& your body. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. 

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital 

device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable 
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates 

uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with 

the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no 

guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does 

cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning 

the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or 

more of the following measures: 

—Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

—Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

—Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is 

connected. —Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. 

IC RSS warning 

This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard (s). Operation is 

subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this 

device must accept any interference,including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Le présent areil est conforme aux CNR d'Industrie Canada licables aux areils radio exempts de 

licence. 

L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes:

(1) l'areil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et

(2) l'utilisateur de l'areil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage 

est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement. 

IC Radiation Exposure Statement: 

This equipment complies with IC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 

20cm between the radiator& your body. 

Any Changes or modifications not expressly roved by the party responsible for compliance 

could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment. 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 63 

Appendix 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual KCC Warning Message 

“해당무선설비는 운용 중 전파혼신 가능성이 있으므로 인명안전과 관련된 서비스는 할 수 없습니

다 .” “해당 무선설비는 운용 중 전파혼신 가능성이 있음” 

NCC Warning Message 
低功率電波輻射性電機管理辦法 第十二條經型式認證合格之低功率射頻電機,非經許可,公司、商

號或使用者均不得擅自變更頻率、加 大功率或變更原設計之特性及功能。 第十四條低功率射頻電

機之使用不得影響飛航安全及干擾合法通信;經發現有干擾現象時,應改善至無 干擾時方得繼續使

用。前項合法通信,指依電信法規定作業之無線電通信。低功率射頻電機須忍受合法 通信或工業、

科學及醫療用電波輻射性電機設備之干擾。

Appendix 

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© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Federal Aviation Administration 

Memorandum 

Date: To: From: 

Prepared by: Subject: 

AUG -8 2014

John Duncan, Director, Flight Standards Service, AFS-1 

Mark W. Bury, Assistant Chief Counsel for International Law, Legislation and Regulations, AGC-200 

Dean E. Griffith, Attorney, AGC-220 
Interpretation regarding whether certain required documents may be 

kept at an unmanned aircraft's control station. 

This memorandum addresses whether the pilot of an unmanned aircraft 

may keep airworthiness certificates, aircraft manuals, and aircraft registration certificates at the unmanned aircraft's ground control station and 

satisfy the regulatory requirements of sections 91.9(b), 91.203(a) and 

(b), 47.3(b)(2), and 47.3l (c) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations. 

This question has been brought to our attention because of the impracticality of placing these documents on a small aircraft with no pilot on 

board. As discussed below, we find that the intent of these regulations is 

met if the pilot of the unmanned aircraft has access to these documents 

at the control station from which he or she is operating the aircraft. 

Section 91.9(b) prohibits operation of U.S.-registered civil aircraft unless "there is available in the aircraft" an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight 

Manual or other material, markings and placards. The FAA stated that 

the purpose of this rule is to "insure that the information is readily available to the pilot" for use during operations. See 40 Fed. Reg. 24665 (June 

9, 1975), 37 Fed. Reg. 20022 (Sept. 23, 1972). The text of the rule and 

preamble to subsequent revisions of the rule confirm the intent that the 

pilot is to have access to the material during flight. Accordingly, we find 

that the intent of the rule is met if the information is maintained at the 

pilot's control station such that it is available to the pilot. 

Section 91.203(a) prohibits operation of a civil aircraft "unless it has 

within it" an appropriate and current airworthiness ce1iificate and the 

aircraft's registration certification. Section 91.203(b) requires that the 

airw01ihiness certificate be "displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance 

so that it is legible to passengers or crew." Similarly, sections 47.3(b)(2) 

and 47.3l (c) allow an applicant for aircraft registration to carry "in the 

aircraft" the second copy of the registration application as temporary authority to operate without registration. These documents demonstrate 

that the aircraft is appropriately certificated and registered, or is in the 

process of being registered. Additionally, the FAA has previously addressed the requirement to display the airworthiness certificate and 
found that the regulation permits displaying the certificate so that it is 

only legible to the flight crew even if not legible to passengers. See Legal Interpretation to Leonard A. Ceruzzi, from Donald P. Byrne, Acting 

Assistant Chief Counsel, Regulations and Enforcement Division (Aug. 

7, 1990). Accordingly, we find that maintaining these documents at the 

pilot's control station would meet the intent of the rule as the pilot would 

be able to produce the documents for his or her own information or to an 

FAA inspector. 

We note that this memorandum is to be narrowly construed to unmanned 

aircraft systems and is not intended to apply to operation of manned aircraft or optionally piloted aircraft with a pilot on board. 
FAA Form 7711-1 (7-74) 

FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Attachment Page 1 of 6 

FAA-2015-0619 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER OR AUTHORIZATION 

ISSUED TO

NOKA Ventures, LLC 

18310 Emerald Oaks San Antonio, TX 78259 

This certificate is issued for the operations specifically described hereinafter. No person shall conduct any operation pursuant to the authority 

of this certificate except in accordance with the standard and special 

provisions contained in this certificate, and such other requirements of 

the Federal Aviation Regulations not specifically waived by this certificate. 

OPERATIONS AUTHORIZED 

Operation of DJI Phantom 2 Unmanned Aircraft Systems at or below 

200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) for the purpose of aerial data collection. 

LIST OF WAIVED REGULATIONS BY SECTION AND TITLE N/A 

STANDARD PROVISIONS 

1. A copy of the application made for this certificate shall be attached 

and become a part hereof.

2. This certificate shall be presented for inspection upon the request of 

any authorized representative of the Federal Aviation Administration, or 

of any State or municipal official charged with the duty of enforcing lo-
cal laws or regulations.

3. The holder of this certificate shall be responsible for the strict observance of the terms and provisions contained herein.

4. This certificate is nontransferable. 

Note-This certificate constitutes a waiver of those Federal rules or regulations specifically referred to above. It does not constitute a waiver of 

any State law or local ordinance. 

SPECIAL PROVISIONS 

Special Provisions are set forth and attached. 

This certificate FAA-2015-0619-333E is effective from May 25, 2015 to 

May 31, 2017 and is subject to cancellation at any time upon notice by 

the Administrator or his/her authorized representative. 

BY DIRECTION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR /S/ 

FAA Headquarters, AJV-115 (Region) 

May 18, 2015 (Date) 

Jacqueline R. Jackson (Signature) 

Manager, UAS Tactical Operations Section (Title) 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for Commercial Purposes 

March 2015 

FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Attachment Page 2 of 6 

FAA-2015-0619 

STANDARD PROVISIONS A. General. 

 1. The approval of this COA is effective only with an approved FAA 

Grant of Exemption. 
 2. A copy of the COA including the special limitations must be immediately available to all operational personnel at each operating 

location whenever UAS operations are being conducted. 

 3. This authorization may be canceled at any time by the Administrator, the person authorized to grant the authorization, or the representative designated to monitor a specific operation. As a general 

rule, this authorization may be canceled when it is no longer required, there is an abuse of its provisions, or when unforeseen safety factors develop. Failure to comply with the authorization is 

cause for cancellation. The operator will receive written notice of 

cancellation. 

B. SafetyofFlight. 

1. The operator or pilot in command (PIC) is responsible for halting or 

canceling activity in the COA area if, at any time, the safety of persons 

or property on the ground or in the air is in jeopardy, or if there is a failure to comply with the terms or conditions of this authorization. 

See-and-Avoid 

Unmanned aircraft have no on-board pilot to perform see-and-avoid responsibilities; therefore, when operating outside of active restricted and 

warning areas approved for aviation activities, provisions must be made 

to ensure an equivalent level of safety exists for unmanned operations 

consistent with 14 CFR Part 91 §91.111, §91.113 and §91.115. 

a. The pilot in command (PIC) is responsible: 

 • To remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations 

and activities at all times, 
 • For the safety of persons or property on the surface with respect to 

the UAS, and 

 • For compliance with CFR Parts 91.111, 91.113 and 91.115 

b. UAS pilots will ensure there is a safe operating distance between 

aviation activities and unmanned aircraft (UA) at all times. 

c. Visual observers must be used at all times and maintain instantaneous communication with the PIC. 

d. The PIC is responsible to ensure visual observer(s) are: 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for Commercial Purposes March 2015 

FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Attachment Page 3 of 6 

FAA-2015-0619 

 • Able to see the UA and the surrounding airspace throughout the 

entire flight, and 

 • Able to provide the PIC with the UA’s flight path, and proximity to 

all aviation activities and other hazards (e.g., terrain, weather, 

structures) sufficiently for the PIC to exercise effective control of 

the UA to prevent the UA from creating a collision hazard. 

e. Visual observer(s) must be able to communicate clearly to the 

pilot any instructions required to remain clear of conflicting traffic. 

 2. Pilots are reminded to follow all federal regulations e.g. remain 

clear of all Temporary Flight Restrictions, as well as following the 

exemption granted for their operation. 
 3. The operator or delegated representative must not operate in Prohibited Areas, Special Flight Rule Areas or, the Washington National Capital Region Flight Restricted Zone. Such areas are depicted on charts available at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/

flight_info/aeronav/. Additionally, aircraft operators should beware 

of and avoid other areas identified in Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) which restricts operations in proximity to Power Plants, 

Electric Substations, Dams, Wind Farms, Oil Refineries, Industrial 

Complexes, National Parks, The Disney Resorts, Stadiums, Emergency Services, the Washington DC Metro Flight Restricted Zone, 

Military or other Federal Facilities. 

 4. All aircraft operated in accordance with this Certificate of Waiver/

Authorization must be identified by serial number, registered in 

accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (N-Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. 

Markings must be) as large as practicable. 

C. Reporting Requirements 

 1. Documentation of all operations associated with UAS activities is 

required regardless of the airspace in which the UAS operates. 

NOTE: Negative (zero flights) reports are required. 

 2. The operator must submit the following information through mailto:9-AJV-115-UASOrganization@faa.gov on a monthly basis: 

 a. Name of Operator, Exemption number and Aircraft registration 

number 
 b. UAS type and model 

 c. All operating locations, to include location city/name and latitude/

longitude 

 d. Number of flights (per location, per aircraft) 

 e. Total aircraft operational hours 

 f. Takeoff or Landing damage 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for Commercial Purposes 

March 2015 

FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Attachment FAA-2015-0619 

(1) On-board flight control system (2) Navigation system

(3) Powerplant failure in flight

(4) Fuel system failure 

(5) Electrical system failure 

(6) Control station failure 

Page 4 of 6 

g. Equipment malfunctions. Reportable malfunctions include, but are not 

limited to the following: 

3. The number and duration of lost link events (control, performance and 

health monitoring, or communications) per UA per flight. 
D. Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).

A distant (D) NOTAM must be issued when unmanned aircraft operations are being 

conducted. This requirement may be accomplished: 

 a. Through the operator’s local base operations or NOTAM issuing 

authority, or 

 b. By contacting the NOTAM Flight Service Station at 1-877-4-USNTMS (1-877-487- 6867) not more than 72 hours in advance, but 

not less than 24 hours prior to the operation, unless otherwise authorized as a special provision. The issuing agency will require the: 

(1) Name and address of the pilot filing the NOTAM request (2) 

Location, altitude, or operating area

(3) Time and nature of the activity. 

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SPECIAL PROVISIONS A. Coordination Requirements. 

 1. Operators and UAS equipment must meet the requirements (communication, equipment and clearance) of the class of airspace they 

will operate in. 

 2. Operator filing and the issuance of required distance (D) NOTAM, 

will serve as advance ATC facility notification of UAS operations 

in an area. 

 3. Operator must cancel NOTAMs when UAS operations are completed or will not be conducted. 
 4. Coordination and deconfliction between Military Training Routes 

(MTRs) is the operator’s responsibility. When identifying an operational area the operator must evaluate whether an MTR will be affected. In the event the UAS operational area overlaps (5 miles either side of centerline) an MTR, the operator will contact the 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for Commercial Purposes March 2015 

FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Attachment Page 5 of 6 

FAA-2015-0619 

scheduling agency 24 hours in advance to coordinate and deconflict. 

Approval from the scheduling agency is not required. Scheduling agencies are listed in the Area Planning AP/1B Military Planning Routes 

North and South America, if unable to gain access to AP/1B contact the 

FAA at email address mailto:9-AJV-115-UASOrganization@faa.gov 

with the IR/VR routes affected and the FAA will provide the scheduling 

agency information. If prior coordination and deconfliction does not take 

place 24 hours in advance, the operator must remain clear of all MTRs. 

B. CommunicationRequirements. 

1. When operating in the vicinity of an airport without an operating control tower, announce your operations in accordance with the FAA Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) 4-1-9 Traffic Advisory Practices at 

Airports without Operating Control Towers. 

C. Flight Planning Requirements. 

Note: For all UAS requests not covered by the conditions listed below, 

the exemption holder may apply for a new Air Traffic Organization 

(ATO) Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). 

This COA will allow small UAS (55 pounds or less) operations during 

daytime VFR conditions under the following conditions and limitations: 
 . (1) At or below 200 feet AGL; and 

 . (2) Beyond the following distances from the airport reference 

point (ARP) of a public use airport, heliport, gliderport, seaplane 

base and military airports listed in the Airport/Facility Directory, 

Alaska Supplement, or Pacific Chart Supplement of the U.S. Government Flight Information Publications. 

 . a) 5 nautical miles (NM) from an airport having an operational control tower; or 

 . b) 3 NM from an airport having a published instrument flight 

procedure, but not having an operational control tower; or 

 . c) 2 NM from an airport not having a published instrument 

flight procedure or an operational control tower; or 

 . d) 2 NM from a heliport, gliderport or seaport 

D. Emergency/Contingency Procedures. 

1. Lost Link/Lost Communications Procedures: 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for Commercial Purposes 

March 2015 

FAA FORM 7711-1 UAS COA Attachment Page 6 of 6 

FAA-2015-0619 

 • If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA 

must return to a pre-determined location within the private or controlled-access property and land. 
 • The PIC must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles 

or emergencies. 

2. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the 

lateral or vertical boundaries defined in this COA must be reported 

to the FAA via email at mailto:9-AJV-115-

UASOrganization@faa.gov within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov 

AUTHORIZATION 

This Certificate of Waiver or Authorization does not, in itself, 

waive any Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, nor any state law 

or local ordinance. Should the proposed operation conflict with any 

state law or local ordinance, or require permission of local authorities or property owners, it is the responsibility of the operator to resolve the matter. This COA does not authorize flight within Special 

Use airspace without approval from the scheduling agency. The 

operator is hereby authorized to operate the small Unmanned Aircraft System in the National Airspace System. 

Small UAS Operations 200 feet and below for Commercial Purposes 

March 2015 
Exemption No. 11138 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, 

DC 20591 

GRANT OF EXEMPTION 

By letter dated July 12, 2014, Mr. Douglas Trudeau, Realtor®, of Tierra 

Antigua Realty (Trudeau), 1650 E River Road, Suite 202, Tucson, AZ 

85718 petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for an exemption from part 21, subpart H; and Sections 45.23(b), 61.113(a) and 

(b), 91.7(a), 91.9(b)(2), 91.103(b), 91.109, 91.119, 91.121, 91.151(a), 

91.203(a) and (b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(2), and 91.417(a) 

and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The proposed exemption would allow Trudeau to operate the PHANTOM 2 Vision+ quad-copter unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to conduct aerial 

videography and cinematography to enhance academic community 

awareness for those individuals and companies unfamiliar with the geographical layout of the metro Tucson area and augment real estate listing 

videos. 

The petitioner requests relief from the following regulations: 
Part 21 prescribes the procedural requirements for issuing and changing 

design approvals, productions approvals, airworthiness certificates, and 

airworthiness approvals. 

AFS-14-373-E