Why is it important to have direct visibility of the drone throughout the Mavic 4 Pro flight?

[AdminForo]

Why is it important to have direct visibility of the drone throughout the Mavic 4 Pro flight: Maintaining direct visibility of the DJI Mavic 4 Pro throughout the flight, also known as line-of-sight (VLOS) flying, is one of the fundamental safety principles in drone operation. This practice allows the pilot to react immediately to any unforeseen situation, such as a loss of signal, a mechanical failure, or the sudden appearance of an obstacle. Although the drone has cameras, sensors, and real-time viewing from the app, nothing replaces the human eye's ability to quickly judge the drone's position and behavior in the airspace.

Furthermore, the operating environment can change unexpectedly: people may enter the flight zone, new sources of interference appear, or the wind direction may change. Having a constant line of sight from the drone allows these changes to be detected and timely decisions to be made, such as making an emergency landing or adjusting the trajectory before it's too late.

Legally, many civil aviation authorities require drone flights to be conducted under VLOS conditions as a mandatory requirement. In some countries, operating outside the line of sight without a special license or authorization can be punishable by significant fines or suspension of the operating permit. DJI strictly recommends against operating the Mavic 4 Pro in fully autonomous mode without direct visual supervision, even if technology allows it.

Finally, there is a situational awareness component that is only possible by maintaining visual contact with the drone. This includes assessing the actual distance between the drone and other objects, determining whether the drone is oriented correctly (e.g., whether it is flying forward or backward), and confirming that the status LEDs are active or flashing correctly in the event of an alert. Ignoring this principle compromises the safety of the drone and those around it.