A question I asked AI about my drones. . I fly a DJI Air 2, a DJI Avata 2, and an EVO II Dual 640T Enterprise V3. I have a an FPVUK membership . Is there anything I need to know, as I’ve heard the law is changing?

Drone Rules and Regulations
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Here’s a breakdown of how your three drones (DJI Air 2, DJI Avata 2, Autel/EVO II Dual 640T V3) are likely to fare under both the current / transitional regime and the post‑2026 (UK class / legacy / stricter) regime — noting risks, compliance gaps, and what you should watch/plan for.

Key UK regulatory context (summary)

Before diving into each drone, it helps to summarise a few rules so you can see how they apply:

  • Until 31 December 2025, “legacy / unmarked” drones (i.e. those without UK / C‑class marks) can still fly under the transitional provisions: e.g. under A1, A2, A3 subcategories based on weight, with restrictions. Drone Site Surveys+2Gadgets N Tech+2
  • After 1 January 2026, “legacy / unmarked” drones will generally be restricted to A3 / “far from people / built‑up areas” operations unless they carry the required class marking / meet new requirements. Drone Site Surveys+2Gadgets N Tech+2
  • The UK is introducing / will recognise class markings (C0, C1, C2, etc.) for drones, aligning in part with EU rules (though the UK retains sovereignty over how it implements) DJI Hasselblad+2Gadgets N Tech+2
  • Remote ID / electronic identification, geo-awareness / soft geofencing, and stricter operational limits (proximity to people, buildings, no‑fly zones) are part of the changes to look out for. forum.dji.com+3Gadgets N Tech+3DJI Hasselblad+3
  • For “specific category / higher risk” operations (e.g. flying near people, over territories, complex flights), you’ll need to use risk assessment methods like SORA and get operational authorisations. (You already have Article 16, which is in that ballpark.)

So the primary shift is: if your drone is not class‑marked or cannot meet the new requirements, its operational freedom will shrink after 2026.

Drone‑by‑drone assessment

DJI Air 2

Specs & status / “legacy” classification

  • The DJI Air 2 (or Air 2 series) is listed in DJI’s “C Label / class marking” blog as C1 under EU class marking schemes. DJI Hasselblad
  • However, the UK has, as of now, not fully adopted EU class markings (or equivalent) for all drones; many DJI drones with C labels are not yet recognized in the UK. Reddit+2DJI Hasselblad+2
  • Thus, in UK practice, the Air 2 is treated as a legacy / unmarked drone for many regulatory purposes (unless and until DJI or someone certifies it under the UK class scheme).

Under the current / transitional regime (pre‑2026)

After 1 January 2026 (post‑transition)

  • If Air 2 is still considered “legacy / unmarked” (i.e. not having a recognized UK class mark), it will likely be confined to the A3 / “far from people / built up areas” category. Drone Site Surveys+2Gadgets N Tech+2
  • That means you would need to stay a large horizontal distance from people, buildings, residential/industrial zones — severely limiting use in many environments.
  • To regain more flexibility (A1 / A2 operations), the Air 2 would need to become class‑marked / certified under UK class rules, or meet whatever new standard is mandated (e.g. Remote ID, geo-awareness, etc.).
  • Also, any operation near people, over things, or in built environments might require you to obtain specific / operational authorisation anyway, using risk assessments (SORA etc.).

Risk & action items

  • Verify DJI’s plans: Does DJI intend to certify or label Air 2 under UK class scheme?
  • Check firmware / hardware: See whether the drone supports Remote ID (or can be upgraded) and geo‑awareness features.
  • Be ready to restrict your flights: After 2026, many of your currently feasible sites (near people, across built-up zones) may become off-limits.
  • Consider replacement or upgrade: If you need flexibility going forward, you may need drones that are class‑markable or already compliant.

DJI Avata 2

Specs & status / classification

  • The Avata 2 weighs approximately 377 g (takeoff weight) per DJI’s specs. DJI Official
  • In DJI’s blog about C labels, the Avata 2 is listed as C1 class. DJI Hasselblad
  • Because it weighs under 500 g and is classed C1, it has a better chance of being allowed under less restrictive subcategories (A1 / A2) under class‑based regulation.
  • There is some debate / user reports about whether Remote ID functionality is exposed or clear — some forum users say they cannot see a “Remote ID” option; others claim the Avata 2 supports “Direct Remote ID” (i.e. broadcasts its identity) which may be embedded in firmware or in the flight stack. forum.dji.com

Under the current / transitional regime

  • Because it is < 500 g, under the transitional rules it has more flexibility: it can be operated in A1 / A2 transitional provisions (with some limitations) rather than being forced to A3.
  • With its weight low enough, it may be allowed to fly closer to people (though not over uninvolved persons) in A1 transitional conditions.
  • The ability to fly in more constrained environments is better compared to heavier drones, due to its lower mass and lower risk.

After 1 January 2026

  • Because it is classed C1 (assuming the class is recognized by UK regulation at that point), the Avata 2 stands a reasonable chance of retaining more operational flexibility (i.e. operations in A1 or A2) under the new class‑based regime, rather than being forced into A3.
  • If Remote ID broadcasting and geo-awareness compliance are built in or upgradeable, that increases its compliance viability.
  • But this is contingent on the UK recognizing its class label and determining its compliance with all other requirements (e.g. firmware, safety features).

Risk & action items

  • Confirm Remote ID behavior: Check in DJI Fly / firmware / user manual whether Direct Remote ID is enabled and whether UK authority will accept it.
  • Track UK recognition of C-class labels: If the UK accepts the C1 label for the Avata 2, this drone is in a stronger position than the Air 2 in terms of future flexibility.
  • Be cautious of forum discrepancies: Even if the hardware supports it, activation / exposure of Remote ID may be firmware‑dependent.

EVO II Dual 640T V3 (Autel / Autel / Autel EVO II Dual series)

Specs & status / classification

  • According to an Autel / drone‑blog / news source, the EVO II V3, with updated firmware (post July 2024), supports Remote ID / eID broadcasting (for EU / UK rules). ABJ Drone Academy
  • The blog states: “update to firmware V1.1.78 (or later) … the V3 series broadcasts its ID automatically once you fill in pilot info in the app” ABJ Drone Academy
  • Because this is an enterprise or higher-spec drone (with thermal / dual payload), it is heavier and likely to be classed or required to be treated under stricter rules (or as “non‑open category” / specific).

Under the current / transitional regime

  • As this is a heavier / enterprise model, it’s unlikely to fully enjoy the more flexible parts of A1 / A2 transitional rules. It’s more naturally suited to specific category / operational authorisation (i.e. your Article 16 membership is applicable).
  • In many of your operations, you may already be relying on your operational authorisation (Article 16) rather than pure open category rules, especially in more challenging environments or close to people.
  • If remote ID is supported (and enabled via firmware), that is a positive compliance factor for current / transitional operations.

After 1 January 2026

  • Because this is a higher-end / likely > class thresholds, its ability to operate in Open category will be limited. It may fall automatically into specific / “beyond open” operations for many of its use cases.
  • Its Remote ID compliance, safety mitigations, and risk assessment capabilities will be critical. If it fully supports Remote ID / geofencing / redundant systems, you may retain more ability to operate under new rules (with OP authorisations).
  • However, its weight / performance may push it beyond what is generally permitted in the Open class, meaning you’ll rely heavily on operational / specific category authorisations, risk assessments, and mitigations (SORA, etc.).

Risk & action items

  • Ensure firmware is updated to the version that enables Remote ID broadcasting.
  • Verify the legal acceptance of that Remote ID / eID functionality under UK rules (i.e. whether UK authorities will consider it valid).
  • Prepare your risk assessments and mitigations (SORA, safety buffers, fail-safe procedures, redundancy) so that your operational authorisations are robust.
  • Watch class thresholds: If your drone’s mass, speed, or sensor capabilities push you into higher classes, ensure you remain aware of what is allowed / what authorisation is needed.

Comparative summary & implications for your fleet

Drone Likely status under UK rules (2025) Post‑2026 viability Key compliance risk / strength
DJI Air 2 Legacy / unmarked (treated under transitional scheme) May be forced into A3-only unless class‑marked Without class mark, flexibility will shrink. Need Remote ID / class eligibility.
DJI Avata 2 Advantageous due to being lighter and classed C1 (in DJI’s classification) Strong candidate to remain usable in A1 / A2 if UK recognizes its class mark Remote ID, UK class recognition are critical.
EVO II Dual 640T V3 Operates more in “specific / operational authorisations” domain anyway Likely to stay in specific category operations; open‑category use will be limited Remote ID firmware, risk assessment / safety mitigations will determine how liberally you can fly.
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Think I’d rather look at the CAA web site for guidance than expect AI to get it right !