I'm a newbie P3 4K owner and I have to side with DJI on this. I don’t find taking a short test to ensure the new owner/pilot (in my case – me) has at least a modicum of understanding about what they have and how to use it properly, safely, legally.
Is it a CYA action by DJI? Perhaps. But keep in mind that Boeing, Airbus, Piper, Cessna, etc. as airframe manufacturers are almost always named in a lawsuit involving an aircraft accident even when clearly ruled as pilot error. At least DJI is attempting to address this, so good on them.
Is it a restriction on our God given rights and Liberty? I don’t think so. As elsewhere in this thread someone mentioned that anyone can go buy the most expensive, complex, sophisticated, high powered automobile – but they still have to take test to obtain a driver’s license in order to drive it legally. Nobody seems to complain that having to get a driver’s license was an infringement on our freedom. In fact – most of us were proud of that major accomplishment as evidence we were growing up.
These aircraft are complex machines capable of doing serious damage if not used properly. I’m reasonably sure that the first time someone exercising his/her unfettered ‘freedom’ flies their aircraft into the engine of a landing aircraft and brings it down we will see much more restriction imposed. And BTW – if that accident can be traced back to the owner/pilot of the offending aircraft – get out your checkbook.
Bottom line - why wouldn’t we all want to take great pride in our sport and the ability to fly our aircraft in a professional, accurate and safe manner?
Now – just so you’ll know I’m not a DJI shill – I intend to talk to them at CES-2018 about several things:
1) If they are going to insist on a test – then they need to produce a decent POH for each aircraft. I find their current documentation to be woefully inadequate.
2) As aircraft – they need to adhere to standard navigational markings, for example:
a. The forward LED’s should display red/green (port/starboard) when in normal flight.
b. The rear LED’s should display white.
c. Problems with the aircraft can over-ride in accordance with what I think DJI has done well in terms of visually ascertaining aircraft status.
Just as a basis – I am a licensed private pilot (I intend to get my Part 107) and an ex-Navy air Traffic Controller. I’ve seen a lot of bad aviation in my time; some of it with a not so good ending.