Can DJI Avata Fly at Night? (Explained)

We all know that DJI drones have outstanding flight capabilities, including FPV, but can DJI Avata fly at night?

DJI Avata can fly at night and is a decent drone to do so. Still, you must ensure you have an illuminated takeoff and landing spot, no total darkness outdoors, and follow your country’s regulations regarding flying drones at night.

Flying a drone, including Avata, at night is another story. There are more things to consider, laws to follow, and risks involved.

Therefore, I want to share everything we know about flying DJI Avata at night in this article.

Can DJI Avata fly at night? A detailed overview #

When you take off at night using your drone, including the DJI Avata, you must deal with a series of possible issues, such as a lack of illumination, flight obstructions (e.g., trees), and much more.

Avata, like most DJI drones, can fly at night from the moment you take off to landing your drone.

But where you fly is another story.

Is it possible to fly Avata at night? You can fly Avata at night, but only in some countries and territories. In contrast, many countries ban flying drones at night, so always check your local drone laws before taking off.

Is it safe to fly Avata at night? Not really; there could be many unpredictable elements that may crash your drone. 

Avata has a 1/1.7-inch CMOS camera sensor that is quite decent nowadays for low-light scenarios, from recording to flying. 

How decent it is depends on where you fly your drone. Therefore, the next question is…

Can you fly your DJI Avata in total darkness?  #

No, you cannot fly Avata or any drone in total darkness, as you will undoubtedly have zero visibility, and Avata does not have any infrared cameras to help you fly.

It isn’t about being unable to lift the drone off, which you can, but you simply can’t see anything.

In the above scenarios where we talked about flying Avata at night, we solely discussed areas where there’s at least some illumination for the pilot to see (e.g., in a lit park).

Some YouTubers/FPV pilots are creative and have mounted flashlights on top of Avata and flew in dark areas. Is this possible? Will it work? 

Let’s explore.

Having an illuminated takeoff and landing point #

This is an essential part: You definitely need an illuminated takeoff point and landing point.

Compared to DJI FPV, the Avata has no light lamps below the drone to help it have smoother and more accurate landings. 

Taking off from areas with insufficient light will increase the risk of the drone crashing into obstacles, either manually or automatically – remember, Avata does not have any avoidance sensors.

Flying the DJI Avata in low-light areas (at night) #

Avata’s camera can raise the ISO to 6400 in auto mode, and you can manually raise it to ISO 25600. 

These ranges would be unsuitable for recording or photographing professionally with Avata while flying at night but are doable, depending on how illuminated the area you fly Avata at night.

Overall, you should be able to see around you when you fly.

Avata performs fantastically at dusk or dawn to film sunsets or sunrises. You can also fly Avata indoors with typical household lights on.

**Simply remember, if you cannot see, DJI Avata can’t either.  **

What about drone regulations to fly DJI Avata at night? #

In many countries and territories around the world, there are strict drone laws that prevent pilots from flying drones at night, and this will include Avata.

Although we cannot cover this information entirely as drone laws change with time, we can say that currently, in the US, you can fly your drone at night, including Avata, whereas in New Zealand and many other countries, you cannot. 

Please always check with your local/state drone laws for up-to-date information.

Does DJI Avata have any lights to illuminate the area when flying at night? #

You don’t have any lights on Avata that can assist you in flying the drone at night.

You can get creative and add small flashlights on top of the drone that will not add too much weight, such as in the video above.

Of course, do so at your own discretion.

How is DJI Avata at night photography/filming?  #

Unless you fly Avata in areas with enough illumination, you can lower the ISO and get decent footage or photographs, as mentioned. Avata, like any drone, may struggle with photography and video recording at night.

This is because to see anything, the drone will raise the ISO (camera sensor sensitivity) to prevent the entire image from becoming dark.

Raising the ISO will induce image noise that will negatively impact the video recording or photograph.

Does DJI Avata return-to-home function at night? #

In normal circumstances, Avata should follow its nominal path toward the takeoff point when the return-to-home function is initiated.

Avata uses a GPS-based return-to-home feature, and it does not matter the light condition when this is triggered. 

Always beware that the drone has no avoidance sensors. Therefore, it can crash into obstacles if it does not return at a specific height.

What else do we need to know when flying DJI Avata at night? (Plus a few extra tips) #

• Remember that you may not have a clear line of sight to Avata – always be aware of where you fly it, ask a spotter to keep an eye on it at all times, and don’t get it too far when you fly the drone at night.
• Always keep your distance from buildings and areas to avoid hitting any obstacles when you fly at night, as it’s easy to miss details.
• If the image is too dark, manually increase the camera ISO beyond 6400. If the area is well-lit, set the camera ISO on Auto (it will range between 100 to 6400).
• Before you consider flying Avata at night, ask yourself the following question: Can you justify why you want to fly Avata at night and accept this risk?