A Beginner's Guide to DJI Air 3

How do I activate my drone after receiving? How can the battery be charged? How do I guarantee the safety? ... If you've recently purchased DJI Air 3, Congratulations! You have taken the first step into a fun new world. This tutorial goes through everything you need to know about flying the Air 3. Let's set up your new drone before you head out to fly!

Applicable Products:DJI Air 3

In the Box

Charging Instructions

Charging Method

DJI Air 3 Intelligent Flight Battery needs to be charged and activated for the first use. Fully charge the battery before each use. It is recommended to use the charging devices provided by DJI, such as the DJI 100W USB-C Power Adapter, DJI 65W Portable Charger, or other USB Power Delivery chargers. You can refer to the following instructions for charging Intelligent Flight Battery and remote controller:

When using the battery for the first time, charge the battery until the battery indicators are on, which means the battery has been successfully activated.

Connecting the aircraft with the battery mounted to a charger for charging

Attach the aircraft to the charger with the battery powered off.

Using the Battery Charging Hub

The Intelligent Flight Battery with the highest power level will be charged first, and then the rest will be charged in sequence according to their power levels.

The charging hub can use the power accumulation function to transfer the remaining power of multiple low-power batteries into the battery with the highest remaining power.

After the batteries are installed, the charging hub can supply power to external devices via the USB-C port, such as remote controllers or mobile phones.

Charging Duration

The battery level LEDs of the battery and remote controller blink in sequence to display the current battery level during charging. The battery is fully charged when all the battery level LEDs are off.

	DJI 100W USB-C Power Adapter	DJI 65W Portable Charger	USB Charger (9V，3A)	USB Charger (5V，2A)
DJI Air 3 Intelligent Flight Battery	Connecting the aircraft with the battery mounted: Approx. 80 min; Using the Battery Charging Hub: Approx. 60 min;	Connecting the aircraft with the battery mounted: Approx. 80 min; Using the Battery Charging Hub: Approx. 80 min;	/	/
DJI RC-N2	/	/	/	150 min
DJI RC 2	/	/	90 min	/
* Devices will take longer to charge if both ports are used for charging simultaneously. Tested in a lab environment and should be taken as reference only.

Battery Maintenance

The battery automatically checks the voltage differences between battery cells and decides whether maintenance is required. If maintenance is required due to large voltage difference, the four battery level LEDs will blink twice every second and blink for two seconds when you press the Power button to check the battery level. In this case, if the battery is inserted into the aircraft and powered on, the aircraft will not be able to take off, and a prompt for maintenance will appear in DJI Fly. If the battery level LEDs blink for maintenance or the maintenance prompt appears in DJI Fly, follow the prompt the fully charge the battery and then let it rest for 48 hours. If the battery still does not work after two times of maintenance, contact DJI Support

Click here to know more about Battery Routine Maintenance Guide.

Activating Your Device

When using DJI Air 3 for the first time, you need to activate the product through DJI Fly before you can use all the functions of the product.

Attaching and Removing the Gimbal Protector

Removing the Gimbal Protector

Remove the gimbal protector before activating the aircraft to prevent damage to the gimbal motor and affect its lifespan. Failure to remove the gimbal protector may also pose a serious risk to flight safety after takeoff.

First turn over the aircraft. Press down the gimbal protector slightly to release the clips from the notches at the bottom of the aircraft body, then remove the gimbal protector.

Attaching the Gimbal Protector

To safeguard the gimbal and camera, you'd better attach the gimbal protector to your drone during daily storage or carrying outdoors.

1. First turn over the aircraft and rotate the camera to make it horizontal and forward-facing.

2. Insert the two clips on the gimbal protector into the two notches at the bottom of the aircraft nose, press down the gimbal protector slightly to lock the clips into the notches at the bottom of the aircraft body.

* Make sure to place the propellers of the front arms into the two dents on both sides of the aircraft back. Do not push the propellers onto the back of the aircraft, which may cause the propellers to misshapen.

Powering on/off the Device

Press, and then press and hold the Power button on the aircraft or remote controller to power on or off the device.

Aircraft

DJI RC 2

Activating the Remote Controller

Remove the control sticks from their storage slots on the remote controller and screw them into place. Power on the remote controller and follow the on-screen prompts to activate the remote controller.

Downloading DJI Fly

When using the DJI RC-N2 remote controller, click to download the DJI Fly App onto your mobile device for use.

Connection and Linking

The remote controller is already linked to the aircraft when purchased together as a combo. Then use your device after activation.

If a USB connection prompt appears when an Android mobile device is used with DJI RC-N2, select the option to charge only. Other options may cause the connection to fail.

Activating the Aircraft

Make sure that the aircraft and remote controller are linked successfully. Launch the DJI Fly app, and then complete the activation following the on-screen instructions (An Internet connection is required for activation).

For an overview of how to activate your device, watch the video below:

You can go to the Device Info Inquiry page to check the activation information, warranty period, and DJI Care service plan benefits.

Basic Use

Detaching and Attaching the Propellers

There are two types of propellers and motors of DJI Air 3: CW and CCW, which are designed to spin in different directions. Marks are used to indicate which propellers should be attached to which motors.

Distinguishing between Propellers

The propellers are foolproof, which means that they cannot be installed to motors if propellers and motors do not match.

Attaching or Replacing the Propellers

Step 1: Place the drone horizontally and make sure that the drone’s camera faces forwards;

Step 2: Attach propellers with grey circle markings to the motors with grey markings. Hold the motor with one hand, press the propeller down with the other hand, and rotate in the lock direction marked on the propeller until it pops up and locks in place.

Step 3: Attach propellers without markings to the motors without markings. Press the propeller down with the other hand, and rotate in the lock direction marked on the propeller until it pops up and locks in place.

To learn more about how to attach or replace the propellers, check the video:

Mounting and Removing the Battery

Click for a step-by-step guide on installing and removing the intelligent flight battery.

First Flight

After the aircraft and remote controller are activated, please watch the video to get easy-to-use operations before you head out to fly.

Updating Firmware

A prompt will appear in the DJI Fly app if a firmware update is available. Follow the on-screen instructions to update the firmware. The DJI RC 2 remote controller or mobile device must be connected to the internet during firmware update.

Advanced Usage

Zoom

DJI Air 3 is equipped with a dual-camera system with 1/1.3-inch sensors. The wide-angle camera supports up to 3x digital zoom while the medium tele camera supports up to 9x digital zoom

Watch this video to know more about how to zoom.

Portrait Mode

In Video mode, vertical shooting at 1080P and 2.7K are supported. (Not supported in Slow Motion and Photo mode.)

For an overview of how to record a video in Portrait mode, watch the video below:

Pano

Sphere, 180°, Wide Angle, and Vertical are supported. Depending on the type of panorama selected, the aircraft will automatically take multiple photos and create a panoramic image (Pano is not available when using the medium tele camera).

Watch this video to know more about the Pano function of DJI Air 3.

Intelligent Flight Mode

DJI Air 3 supports FocusTrack, MasterShots, Quickshots (Asteroid not supported by medium tele camera lens), Hyperlapse, Waypoint Flight, Cruise Control, Night Mode, Smart RTH, etc. The operation method is consistent with DJI Mavic 3 Series.

Click to explore more about functionality usage.

Exporting Footage

Installing and Removing a Memory Card

If you have purchased a memory card and upon receiving it, you will find a black card holder which is a memory card adapter. It can be used to connect the TF slot of a computer for footage transfer. Please note that the memory card is inserted into the drone without the card adapter. Click to learn more about Installation and Removal of Drone Storage Card

	Memory Card Not Inserted	Memory Card Inserted
DJI Air 3	Store to the internal storage of the aircraft. (Built-in 8GB)	Choose to save to the internal storage of the aircraft or microSD card.
DJI RC 2	Store to the internal storage of the remote controller. (Built-in 32GB)	Choose to save to the internal storage of the remote controller or microSD card.
·DJI Air 3 supports QuickTransfer, which allows quick drone footage downloads directly to your mobile device. If you do not have demands for screen recording, it is unnecessary to insert a microSD card. ·You can click here to learn about the recommended storage cards for DJI Air 3; Click here to learn about the recommended storage cards for DJI RC 2. ·Do not remove the microSD card when recording or remove the battery when powered on. Otherwise, the microSD card may be damaged and storage data may be lost.

Exporting the Photos/Videos

The raw footage captured by DJI Air 3 is stored in the internal storage of the aircraft or microSD card. Click Aircraft Photo or Video Files Export Guide for a step-by-step guide to downloading photos or videos, or exporting them from the aircraft to a phone via QuickTransfer.

Connect the aircraft to a computer using a data cable, export the footage in the built-in storage of the aircraft or in the microSD card mounted on the aircraft. The aircraft does not need to be powered on during the exporting process.

Available Accessories

With its great accessories, DJI Air 3 helps you put the icing on the cake.

For more information about accessories, please go to Aircraft Accessory Compatibility , or DJI Store, and many more accessories waiting for you!

Attaching and Detaching the ND Filter

Tips for Flight Safety

We've rounded up some coping tips for flight safety and we'd like to share them with you, including local laws and regulations (flight limit and drone transportation requirements), pre-flight checklist, and environmental considerations.

Regulations and Policies

As laws and regulations regarding drones can vary widely depending on location, please check local policies and regulations before flying: Checking Local Regulations & GEO Zones

To help users fly more responsibly, we’re offering this exclusive guide highlighting the drone laws and battery transportation policies of over 20 popular destinations around the globe. Click Here.

Safety Precautions

Environmental Consideration

1. Always fly in open areas and keep your drone within line of sight. For safety reasons, you should never fly above people, animals, or moving vehicles: Flight Safety Guidelines

2. Minimize interference by avoiding areas with tall and dense buildings.

The maximum flight altitude of the aircraft is 500 m. For details about maximum flight distance, refer to the official specifications. Beginner pilots should not be able to fly very far. Click Altitude and Distance Limit to know more.

Device Checklist
1. Make sure that the propellers are mounted properly, and check if the propellers are broken or bent.
2. Remove the gimbal protector before powering on the drone and make sure that the battery is mounted in place (a click can be heard).

3. After the device is powered on and connected, check if there are any warnings shown in the app. If yes, follow on-screen instructions and fly the drone after no warnings are detected.
Note that the vision systems cannot work properly in any of the following situations:

1) Flying over extremely dark surfaces, water or transparent surfaces, monochrome surfaces, or surfaces without clear patterns or texture;

2) Flying over obstacles with small surface areas (e.g., tree branches).

DJI Care Service Plan

DJI Care Refresh is a comprehensive and reliable protection plan that provides DJI products with coverage for a range of accidental damages such as collision, water damage, flyaway, and natural wear.

This part walks you through details of DJI Care Refresh, including the applicable scenarios, purchase conditions, benefit descriptions, and purchase channels.

Click here to know more if you have not yet purchased a service plan. Purchasing DJI Care Refresh Service Plans

Consult the content below for a step-by-step guide to activating, binding, and using your service plan, as well as the replacement fees.

Click here to know more if you have already purchased a service plan. DJI Care Service Plan User Guide

You can also find more entertaining and useful flight tutorials and tips in DJI Academy and User Manual.

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