DJI, which accounts for about 90% of hobbyist drone sales in the United States, announced this week that it is ending geo-blocking of its drones over airports and military bases. The changes went into effect on Monday in both DJI Fly and DJI Pilot flight apps.
DJI wrote about the changes on its blog, noting that it comes after similar changes were made by the drone manufacturer in the European Union last year.
“Areas that were previously designated as ‘No Fly Zones’ (also known as ‘No Fly Zones’) will now be displayed as ‘Enhanced Warning Zones,’ which is consistent with the areas designated by the FAA,” the company said in a blog post. “In these zones, operators flying near FAA-designated controlled airspace will be notified via mobile apps, putting control back in the hands of drone operators, in accordance with regulatory principles that the operator is ultimately responsible.”
The use of drones by civilians in restricted airspace is a big issue, with the most recent high-profile example in the US occurring just last week when a SuperScooper Quebec 1 firefighting plane was forced to land after colliding with a DJI drone over the Palisades fire. The FAA declared the area a no-fly zone, and the wing of the firefighter was damaged in the collision. The FBI is investigating the incident.
DJI first began geofencing its drones to prevent them from entering restricted airspace back in 2013, when, as the company notes, there were few regulations governing the use of drones in the United States.
“The geofencing system was created as a voluntary built-in safety feature to help promote responsible flying practices and prevent DJI drone operators from inadvertently flying in restricted airspace, such as around government buildings, airports, or prisons,” the post explains.
But there is no law that requires this kind of geofencing, and the company says it is up to the user to stay away from areas they should not enter.
“This GEO update has been active in the UK and several EU countries since January 2024, starting with European countries that have implemented geographic maps that meet current technical standards, such as Belgium, Germany, and France. In June, it was extended to Estonia, Finland, and Luxembourg. The rest of the EU countries under EASA’s jurisdiction will also receive the update this month,” the blog post reads.
The announcement caused surprise in the U.S. intelligence community, especially since DJI is based in China and the new Cold War has made relations between Beijing and Washington particularly difficult.
“DJI reminds pilots to always ensure flight safety and comply with all local laws and regulations,” the company wrote. “For flights in high-risk areas, drone operators should obtain airspace clearance directly from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and refer to the FAA’s No Drone Zone resource for more information.”
