DJI, the world’s leader in civil drones and creative camera technology, has announced updates to its geofencing system (GEO) which applies to most of its consumer and enterprise drone products in the United States (U.S.). These changes will take effect starting from January 13 on both the DJI Fly and DJI Pilot flight apps. This update follows similar changes implemented in the European Union (EU) last year.
With this update, DJI’s Fly and Pilot flight app operators will see prior DJI geofencing datasets replaced to display official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. Areas previously defined as Restricted Zones (also known as No-Fly Zones) will be displayed as Enhanced Warning Zones, aligning with the FAA’s designated areas. In these zones, in-app alerts will notify operators flying near FAA designated controlled airspace, placing control back in the hands of the drone operators, in line with regulatory principles of the operator bearing final responsibility.
To update, operators need to connect their flight app to the internet and click ‘Update’ on the FlySafe pop-up notification (see image below).
When DJI first introduced the GEO system in 2013, consumer drones were still a relatively novel technology, and formal drone flight rules and regulations were sparse. The geofencing system was created as a voluntary built-in safety feature to help foster responsible flight practices and prevent DJI drone operators from unintentionally flying in restricted airspace, such as around government buildings, airports, or prisons.
| For many years, DJI has led the drone industry in safety, making several unprecedented commitments to integrating advanced safety systems into its drones, including:First to install altitude limits & GPS-based geofencing to guide drone pilots away from unsafe locationsFirst to deploy autonomous return-to-home technology if drones lose connection to their controllers or have critically low batteriesFirst to integrate sensors for nearby obstacles and approaching aircraftFirst to operate Remote Identification technology to help authorities identify and monitor airborne drones. |
Since then, global regulations and user awareness have evolved significantly, with a greater focus on geo-awareness and Remote ID solutions which makes detection and enforcement much easier. National aviation authorities, including the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) in the EU, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), and the FAA in the U.S., have established comprehensive geographical zones for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and enforce drone regulations.
This GEO update has been active in the UK and several EU countries since January 2024, starting with European countries that have implemented geographical maps compliant with existing technical standards, such as Belgium, Germany, and France. In June, it expanded to Estonia, Finland, and Luxembourg. The remaining EU countries under EASA jurisdiction will also receive the update this month.
DJI reminds pilots to always ensure flights are conducted safely and in accordance with all local laws and regulations. For flights conducted in Enhanced Warning Zones, drone operators must obtain airspace authorization directly from the FAA and consult the FAA’s No Drone Zone resource for further information.
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