DJI abolishes no-fly zones via automatic geofencing

[17:19 Thu,16.January 2025 by Thomas Richter]

DJI has deactivated its geofencing system for all its drones in the USA via an update to its DJI Fly and DJI Pilot apps. This means that pilots whose drones approach no-fly zones such as airports, events, military installations, or government buildings will only receive an in-app notification warning, but will no longer be prevented from continuing their flight.

DJI is thus giving drone pilots more freedom than before, but places the entire responsibility for any violations and their consequences in their hands. Authorities can punish airspace violations using the Remote Identification (Remote ID) system, which publicly transmits the location of a drone and its owner during flight.

The geofencing data from DJI previously used for no-fly zones is being replaced by data from the American aviation authority FAA, which is now used to define the "Enhanced Warning Zones" that then trigger warnings in the DJI Fly and DJI Pilot app.

Over 10 years ago, DJI developed the GEO system to enforce flight restrictions – and integrated further safety solutions into its drones, such as GPS-based geofencing technology, the autonomous return function, collision avoidance sensors, and aircraft detection technologies, as well as Remote Identification (Remote ID) for monitoring and identifying drones.

A similar update had already deactivated automatic no-fly zones via geofencing in several EU countries (including Germany) about a year ago and replaced them with a display of the geographical zone data from the national aviation authorities. DJI has thus relinquished the role of supervisory authority in Europe and now also in the USA, which ensures the enforcement of the respective national airspace restrictions for drones – many pilots will certainly welcome the removal of the mandatory restrictions. Violations of no-fly zones – whether due to malice or carelessness on the part of the pilots – will now be easier and therefore more likely.

DJI is likely taking this step to avoid liability for any damage caused by drones flying in no-fly zones, for which DJI might be liable if users rely on the – voluntarily implemented by DJI – geofencing system, which, for example, has to dynamically implement such no-fly zones in emergencies, such as the wildfire in Los Angeles.

more infos at bei viewpoints.dji.com

deutsche Version dieser Seite: DJI schafft automatisches Geofencing für No-Fly-Zonen ab