DJI has lifted geofencing, which prevents US users from flying over restricted areas such as nuclear power plants, airports and wildfires, the company wrote in a post. blog post on Monday. Beginning January 13, areas previously called “restricted areas” or no-fly zones will appear as “enhanced warning areas,” corresponding to those designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). DJI's Fly app will display warnings about these zones, but will no longer prevent users from flying within them, the company said.
In the article, DJI wrote that “in-app alerts will notify operators flying near designated FAA-controlled airspace, putting control back in the hands of drone operators, consistent with regulatory principles that hold the operator ultimately responsible.” The company added that technologies like Remote ID (introduced after DJI introduced geofencing) give authorities “the tools they need to enforce existing regulations,” DJI global policy chief Adam Welsh said. Edge.
However, this update is an odd one considering DJI's already shaky situation in the US. could be banned from selling its products in the US as early as next year. DJI's former head of policy Brandon Shulman criticized the move on Twitter in a series of posts. “Over the years, there has been compelling evidence that automated geofencing of drones, implemented using a risk-based approach, makes a significant contribution to aviation safety,” he wrote.
This is a remarkable shift in drone safety strategy that could potentially have a huge impact, especially among drone pilots who are less aware of airspace restrictions and high-risk areas. https://t.co/YJOpe2gcZe
— Brendan Shulman (@dronelaws) January 14, 2025
There is also a problem with drones weighing less than 250 grams. These models were previously geofenced via GEO in restricted areas to prevent unintentional flight into restricted areas. However, the update will remove this geofencing and it will be possible to disable Remote ID on these lightweight drones.
In fact, that's exactly what happened last week when a DJI model weighed less than 250 grams damaged the wing Canadair Super Scooper fighting wildfires in Los Angeles, temporarily putting it out of service. That drone may not have been transmitting a remote ID, so the FBI said it would have to use “investigative tools” to find the pilot instead.
DJI first introduced geofencing (called GEO) around airports in 2013 and added new zones in 2015. and 2016after the drone crash-landed on the White House lawn. It did so voluntarily because the FAA only requires that operators be warned of restricted areas where flying is prohibited. However, it will now be 100% the operator's responsibility to avoid flying into no-fly zones.
“DJI reminds pilots to always fly safely in accordance with all local laws and regulations. For flights conducted in enhanced warning areas, drone operators must obtain airspace clearance directly from the FAA and consult with the FAA. No drone zone resource for more information,” the message reads.