NFZ with permission - DJI says "no"

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

i am super-heated up right now - and either need talked off the ledge - or - a mavic pro alternative. i am a part 107 licensed UAV PIC & professional videographer. i have permission from the airport tower to fly in their restricted airspace & i cannot launch because a chinese company wants to police my movements. i've spoken to the airport director, i've spoken to the tower - and now i have sent dji an email to jump through their hoops to fly in this space.

NOT flying in this space will cost me $23,000. needless to say the mavic pro is the last dji product i will purchase. btw - all my dji stuff will likely be for sale soon ... so keep an eye out for that.

sorry for the rant -- i really AM looking for a solution

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

Build one! I have several other quads that I built and I don't have to worry about no fly zones or anything.

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

i really should - but, i don't really have the time, talent or inclination to build --- do you know anything about the typhoon 4k?

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

Sorry I do not. I have built several quads and bought a couple before I picked up the DJI mavic and it will be my last DJI product also!! I believe if someone is irresponsible and causes accident or injury they should be punished not everybody else. There are millions or close to it of drones sold here in the US from cheap all the way to pro and barely a handful of dummies doing bad things with them. I could understand them forcing more restrictions and control if let's say if it was 10% 15% of the quad owners were causing accidents or injuries. But that is not the case. I live in a county with 1 million people and many others here on vacation and I have yet to see more than two random quads and both of the two that I had seen were out on a Causeway and they were 8 months apart.

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

beyond all of that (which i agree with completely) it like nissan selling me a car - then a year later turning the car off with firmware if i try to go down a particular road - even though i have permission from the property owner. bad business. i am looking for an alternative asap.

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

I think all the major drone builders are or have Incorporated no fly zones and even property no-fly zones and people put their name and I address on some lists.

TimO · Aug 5, 2017

Yuneec Typhoon H w/ Real Sense was on sale for 1199, marked down from 1900 at Best Buy. But I think that was a Black Friday in July sale

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

Ahh wait you need to take a look at this he has a fix for you on one of the videos. He is also a member on here. look at

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

if i'm going to have the same issue with every other brand - i don't see the point. what i'm reading agrees with Blades - they are all doing it. it seems tome that there should be some kind of "opt out" when permission is granted. i am trying to film a green house operation within sight of a small regional airport. not buzz the pentagon, ferpetesake.

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

This site you can not talk about mods but look at his videos he has a fix for you. I have not done any of them but others have

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

thanks blades, i've watched his video on nfz - it doesn't wotk with my firmware version - i'd have to roll back --- might try that.

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

Yes you will have to rollback I am on firmware .700 on my mavic and the newest go4 app.

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

stupid question --- what about when dji wants to upgrade firmware --- just say "no"?

Blades · Aug 5, 2017

Turn off auto update. I put my phone on airplane mode and I have a tab that I also keep in airplane mode with updates off. I also use a app called no root firewall that blocks DJI and anything else I want to block. I am on Android

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

thanks man. i'm going to try all of the above.

SRJ_Mavic_PRO · Aug 5, 2017

A $23000 job and you're using a Mavic? Where can I sign up? LOL

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

drone is maybe 15% of the job. i have had great success shooting indoors with the mavic - love the small footprint --- until now.

Kilrah · Aug 5, 2017

toddellis said:
it seems tome that there should be some kind of "opt out" when permission is granted.

And there is. If you plan your flights correctly you'll find there is a restricted zone, do an unlock request a few days in advance, and on the day of the shoot you get there and film.

That's part of your job if you use a drone on an operation. Just like planning the rest of the production would be.

BTW your title is misleading, it suggests you did request unlock but it was denied to you, which indeed would be a major issue but I've never heard about that happening so far.

toddellis · Aug 5, 2017

i believe my point is valid. i have permission from the tower. i don't believe i should need permission from a private corporation to do my job with a product i purchased.

if i buy a car & drive over the speed limit --- i'll get a ticket - but my car does not, and should not regulate my speed.

gnirtS · Aug 5, 2017

You know the limitations before buying. I also find it hard to believe a professional videographer would use a mavic.
Countless idiots were and are routinely ignoring no fly zones and other rules. This means DJI has to police it or regulation will be far far stricter.
Nobody forced you to buy DJI and nobody is forcing you to use DJI. You agreed to their terms and conditions.