No More GEO Fence lockout.

[meierjn]

So I fired up the drone and controller the other night and updated both the Fly Safe DB and the firmware. I'm wondering it the geofencing has been removed? Its **** cold out right now and for the foreseeable future so I won't be flying the drone over the next week or so. Is there any way to tell without actually flying the drone?

 

[DarR-T]

Coming soon, according to DJI. Canada is next.

This is the second time I'm asking.
How or where at DJI (you say) did you get this information?
Source please?

 

[brett8883]

Hi Vic, this might be related to the DJI Geo Fence topic. Prior to launching my mini 4 pro and subsequently a few months later my Mavic 3 Pro, I requested LAANC approval and got a pre-check failed indicator as shown in the pictures. Checked air space and swore I was in class G airspace. So, I put the drones in the air and everything seemed to be fine, until I got out about 300 yards and 100 feet high. At that time, I got a Restricted Air Space indicator on my controller. Made note of the contact person at our local army base JBLM and brought the drones back, loaded up and went home.



Sent the JBLM contact an email and he said that my LAANC provider was wrong (shown below) and I was in Class E airspace starting at 700’agl and didn’t need his approval. I contacted DJI and requested a geofence unlock for one year (was approved for both drones), thinking maybe that was it.



I thought I had everything handled until I got the same Restricted Air Space indicator on my controller today. The M3P felt like it hit a wall, would not accelerate past 3mph until I back-tracked 20’ or so. I hope my explanation makes any sense. Any suggestions?





On Fri, Oct 11, 2024 at 8:32 AM Bright, Robert D CIV USARMY ID-READINESS (USA) <[email protected]> wrote:

Mr. Hacker,



Your LAANC service provider is incorrect. You’re not in R6703 or Gray Army Airfield Class D airspace.



You are under Olympia Airport Class E airspace but that doesn’t begin until 700 feet AGL.



No need to contact me. Have a safe flight.



Bob Bright



Robert D. Bright

Air Traffic and Airspace Officer

Directorate of Plans, Training, Aviation, Mobilization, and Security

(DPTAMS) Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Yakima Training Center, WA

Office: (253) 967-5594

Mobile: (253) 312-5275

Air Control, Aloft, or whatever they are calling themselves these days can kind of be confusing sometimes. It was telling you the checklist failed because you don’t need LAANC in that airspace. You were trying to request LAANC permission where you don’t need it.

it should really be more clear like big green smiley face and say “You don’t need permission here!” But instead, I gave you a big scary red X. it’s just bad app design is what it is

 

[mavic3usa]

Air Control, Aloft, or whatever they are calling themselves these days can kind of be confusing sometimes. It was telling you the checklist failed because you don’t need LAANC in that airspace. You were trying to request LAANC permission where you don’t need it.

it should really be more clear like big green smiley face and say “You don’t need permission here!” But instead, I gave you a big scary red X. it’s just bad app design is what it is

I agree the design could be better; however, Air Control doesn't decide where you do and do not need to gain FAA permission therefore the correct response to the situation you highlighted would be "The Air Control app is unable to provide you with LAANC in the location you selected." And then something along the lines of uncontrolled airspace usually does not require LAANC authorization.....and go from there. I'm thinking of situations like a TFR, etc.

I could be wrong and perhaps the app IS the one the approved apps authorized to provide the final authority on where you need LAANC *and* where you don't need LAANC so if it speaks for the FAA at all times then either way, the wording needs a better update.

 

[brett8883]

I agree the design could be better; however, Air Control doesn't decide where you do and do not need to gain FAA permission therefore the correct response to the situation you highlighted would be "The Air Control app is unable to provide you with LAANC in the location you selected." And then something along the lines of uncontrolled airspace usually does not require LAANC authorization.....and go from there. I'm thinking of situations like a TFR, etc.

I could be wrong and perhaps the app IS the one the approved apps authorized to provide the final authority on where you need LAANC *and* where you don't need LAANC so if it speaks for the FAA at all times then either way, the wording needs a better update.

It is one of the official LAANC providers listed by the FAA and pulls the data directly from the FAA database.

However, I do see your point that maybe it is a liability issue to for it to literally say “ok to fly here.” Having said that, I still think it could be more clear like, “coast is clear as far as we can see captain ”

How do you check airspace requirements if you don’t use something like this?

 

[mavic3usa]

It is one of the official LAANC providers listed by the FAA and pulls the data directly from the FAA database.

However, I do see your point that maybe it is a liability issue to for it to literally say “ok to fly here.” Having said that, I still think it could be more clear like, “coast is clear as far as we can see captain ”

How do you check airspace requirements if you don’t use something like this?

I am aware Air Control is one the approved apps and it's the one I use.

 

[GFields]

Stay on topic, folks. I have had to remove several posts unrelated to the topic

 

[GadgetGuy]

This is the second time I'm asking.
How or where at DJI (you say) did you get this information?
Source please?

DJI.

 

[DarR-T]

DJI.

I want to believe you but you're not answering my question.
How or where at DJI (you say) did you get this information?
Where's the proof? Written document?

 

[brett8883]

I want to believe you but you're not answering my question.
How or where at DJI (you say) did you get this information?
Where's the proof? Written document?

DJI Updates GEO System in U.S. Consumer & Enterprise Drones

DJI updates its geofencing system in the U.S. to align with FAA regulations, enhancing drone operator control and safety. Learn about the latest changes and their impact.

viewpoints.dji.com

 

[GadgetGuy]

I want to believe you but you're not answering my question.
How or where at DJI (you say) did you get this information?
Where's the proof? Written document?

It already took place. Just update your FlySafe database from Canada and you will see that GEO was removed in Canada at the same time as in the U.S.. Report back if you find differently.

 

[akdrone]

here's an important point. I had updated my fly safe database and restarted but I still was getting warnings. I contacted DJI that had me do all sorts of stuff including firmware updates by connecting my drone to my computer and more. Turns out I had a Geo Fence active for an area nearby and I had to turn that off, then do the update to the flysafe database and all was well.

 

[GadgetGuy]

here's an important point. I had updated my fly safe database and restarted but I still was getting warnings. I contacted DJI that had me do all sorts of stuff including firmware updates by connecting my drone to my computer and more. Turns out I had a Geo Fence active for an area nearby and I had to turn that off, then do the update to the flysafe database and all was well.

GEO is still fully in force in Mexico. So, yet another point is that DJI's turning off U.S. GEO will not stop Mexican GEO, which bleeds into the U.S. across the border from Mexican airports along the border from overriding it. Those Mexican airports all still have Blue Authorization Zones, associated ribbon Altitude zones, and a 500m altitude limit for all of the U.S. which is still within a 50 Km radius of the Mexican airports, just like existed before for all U.S. airports.

 

[meierjn]

It already took place. Just update your FlySafe database from Canada and you will see that GEO was removed in Canada at the same time as in the U.S.. Report back if you find differently.

I am not sure that it is removed in Canada yet. I checked after it was reportedly removed in the US, but it did not appear to be removed up here yet. I have a DJI Mini 3 and all of the FW is current. Maybe it is now? What would be a valid test to determine if the GEO Fence restriction has been removed?

 

[GadgetGuy]

I am not sure that it is removed in Canada yet. I checked after it was reportedly removed in the US, but it did not appear to be removed up here yet. I have a DJI Mini 3 and all of the FW is current. Maybe it is now? What would be a valid test to determine if the GEO Fence restriction has been removed?

It is not a firmware update. It is an update to the FlySafe database which is completely independent of the FW version. Update the FlySafe database and see if all the NFZ's have disappeared from the map.

It is important to realize that removing GEO does change where you can legally fly in Canada. You are still required to abide by all Canadian rules for drone flyers that DJI's GEO attempted to impose. It is now incumbent upon you to follow all those rules. DJI will no longer limit you, now that RID can track your every movement whenever you fly.

 

[akdrone]

odd... I know I have read several times that it was turned off world wide. Could the internet have been wrong??

 

[GadgetGuy]

odd... I know I have read several times that it was turned off world wide. Could the internet have been wrong??

I know from personal experience that it is still active in Mexico.

AI Overview

DJI's GEO geofencing system, which restricts drone flights in certain areas, has been significantly altered in several countries. While DJI has removed most of its geofencing restrictions in the United States and has updated its GEO system in the UK and several EU countries, including Belgium, Germany, and France, it's still active in other regions. The extent of GEO's presence varies by location, with some areas still maintaining restricted zones, altitude zones, authorization zones, and warning zones.

 

[meierjn]

It is not a firmware update. It is an update to the FlySafe database which is completely independent of the FW version. Update the FlySafe database and see if all the NFZ's have disappeared from the map.

It is important to realize that removing GEO does change where you can legally fly in Canada. You are still required to abide by all Canadian rules for drone flyers that DJI's GEO attempted to impose. It is now incumbent upon you to follow all those rules. DJI will no longer limit you, now that RID can track your every movement whenever you fly.

Sorry, I mistyped. My FlySafe DB is up to date as well. I'll check to see if the restrictions have been removed. I understand that the removal of the restrictions from DJI do not change the laws of where we can fly, I'm just curious to see if it has actually been removed. I will report back after I get out to test. Thanks for your reply.