News
DJI Update: Geographic Zone Evolution for Drones
Jan
In the dynamic world of civilian drone manufacturing, DJI once again stands out for its proactive initiative. Recently, the company began a progressive update of its GEO system, integrating UAS geographical zone data supplied by national aviation authorities. This is in perfect harmony with current EASA (European Aviation Safety Authority) and CAA (UK Civil Aviation Authority) regulations, offering drone pilots greater flying latitude.
This update, initially deployed in countries that have adopted maps complying with current technical standards - including Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, France, Lithuania, Switzerland and the UK - will then be extended to other countries under EASA jurisdiction.
Consumer, commercial and agricultural drone models are affected by this update. Users will simply need to update their flight application to activate these changes.
A pioneer in the voluntary adoption of the GEO system in 2013, DJI then took steps to protect airports and sites of high national security. At the time, mass-consumption drones were a novelty, and aviation authorities needed time to put appropriate safety measures in place. The GEO system thus played a crucial role in preventing DJI drone operators from inadvertently entering controlled airspace.
Global regulations have evolved considerably since then. In January 2024, in accordance with European drone regulations, all drone manufacturers are required to enable users to download and display UAS geographical area data provided by the national aviation authorities of EASA member states. Under these regulations, it is the responsibility of drone operators to ensure that they have the most recent version of this data before carrying out any operations.
To accompany this regulatory evolution, DJI will also progressively update other aspects of its GEO system for DJI UAVs in EASA member states.
For more information on drone regulations in the EU, please visit : EU legislation on drones
To find out more about the responsibilities of drone operators and remote pilots in the "open" category, please consult: Responsibilities of drone operators - EASA
For more information on EASA's UAS (drone) geographical zones, please consult: EASA's UAS geographical zones
Note: It is imperative for users to check and scrupulously respect local laws and regulations before flying a drone.
