Anyone know about DJI drones and no fly zones

Buying Advice Forum
1

I’m looking into getting a small drone just for recording footage around my house and for fun when I’m on vacation.

My house falls into a permanent no fly zone that always stays marked as red, and it’s updated daily. There’s a marine airbase nearby, so I assume that’s why? I’m not totally sure.

I don’t plan on flying this drone higher than my roof. Do DJI drones have a system that prevents flying in those zones? I really don’t want to break the law, though I guess technically I would be, but I can’t understand why flying a small drone around my yard is a problem. It feels like overreach to me. I see no reason for my whole county to be a no fly zone.

I think Potensic drones have some limits and won’t take off in these zones? Do DJI drones do the same? Thanks.

EDIT: So it seems the general answer is no, no fly zones really mean no fly. But the drone itself won’t stop you? That’s a bummer. I’m going to start a new thread asking how to challenge or question the no fly rule over my entire county.

2

First thing you should do is check if it’s legal to fly in your area with the B4UFLY app, not whatever DJI has. No fly zones are strict rules even in your backyard. Don’t risk violating military airspace.

Next, make sure to update your remote and firmware. If you’re legally allowed to fly at your place, then you should be good to go.

3

@Sloan
Is there a way to get a waiver or an exception? It feels really extreme to say an entire county is a no fly zone when the air base is 30 miles away (which might not matter much since planes fly fast) but at my house level, I don’t see it being a problem.

4

@Abi
Have you checked the B4UFLY app to confirm if you can fly there?

5

Sloan said:
@Abi
Have you checked the B4UFLY app to confirm if you can fly there?

The B4UFLY app isn’t working for me. I’m trying ‘Aloft’ and it says my area is restricted airspace in a big red block. But when you look into it further, it states it’s only for low altitude. There’s Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Approach control mentioned, which is 30 miles away.

6

@Abi
You might want to check again later. You can typically fly in MOAs when they’re inactive. It seems like it’s showing active for another 40 minutes right now.

7

Sloan said:
@Abi
You might want to check again later. You can typically fly in MOAs when they’re inactive. It seems like it’s showing active for another 40 minutes right now.

It auto updates each day. It’s been like this for months; I’ve been keeping track.

8

@Abi
Just a heads up, B4UFLY isn’t a standalone app anymore, but it’s still called B4UFLY and has similar functions.

9

Sloan said:
@Abi
Just a heads up, B4UFLY isn’t a standalone app anymore, but it’s still called B4UFLY and has similar functions.

Yeah, I found another app that gave me disappointing news.

10

@Abi
That R-5306A area sounds tricky. You might want to contact the Approach Control to see what they say. The worst they can do is say no.

11

DJI has removed the feature that prevented takeoff in restricted zones.

12

Riley said:
DJI has removed the feature that prevented takeoff in restricted zones.

It’s really up to the pilot to ensure they follow the rules and keep things safe.

13

That’s odd, I’m only 10 minutes from an airport and I can fly, limited to 200m.

14

Drake said:
That’s odd, I’m only 10 minutes from an airport and I can fly, limited to 200m.

That sounds reasonable! 200m is really high for what I’m looking to do.

It’s funny how some drones have long-range signals, but I have zero interest in that; I’d be worried about losing it since they aren’t cheap.

15

@Abi
What country are you in where the entire place is a no fly zone?

16

Drake said:
That’s odd, I’m only 10 minutes from an airport and I can fly, limited to 200m.

It’s not just about distance from an airport; it’s also how you relate to the runways and approaches. If you’re right under a takeoff or landing path, restrictions can be stricter.

17

If this is in the USA, flying legally won’t be possible, but DJI won’t stop you anymore. If you get a part 107, you can ask for permission to fly. I’ve done this and got the okay to fly this entire year, even though I’m technically in a no fly zone. I should mention I’m in a 100 ft zone; if you were in a no fly zone, you’d definitely need a part 107.

18

@Ozzie
Is there a way to challenge or fight the zero foot restriction? It really seems silly to me. 100ft should be acceptable.

19

Abi said:
@Ozzie
Is there a way to challenge or fight the zero foot restriction? It really seems silly to me. 100ft should be acceptable.

There’s not really a way to contest it. You could send a letter to the FAA, but it likely won’t lead anywhere quickly. Get your Part 107 and request permission a good while ahead for your area. That’s about all you can do. Just today, I asked for 300 feet in a 100-foot zone, giving them 3 days notice. They usually say yes, no, or might not respond at all. This is how it goes. If you want to get permission in a zero zone, having the Part 107 is essential, and letting them know you have a radio on the local airport frequency (which I do) and have safety measures really adds to your chances of getting permission. If you want to fly around your house within 100ft radius at 50 feet, you may also get permission and possibly regularly for the upcoming year, but again, the Part 107 is where you need to start. Anything else and you’re taking risks with serious consequences.

20

In no fly zones, flying at all is a no. It doesn’t matter if you’re just a foot off the ground or 100 feet up. You could face fines if caught. You can fly inside your home, but check on legality of using a tether.