Fly a DJI drone? This is what’s changing in your map display
European drone pilots flying DJI drones with a C1, C2 or C3 class label will soon receive their airspace and geographical zone information directly via EASA’s harmonised geo-awareness framework. This follows a new cooperation between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and DJI, aimed at ensuring that drones rely exclusively on official airspace data published by national aviation authorities.
The move puts an end to DJI’s long-standing use of its own Fly Safe database, which in the past did not always align with official national restrictions. According to EASA, the new approach should reduce the risk of pilots unintentionally flying illegally by relying too heavily on incorrect or incomplete map information in their drone app.
From proprietary no-fly zones to official data
For years, DJI’s Fly Safe system used a proprietary set of no-fly zones and warnings. These zones often differed from the official UAS Geographical Zones (UGZ) established by EASA Member States. In some cases, areas were more restrictive than legally required, while in others certain restrictions were missing altogether.
As a result, pilots could be misled into thinking a flight was compliant because no warning appeared in the app, even though national regulations did impose limitations. EASA stresses that under the European drone rules, operators are legally required to obtain up-to-date information on airspace restrictions before each flight.
That obligation applies to drones with a C1, C2 or C3 label. Drones with a C0 label are formally exempt, although DJI has chosen to equip the popular Mini series with the Fly Safe system as well.
Geo-awareness directly via DJI Fly
Reaching this point was not straightforward. Earlier workflows required drone pilots to manually download and upload geographical zone data themselves – an error-prone process. Under the new arrangement between EASA and DJI, this is no longer necessary.
Official UGZ data can now be retrieved directly via the DJI Fly app, effectively with a single action. From January 2026, when national UGZ maps are fully available across all EASA Member States, DJI’s class-labelled drones will rely exclusively on these official datasets. The legacy Fly Safe data has been removed to avoid misunderstandings and to maintain alignment with authoritative sources.
Central EASA access point for national maps
As part of the harmonised geo-awareness framework, EASA has also launched a central webpage that links to the official UGZ maps published by the national aviation authorities of all participating states. This page serves as a single access point for operators looking for legally valid and up-to-date airspace information.
EASA states that it works continuously with national authorities to ensure that these links and datasets remain current.
Warnings remain, responsibility stays with the pilot
While DJI drones will now use official airspace data, the system does not enforce compliance automatically in all cases. When operating in a no-fly zone or restricted area, the drone will issue a warning, but the user may still choose to take off.
As before, the legal responsibility for conducting a compliant flight rests entirely with the drone pilot, regardless of what the app or aircraft indicates.
By aligning DJI’s geo-awareness functionality with EASA’s official framework, the agency hopes to improve regulatory compliance across Europe and reduce confusion about where drone flights are permitted.
