DJI block all Phantom drone flights over Washington DC
DJI the makers of the worlds best loved drone, the Phantom will begin blocking all flights over Washington DC. This comes from news reports in the past few days of an unspecified make of drone crash landing on the White House lawn. DJI will release a firmware update to the Phantom 2, Phantom 2 Vision, Phantom 2 Vision+ which will prevent flights using GPS modes over downtown Washington.
“DJI will release a mandatory firmware update for the Phantom 2, Phantom 2 Vision, and Phantom 2 Vision+ to help users comply with the FAA’s Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) 0/8326, which restricts unmanned flight around the Washington, DC area,”
“The updated firmware (V3.10) will be released in coming days and adds a No-Fly Zone centered on downtown Washington, DC and extends for a 25 kilometer (15.5 mile) radius in all directions. Phantom pilots in this area will not be able to take off from or fly into this airspace.”
This is an unprecedented move by a drone maker although understandable as they certainly do not want a sales ban inflicted on them. Given this decision I would imagine we will now start to see more formal laws and regulations coming in regarding the use of drones. In fact now that city law makers know this can be done I would not be surprised if many other cities hit DJI with no fly orders.
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