No-Fly-Zones

No-fly zones (NFZ) are areas on the map where flying is prohibited. NFZs are divided into two categories – Aerodrome zones, which are built into UgCS, and Custom zones which the operator can create.

The operator can create a Custom NFZ of either two shapes:

Prism
Cone
NFZ can be created by clicking on one of the two bottom icons on the No-Fly-Zone drawing tools and shift-click on the map.

To create a prism-formed NFZ, at least 3 points are necessary. The cone NFZ requires only one point. To finish creating an NFZ, click on the selected NFZ icon again. To edit the finished NFZ click it on the map. To delete an NFZ click on the trash can icon on the editing screen.

The following parameters for each of the NFZ can be changed:

Name of NFZ
No-Fly Zone starts from – altitude from which the NFZ begins. By default, this parameter is set to 0 m AGL.
Ground or sea-level – change the altitude origin between AGL and AMSL
Height – the altitude NFZ ends. By default, this parameter is set to infinity.

For the cone NFZ there are two additional parameters:

Base radius – radius of the base of the flight zone. By default, this is set to 100 m.
Top radius – radius of the top of the flight zone. This parameter can be used only if the height parameter for the cone NFZ is not infinity.

Note: If NFZ width is less than one meter it is not taken into account for route calculation.

To change the visibility of NFZ:
Click on the Map options (globe icon) button at the very top right-hand corner of the screen;
Click on the Layers button.
In the new window, deselect Aerodrome zones or Custom zones so that they are no longer displayed on the map.

Keep in mind, that this operation does not disable the NFZ, it simply hides them.

The No-Fly Zones can be disabled in the parameter window of the route, by deselecting the Aerodrome zones or the Custom zones. The route’s parameter window is displayed during the creation process of a new route, or it can be accessed by selecting the Parameters button of the route’s card Parameter setting dropdown.

UgCS will not be able to calculate a mission if any waypoint is in an NFZ.

No-Fly-Zone unlocking

In the case of flights performed in restricted areas. Without unlocking the NFZ zone an error message will appear in UgCS for DJI app.

To plan missions with UgCS in restricted areas, NFZ has to be unlocked on the UgCS desktop. Upon route creation, disable Aerodrome zones to be taken into account for route calculation.

Request NFZ zone unlock on DJI website:

Open Safe Zone Unlock and Log in to the account. Choose Unlock Request section from the top bar of the website. At this point, you should see all your requests and their validity status.

Press on “New Unlock Request” and proceed with Zone Unlocking. Select device and pilot details from the drop-down menu or add a new device and pilot for the request.

After the requestor has provided all the details it will be available to choose the restricted zone.

NOTE: there are different zones and for each type of zone different rules apply for unlocking. In our example, we used a zone with the color blue. For other zones, it may be required to receive permission from your local government institutions.

Choose the correct zone, and the time range, and add a reason for unlocking.

Now, the request is available in the list of “Zone requests”.

As soon the zone has the status “Accepted”, it is available for upload to the drone via the DJI application.

Power on your DJI drone and connect it to the DJI Go4/Pilot Application.

Choose the “General Settings” menu and scroll down to the “Flight restrictions” section.

Open Unlocking License and import unlocked restriction to the aircraft.

In case of successful import message is visible.

Restricted zone will appear now in the Aircraft section as enabled.

The prompt message will display. Close the DJI Go4 application. NFZ settings will be saved on autopilot.

Run UgCS desktop software and UgCS for DJI. Make sure your drone has an established connection between UgCS for DJI and UgCS desktop.
Upload the route to the drone.

It is possible to enable the blue-colored DJI authorization zones directly in the DJI Pilot app by performing liftoff movement on your RC. After performing a liftoff movement, a message in DJI Pilot app will appear. Please note, that this is a one-time scenario and not recommended to request zone unlock before the flight.