The European Union Aviation Safety (EASA) and drone manufacturer DJI are working together to support the transition to the new regulatory framework for drones and to promote safe operations.
A key requirement of the European Drone Rules is for drone operators to obtain up-to-date information on restrictions that might be in place where they intend to fly (known as geo-awareness) and for drone pilots to comply with this information during each flight.
Across Europe, aviation authorities publish official UAS Geographical Zones (UGZ) as part of EASA’s harmonised geo-awareness framework. From January 2026, with the full availability of these national UGZ maps, DJI’s class-labelled products will now rely exclusively on official UGZ data published by the national aviation authorities.
In 2013, DJI introduced Fly Safe as a voluntary safety feature to help prevent inadvertent drone flights in restricted or sensitive areas. Since 2024, the system has been updated to comply with the geo-awareness requirements. Previous Fly Safe data sets have now been removed to maintain alignment with official sources and prevent pilot misunderstanding.
“Defining and updating UAS geographical zones is the responsibility of each Member State,” EASA said. “All registered drone operators, regardless of the drone’s manufacturer, should consult official UGZ data provided by the national aviation authorities in the country they operate. Having the latest maps and information is vital to ensure safe and legal operations.”
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