KSBN Case Study
For a mission taking place less than half a mile from South Bend's International Airport, I had to implement numerous safety measures to ensure that the unmanned aerial system (UAS) would not interfere with any nearby manned aircraft operations. After submitting a comprehensive mission plan, risk assessment matrix, and coordinating with local entities, I obtained a waiver permitting me to fly at a ceiling of 50 feet above ground level (AGL) to inspect two bridge decks using a DJI M210 and an XT2 camera. While using the DJI UAS, the operating location appeared to be outside DJI's restricted geofence zone, as shown in Figure 1. However, upon arriving on site, the aircraft incorrectly indicated that I was in a no-fly zone.
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| Figure 1: False Lock at Operation Location Outside of Restricted Zone |
What did I do?
Fortunately, I had downloaded a custom unlock from DJI's website before arriving on site. Although the custom unlock feature worked, I was concerned by the discrepancy between DJI's geofence map and the real-time location. If I had relied solely on DJI's geozone map and not unlocked the aircraft, the mission would have failed, as I would have missed the 30-minute window I had to fly.
What did I Learn?
Although DJI's geofence is an essential safety tool, the aircraft's real-time location may sometimes trigger a false lock. If you are not familiar with DJI's unlocking process, you may experience a significant disruption for no valid reason. DJI claims that you can unlock your drone as long as you are connected to the internet; however, I was unable to do so with the M210 RTK V2, despite having a full internet connection and the tablet indicating that the unlock was verifying.
Conclusion
If you have a DJI aircraft and have permission to legally operate in a zero grid, make sure that you know how to unlock in case you end up in a situation like mine. Also know that in the unlocking process, your aircraft will be set at an altitude from the takeoff point, so consider that when selecting a takeoff location ahead of time.
