Apply for DJI Custom Unlock

Owned by Patrick Dowd
Last updated: Aug 08, 2022
2 min read

To ensure public airspace safety, DJI has created Restricted (Red) GEO Zones around airports and other high-risk facilities to regulate sUAS flights.  Flights will not be allowed in these areas unless proper authorization has been obtained by the drone operator.  Part of the pre-flight checklist includes the detection of a restricted/no fly zone and if your mission area is within or overlaps one of these zones and you do not have the proper approvals in place, you will be prevented from flying. 

To apply for a custom unlock, you will first need to have obtained airspace authorization through AirMap, or any other LAANC enabled provider, to fly in the restricted area in question.  Once approval has been obtained, the process to apply for an unlock is as follows:

  1. Navigate to https://www.dji.com/flysafe/custom-unlock  and log in to your DJI account.  Click here to sign up if you have not already done so.  Please note, having a DJI account is mandatory and will be required to perform certain tasks not related to this process.

  2. Complete the application by providing the requested information:

Step 1 - Gather Basic Information

  • Personal information: Your name, email address, and phone number

  • Flight Controller ID (With all hardware powered on and connected, launch the Kespry app on the iPad > Settings > About. The Flight Controller ID is listed in the “Drone” section.)

  • Latitude and longitude of the area of interest

  • Radius and altitude of the area of interest, subject to the authorization document provided by the FAA

  • Duration of the unlocking license: 1 year for personal users and non-authenticated organization users

  • Authorization document that allows flight in the red Restricted Zones. This will be your airspace authorization from the FAA.

After this information has been gathered, provide all requested information in the User Center. Detailed steps can be found here.

Once the User Center information has been provided, proceed to request the unlock:

Step 2 - Unlocking Area

  • Choose the Unlock Request tab and choose New Unlock Request

  • Confirm you agree to the terms presented

  • Choose Custom Unlock

  • Choose the drone you will be flying along with the Pilot

  • Search for the location you need to fly to update the map

  • Choose Circle, and draw a circle around your mission area. Alternatively, you can choose download template and provide lat/lon/radius information for your circle, or you could choose to import a polygon by providing the lat/lon for each polygon point

  • Provide a name for your circled area where it says Unnamed below the map

  • Provide a start and end date for the custom unlock

  • Provide the altitude in Feet or Meters

  • Provide a short description of the reason for the unlock request (e.g. Request is for flying monthly inventory at this site. Please see attached airspace approval)

  • Upload the airspace approval for the area in question

  • Submit application

Detailed steps on the process can be found here.

Once the application has been submitted, you will receive an email confirmation of your submission.  You will receive a second email upon approval, and this is normally within a few minutes.  If it is rejected, it is likely due to an incorrect Flight Controller ID and if this is the case, you must complete and submit the application again.