Litchi wont fly nearby airports

[Osmosis]

Why is it that even after I receive and then enter a DJI unlock code that allows me to fly within a yellow airport zone (and can fly with DJI GO) that Litchi will not? Once got the Litchi app to work only to have it land on its own 500' away on some rocks.

Anyone know whats going on with this?

 

[gringorio]

I'll take a guess: Don't fly near airports. Or rocks.

 

[Osmosis]

Work-related and flying commercially.....

 

[BigAl07]

You'd be better off submitting this question directly to Litchi. They have excellent responses (from my experience) to technical questions.

 

[Osmosis]

You'd be better off submitting this question directly to Litchi. They have excellent responses (from my experience) to technical questions.

I did and got a very ambiguous answer. Here it is:

"The DJI no fly zone system is shared across all apps, however DJI Go gets 1st class treatment when there is a change, 3rd party apps often trail behind for no fly zone system updates."

 

[BigAl07]

I did and got a very ambiguous answer. Here it is:

"The DJI no fly zone system is shared across all apps, however DJI Go gets 1st class treatment when there is a change, 3rd party apps often trail behind for no fly zone system updates."

Sounds like a viable response to me.

 

[Osmosis]

Sounds like a viable response to me.

Really? Must be missing something that's clear to you. Only way I can read this is that Litchi is stating that they cant keep up with the no-fly zones and thus don't use their software.

Quite frankly, there should be a one time verification process that allows you to fly in any Class "G" airspace if you have a FAA UAV license.

Then going forward, any time you find yourself in "G" airspace you simply enter a code (to prove you are the pilot) and are good to go since you've already been pre-approved.

Litchi's dead if they cant work around this.

 

[BigAl07]

Really? Must be missing something that's clear to you. Only way I can read this is that Litchi is stating that they cant keep up with the no-fly zones and thus don't use their software.

Quite frankly, there should be a one time verification process that allows you to fly in any Class "G" airspace if you have a FAA UAV license.

Then going forward, any time you find yourself in "G" airspace you simply enter a code (to prove you are the pilot) and are good to go since you've already been pre-approved.

Litchi's dead if they cant work around this.

What's not clear? Litchi stated they don't get Priority when updates etc are released. It's not a Litchi problem it's a priority problem. The higher you are in the food chain the more priority you get.

If Litchi isn't working for you then try AutoPilot or one of the other Autonomous Aps and see if they have any better outcome. You might get lucky and find one that has gotten a quicker turn around for this at least this time. Next time Litchi might be quicker.

Odds are if Litchi is caught in that situation all of the others will be too. Remember a Tier One product gets the release much quicker than Tier Two and a LOT sooner than Tier Three. FAA Aps will be Tier One, DJI Tier Two and 3rd party aps Tier Three.

 

[Neon Euc]

You have to remember that litchi uses the SDK files that DJI uses. I see what you mean by saying DJI GO will let you fly near the airport and litchi wont. Only thing I can think off is that DJI didn't give litchi that part of the SDk file to let you fly near an airport

 

[Osmosis]

What's not clear? Litchi stated they don't get Priority when updates etc are released. It's not a Litchi problem it's a priority problem. The higher you are in the food chain the more priority you get.

If Litchi isn't working for you then try AutoPilot or one of the other Autonomous Aps and see if they have any better outcome. You might get lucky and find one that has gotten a quicker turn around for this at least this time. Next time Litchi might be quicker.

Odds are if Litchi is caught in that situation all of the others will be too. Remember a Tier One product gets the release much quicker than Tier Two and a LOT sooner than Tier Three. FAA Aps will be Tier One, DJI Tier Two and 3rd party aps Tier Three.

The airspace I was flying in is and always was Class G. Completely ridiculous and unwarranted control when you consider the pilot has a FAA - UAV license.

Getting "Lucky" by trying several other programs is a colossal waste of time for everyone involved with our typical projects. Furthermore, in my case, Litchi allowed the drone to fly for 3 minutes and the auto landed - a BIG problem when you've got $$$ invested and potential claims if it lands in a bad place (on top of someones parked car, camera equipment, etc.)

When a certified person can get into any SEL aircraft many times larger and not file anything nor talk to anyone and then is not allowed to fly a drone for commercial purposes in the same area, there's a problem with the system - and its a big problem.

My recommendations have already been included in this thread.

Thanks.

 

[BigAl07]

@Osmosis s this is the tangled and confused (and very NEW) world we now operate in. You could easily solve this problem by going out and buying/building a system that has no GeoFencing what so ever. This will allow you to fly and utilize your RPIC certificate to it's fullest potential with minimal hurldes.

I feel your pain.. I have been doing this for years (long before it was called a Drone) and we flew responsibly and anywhere in the country and making great $$. Now I have to jump through hoops, stand on my head, file for this, apply for that... but at the end of the day if you're going to be operating in this industry you'll want to have more than one tool in your bag of tricks.

There is a WORLD of difference between a RPIC flying our UAS remotely and someone who has dozens of hours of classroom time and then 40+ hours if flight instruction time in the aircraft. While I do think there needs to be a better system of approval/denial for UAS flights I don't think that comparing RPIC to a PPL (or higher) makes any sense what so ever. Apples to mud puddles.

 

[Osmosis]

@Osmosis s this is the tangled and confused (and very NEW) world we now operate in. You could easily solve this problem by going out and buying/building a system that has no GeoFencing what so ever. This will allow you to fly and utilize your RPIC certificate to it's fullest potential with minimal hurldes.

I feel your pain.. I have been doing this for years (long before it was called a Drone) and we flew responsibly and anywhere in the country and making great $$. Now I have to jump through hoops, stand on my head, file for this, apply for that... but at the end of the day if you're going to be operating in this industry you'll want to have more than one tool in your bag of tricks.

There is a WORLD of difference between a RPIC flying our UAS remotely and someone who has dozens of hours of classroom time and then 40+ hours if flight instruction time in the aircraft. While I do think there needs to be a better system of approval/denial for UAS flights I don't think that comparing RPIC to a PPL (or higher) makes any sense what so ever. Apples to mud puddles.

Comparing the two certificates does make sense as anyone that holds a private and UAV license knows airspace, elevation minimums and maximums for both licenses and airport patterns.

Regardless, unless we all lobby to have the current system changed to a system that works for legitimate commercial applications nothing will change. Its what happens when good people do nothing....

I think the first and easiest solution would be with DJI and having them come up with a better clearance system for people with credentials.