Drone maker DJI released an impressive plan Wednesday, pushing the envelope to more safely integrate drones into the national airspace. DJI announced, in a press conference attended by NAAA on May 22, that it would install ADS-B tracking mechanisms in all of its drones weighing 250 grams (0.551 pound) or less beginning in 2020 at the same time manned aircraft traveling in controlled airspace must be equipped with ADS-B transmissions. Drones are not required to be equipped with ADS-B technology by 2020 or even thereafter. The Chinese-owned drone manufacturer controls 70% of the global drone market.

In addition to the ADS-B 2020 installation in its drones, known as AirSense, DJI released a 10-point safety guide suggesting ways to better ensure safety of drones in the airspace. This includes calling on all drone manufacturers to install geofencing and remote identification on their drones; requiring the government to require remote identification and a written knowledge test before all users may operate a drone; better drone incident reporting from the government and all aviation groups; all drones be equipped with flight distance warning technology; government designation of sensitive areas, such as prisons, power plants, military bases, etc. that should be geofenced; and authority be granted to local governments to respond to serious threats and be able to enforce drone safety policies.

NAAA has been working with DJI over the past several months on the drone manufacturer’s safety policy. NAAA Executive Director Andrew Moore stated, ”The aerial application industry has over 3,500 agricultural pilots that help farmers grow over 28% of our nation’s commercial cropland. They are flying 10 feet off the ground at speeds of over 100 miles per hour. As such, they must have great focus and precision with the important job they are performing. Studies show that small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (sUAS), or drones, are nearly impossible for our pilots to see, let alone track. An ideal sUAS system for manned ag pilots is one that has an ADS-B  tracking system that can sense and avoid agricultural and other manned aircraft. DJI has taken the first step towards this by now planning to equip all of their drones with ADS-B tracking so their drone operators will be aware of other aircraft equipped with ADS-B tracking technology. They deserve real credit for this safety initiative. DJI’s safety policy is beyond what we have been urging the FAA and other drone manufacturers to require for multiple years. We appreciate DJI’s commitment to all airspace users’ well-being and look forward to working with them on equipping sense and avoid technology to their drones to complement the ADS-B system.”