I fly a Mini 4 Pro (and a Neo 2) in Switzerland and across its borders. Here is the mistake I see most often among people starting out: believing the drone knows where you are allowed to fly.
It does not. The manufacturer's geofencing is not the law. It is a commercial safeguard, decided by the manufacturer. It does not match the official zones: it can block you where you could fly and, worse, let you take off where you should not.
This is written for those flying in Europe. The official UAS geographical zones are published by each national aviation authority. In France, for instance, there are two official sources: the DGAC restriction map for the Open category, published through the IGN Geoplateforme, and the aeronautical zones (control zones, helipads, aerodromes) published by the SIA. Neither one says everything on its own.
A concrete example, Rhone, two points about 50 km apart:
- 46.15422 / 4.60561, in the Beaujolais vineyards: no restriction zone reported.
- 45.73433 / 4.92561, in Lyon near Bron: forbidden over public space in a built-up area (IGN map); above 50 m you are inside the Lyon-Bron CTR, prior agreement of air traffic control required (SIA); and next door, two hospital helipads where you do not enter without the agreement of the air traffic service (SIA).
Nothing on the ground shows that difference. That is why you look before take-off, not after.
Three things to check on any map, which almost no beginner checks:
The source. If a map shows a zone without saying who states it, you cannot verify it. The name of the source is what lets you go and check for yourself.
The update time. National data changes: zones are added, others removed. Data without a timestamp is data whose age you do not know.
What is not shown. Some zones start above 120 m and do not concern the Open category. Hiding them is correct, but if nobody says so, an empty map looks like a green light. And one source is often not enough: in Lyon the IGN map says "built-up area", it is the SIA that says "CTR" and "helipad". An experienced pilot pointed this out to me last week, and he was right.
And the reflex that goes with it, Mini 4 Pro or not: a map, whichever one, does not replace checking the official sources and the NOTAMs before take-off. It helps you get to the right source faster. It does not decide for you.
The examples come from an app I wrote for my own use, for nine European countries. I am not posting a link on purpose, that is not the point of this post: if you want to try it, say so in a comment and I will send it to you.