40 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Flight

Flight

Once pre-fight preparation is complete, it is recommended that you use the fight simulator in the DJI Pilot 

app to hone your fight skills and practice fying safely. Ensure that all fights are carried out in an open 

area.

Flight Environment Requirements

1. Do not use the aircraft in severe weather conditions. These include wind speeds exceeding 10 m/s , 

snow, rain and fog.

2. Only fy in open areas. Tall structures and large metal structures may affect the accuracy of the onboard compass and GPS system.

3. Avoid obstacles, crowds, high voltage power lines, trees, and bodies of water.

4. Minimize interference by avoiding areas with high levels of electromagnetism, including base stations 

and radio transmission towers. 

5. Aircraft and battery performance is subject to environmental factors such as air density and 

temperature.Be very careful when fying at altitudes greater than 19, 685 feet (6000 meters) above sea 

level, as the performance of the battery and aircraft may be affected.

6. The Phantom 3 Professional cannot operate within the polar areas.

Flight Limits and No-Fly Zones

All unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators should abide by all regulations set forth by government and 

regulatory agencies including the ICAO and the FAA. For safety reasons, fights are limited by default, 

which helps users operate this product safely and legally. Flight limitations include height limits, distance 

limits, and No-Fly Zones.

When operating in P-mode, height limits, distance limits, and No-Fly Zones function concurrently to 

manage flight safety. In A-mode, only height limits are in effect, which by default prevent the aircraft 

altitude from exceeding 1640 feet (500 m) .

Maximum fight altitude & Radius Limits

Maximum flight altitude and radius limits may be changed in the DJI Pilot app. Be aware that the 

maximum fight altitude cannot exceed 1640 feet (500 meters). In accordance with these settings, your 

Phantom 3 Professional will fy in a restricted cylinder, as shown below: 

Maximum Flight Altitude Max Radius

Home Point

Height of aircraft 

when turned on
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GPS Signal Weak Blinking Yellow

Flight Limits DJI Pilot app Aircraft Status Indicator 

Maximum 

Flight 

Altitude

Height is restricted to 400 

feet. (120m) and under.

Warning: Height limit 

reached. None.

Max Radius No limits

 If you fy out of the limit, you can still control the Phantom 3, but cannot fy it any father. If the 

Phantom 3 fies out of the max radius in Ready to Fly (non-GPS) mode, it will fy back within 

range automatically.

 If the Phantom 3 fies out of the max radius in Ready to Fly (non-GPS) mode, it will fy back 

within range automatically. 

No-Fly Zones 

All No-Fly Zones are listed on the DJI offcial website at http://fysafe.dji.com/no-fy. No-Fly Zones are 

divided into Airports and Restricted Areas. Airports include major airports and fying felds where manned 

aircraft operate at low altitudes. Restricted Areas include border lines between countries or sensitive 

institute. The details of the No-Fly Zones are explained as follow:

Airport

(1) Airport No-Fly Zone are comprised of Take-off Restricted zones and Restricted Altitude Zones. Each 

zone features circles of various sizes. 

(2) R1 miles (value of the R1 depends on the size and shape of the airport) around the airport is a Takeoff restricted zone, inside of which take off is prevented. 

(3) From R1 mile to R1 + 1 mile around the airport the fight altitude is limited to a 15 degree inclination.

Starting at 65 feet (20 meters) from the edge of airport and radiating outward. The fight altitude is 

limited to 1640 feet (500 meters) at R1+1 mile

(4) When the aircraft enters within 320 feet (100 meters) of No-Fly Zones, a warning message will appear 

on the DJI Pilot app. 

GPS Signal Strong Blinking Green 

Flight Limits DJI Pilot app Aircraft Status Indicator 

Maximum Flight 

Altitude

Aircraft's altitude cannot 

exceed the specifed value.

Warning: Height 

limit reached. None.

Max Radius Flight distance must be within 

the max radius.

Warning: Distance 

limit reached.

Rapid red fashing 

 when close to the 

max radius limit.
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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

Restricted Area

(1) Restricted Areas does not have fight altitude restrictions. 

(2) R miles around the designated restriction area is a Take-off Restricted area. Aircraft cannot take off 

within this zone. The value of R varies based on the defnition of the restricted areas. 

(3) A “warning zone” has been set around the Restricted Area. When the aircraft approaches within 0.062 

miles (100 m) of this zone, a warning message will appear on the DJI Pilot app. 

3

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

GPS Signal Strong Blinking Green 

Zone Restriction DJI Pilot App Prompt 

Aircraft 

Status 

Indicator

 No-fy Zone

Motors will not start. Warning: You are in a No-fly 

zone. Take off prohibited.

Red fashing

If the aircraft enters the 

restricted area in A-mode, but is 

switched to P-mode, the aircraft 

will automatically descend, land, 

and stop its motors. 

Warning: You are in a no-fy zone. 

Automatic landing has begun. 

Restrictedaltitude fight 

zone

If the aircraft enters the restricted 

area in A-mode, but is switched 

to P-mode, it will descend to an 

appropriate altitude and hover 

15 feet below the altitude limit.

R1: Warning: You are in a 

restricted zone. Descending to 

safe altitude. 

R2: Warning: You are in a 

restricted zone. Maximum fight 

altitude is restricted to between 

20m and 500m. Fly cautiously.

Warning zone No fight restriction applies, but 

there will be a warning .

Warning: You are approaching a 

restricted zone, Fly cautiously.

Free zone

No restrictions. None. None.

Semi-automatic descent: All stick commands are available except the throttle stick command 

during the descent and landing process. Motors will stop automatically after landing. 

 When fying in a safety zone, the aircraft's status indicator will blink red rapidly and continue 

for 3 seconds, then switch to indicate current fying status and continue for 5 seconds at which 

point it will switch back to blinking red.

 For safety reasons, please do not fy close to airports, highways, railway stations, railway lines, 

city centers, or other sensitive areas. Fly the aircraft only within your line of sight. 
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Flight

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

Prefight Checklist

1. Remote controller, Intelligent Flight Battery, and mobile device are fully charged.

2. Propellers are mounted correctly and frmly.

3. Micro-SD card has been inserted, if necessary.

4. Gimbal is functioning normally.

5. Motors can start and are functioning normally.

6. The DJI Pilot app is successfully connected to the aircraft.

Calibrating the Compass

IMPORTANT: Always calibrate the compass in every new fight location. The compass is very sensitive 

to electromagnetic interference, which can produce abnormal compass data and lead to poor flight 

performance or fight failure. Regular calibration is required for optimal performance.

 Do not calibrate your compass where there is any possibility of strong magnetic interference. 

Sources of potential interference include magnetite, parking structures, and subterranean 

metal structures

 Do not carry ferromagnetic materials with you during calibration such as keys or cellular 

phones.

 Do not calibrate in direct proximity to large metal objects. 

 DO NOT calibrate indoors.

Calibration Procedures

Choose an open area to carry out the following procedures. 

1. Ensure that the compass is calibrated. If you did not calibrate the compass as part of your pre-fight 

preparations, or if you have moved to a new location since the last calibration, tap the Aircraft Status 

Bar in the app and select “Calibrate”, then follow the on-screen instructions.

2. Hold the aircraft horizontally and rotate 360 degrees. The Aircraft Status Indicators will display a solid 

green light.
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3. Hold the aircraft vertically, with nose pointing downward, and rotate it 360 degrees around the center 

axis. Recalibrate the compass if the Aircraft Status Indicator glows solid red.

If the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks red and yellow after the calibration procedure, move your 

aircraft to a different location and try again.

Calibrate the compass before each fight. Launch the DJI Pilot app and follow the on-screen 

instructions to calibrate the compass. DO NOT calibrate the compass near metal objects such 

as a metal bridge, cars, scaffolding.

When to Recalibrate

1.When compass data is abnormal and the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking green and yellow.

2.When fying in a new location or in a location that is different from the most recent fight.

3.When the mechanical or physical structure of the Phantom 3 Professional has been changed.

4.When severe drifting occurs in fight, i.e. Phantom 3 Professional does not fy in straight line.

Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing

Auto Takeoff

Use auto takeoff only if the Aircraft Status Indicators are blinking green. Follow the steps below to use the 

auto takeoff feature:

1. Launch the DJI Pilot app, and enter “Camera” page. 

2. Ensure the aircraft is in P- mode.

3. Complete all steps on the pre-fight checklist.

4. Tap“ ”, and confrm that conditions are safe for fight. Slide the icon to confrm and takeoff.

5. Aircraft takes off and hovers at (1.2 meters) above ground. 

Aircraft Status Indicator blinks rapidly when it is using the Vision Position System for stabilization. 

The aircraft will automatically hover below 3 meters. It is recommended to wait until there is 

suffcient GPS lock before using the Auto Take-off feature. 
46 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

Flight

Phantom 3 Professional User Manual

Flight Test 

Takeoff/Landing Procedures

1. Place the aircraft in an open, fat area with the battery level indicators facing towards you.

2. Turn on the remote controller and your mobile device, then turn on the Intelligent Flight Battery.

3. Launch the DJI Pilot app and enter the Camera page.

4. Wait until the Aircraft Indicators blink green. This means the Home Point is recorded and it is now safe 

to fy. If they fash yellow, the Home Point has not been recorded.

5. Push the throttle up slowly to take off or use Auto Takeoff.

6. Shoot photos and videos using the DJI Pilot app.

7. To land, hover over a level surface and gently pull down on the throttle to descend.

8. After landing, execute the CSC command or hold the throttle at its lowest position until the motors stop.

9. Turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery frst, then the Remote Controller.

Stopping the Motors

There are two methods to stop the motors.

Method 1: When Phantom 3 Professional has landed, push the throttle down , then conduct the same 

CSC that was used to start the motors, as described above . Motors will stop immediately. Release both 

sticks once motors stop.

Method 2: When the aircraft has landed, push and hold the throttle down. The motors will stop after three 

seconds.

Auto-Landing 

Use auto-landing only if the Aircraft Status Indicators are blinking green. Follow the steps below to use the 

auto-landing feature:

1. Ensure the aircraft is in P- mode.

2. Check the landing area condition before tapping “ ”, to begin landing. Then follow the on-screen 

instructions. 

Starting/Stopping the Motors

Starting the Motors

A Combination Stick Command (CSC) is used to start the motors. Push both sticks to the bottom 

inner or outer corners to start the motors. Once the motors have started spinning, release both sticks 

simultaneously.

OR

Method 1

OR

Method 2

Do not perform a CSC when the aircraft is in midair, otherwise the motors will suddently stop.