State Grid Suqian: Developing system to prevent drone flight beyond designated boundaries

Staff members from the Transmission and Substation Operation & Inspection Center of State Grid Suqian Power Supply Co (State Grid Suqian) explained to drone operators visiting a local DJI service station the required safety distances under power lines of different voltage levels on July 20, as well as the prohibited red zones around transmission towers and utility poles.

Shuyang county is one of China’s leading agricultural counties, where drones have become a standard tool for applying pesticides and fertilizers. With summer crop management now underway, operations involving agricultural drones in rural areas of Suqian, Jiangsu, have surged. However, some drone pilots lack clear awareness of the prohibited zones surrounding high-voltage power lines. Relying on visual estimation for distance during flights, they risk scraping or colliding with conductors if deviating from their flight path — potentially damaging equipment or even causing regional power outages.

Raising pilot awareness cannot rely solely on occasional lectures but lies in integrating safety reminders into every stage — from pre-flight preparation to actual operation. Since July, State Grid Suqian has introduced an innovative "Station Joint Control Method", signing joint prevention agreements with drone service stations across its jurisdictions.

The company provides standardized educational materials —including safety flight guidelines for high-voltage lines, case studies of drone-line collision incidents, safety manuals, and educational videos — to each service station. Building on services such as drone sales, operator training and maintenance, these stations incorporate power safety education into their routine operations.

Staff members from State Grid Shuyang visit a DJI drone service station on June 29, distributing concise safety guides to customers and pilots while explaining essential safety practices, including the minimum safe distances to maintain from power lines of different voltage levels. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

When teaching new pilots or handling maintenance requests, they simultaneously explain no-fly zones, operational reporting requirements, and safety precautions, ensuring regular, ongoing safety education.

Through collaboration between government and enterprise service points, safety alerts regarding drone-line collisions and external damage to power facilities are seamlessly integrated throughout the entire service process at each station, eliminating potential risks caused by unauthorized drone flights in agriculture.

"We also use the pilot contact information collected at service stations to create dedicated WeChat groups. We regularly post key safety tips, temporary construction notices, and weather warnings for strong winds or thunderstorms," said Wu Yijie, a staff member from the Transmission and Substation Operation & Inspection Center of State Grid Suqian.

Since July, the company’s center has visited two major local drone service stations of DJI Co and XAG Co, distributing over 200 safety brochures, providing on-site training to 102 agricultural drone pilots, collecting 89 pilot contact details, launching three new pilot communication WeChat groups, and correcting 20 common misconceptions about illegal operations near power lines. These efforts have significantly strengthened the safety defenses for aerial power operations in farmlands.