I live 19 miles north of the White House. I would call my area semi-rural. There are cornfields and cows very near here, but there is also a suburban neighborhood very near here.
I think part of the confusion is that the FAA released the below linked document eight days after this thread was started.
The FAA has outlined two zones in and around Washington, D.C. Let's define the two zones in FAA terms.
The "no-fly zone" which we know is within 15 miles from the White House is called an FRZ by the FAA. It's been in place for many years. In addition, the donut shaped area which is very close to a 15-30 mile diameter ring from the White House has also existed for many years and is called an SFRA. These are both flight restricted areas. The question I think is, does it apply to drones? That has been where most of the confusion has stemmed from. But there is no longer any confusion. The answer, as of September 2nd, is an unequivocal "yes."
http://www.phantompilots.com/attachments/ac_91-57a-pdf.34754/
If you study the language of the document, it seems drones are not "banned" from the FRZ (i.e. no fly zone) or the SFRA - it's just that the owners must acquire "specific authorization." Otherwise, they expose themselves to the risk of possible "enforcement action" - whether their craft causes a problem or not - but that apparently depends on if it can be determined by "the Administrator" that the pilot has endangered the "National Airspace System."
On the other hand, if a drone operator can get permission, he's fine.
That's the way I read it.
So, ironically, it seems it is technically possible a Phantom owner can get specific authorization to fly in the SFRA or the FRZ, but regarding the FRZ it doesn't matter because DJI's software won't let it. On the other hand, DJI's software restriction was placed before Sept 2nd.
Meanwhile, I have written a letter to the FAA requesting "specific authorization" for general use of my PV over a nearby cornfield. It's been two weeks and I haven't heard a word.
