When it’s your first time flying a drone, chances are you immediately and excitedly took it up to the sky, making it crash right away.
Although it is so tempting to operate your new equipment right away, you need to stop yourself. Do your homework. Conduct research about how you can fly it legally. Also, learn some tips for flying your drone to avoid problems in the future.
Last December 2017, the FAA reported that before flying, you have to enlist yourself and the drone that you own. Any craft weighing 0.55 pounds or more should be registered when you are flying in the United States. You can either fly safely or face fines. You choose.
The following are the drone flight rules in the US:
- Your drone should only be at around 400 feet and lower
- Avoid air terminals
- Try not to fly over a crowd
- Try not to fly over near sports events like the Olympics or arenas and stadiums
- Try not to fly close to emergencies, for example, vehicular accidents or fires
- Try not to fly while when you’re drunk or high
- Know about controlled airspace by utilizing the B4UFly application
In short, you can’t just fly your quadcopter anywhere and anytime you want due to security reasons.
With that in mind, here are some tips that you have to bear in mind when it’s your first time flying a drone.
Be Patient.
Everybody gets energized in the thought of flying a new drone. However, you need to consider wind conditions. No matter how you think you know it, you have to remember that the higher the height, the stronger the wind is. Your drone can withstand the wind conditions close to the ground. But it’s definitely not the case up above.
Observe Trees, Neighboring Light Posts, and Powerlines.
You probably know that maintaining a strategic distance from these things is an unquestionable requirement in flying your drone. However, no matter how cautious we are, certain conditions might still happen while you’re flying in mid-air. There are times when a light post, tree, or electricity line is nearby. Therefore, you have to make sure that your drone wouldn’t crash there because of strong winds.
Observe Wind and Air Temperature and Pressure
Wind may influence the flying of your drone, as stated above, so it must be the first thing that you need to consider. Also, air temperature is one of the factors that will determine your drone flying experience. Colder temperatures shorten your drone’s flight period by slowing down the LiPo battery chemical response and reducing its battery ability. Aside from that, cold temperature dulls the detectors of the drone that can drift the drone, which can make it harder to control.
Fly Alone and Avoid Sharing
Unlike what you see, flying a drone is not so easy. You need to be able to control it straight from the beginning. However, if you want someone to operate it (like your friend or family), land the drone first before you hand over the controller.
It is like driving a car. While in motion, you can’t alter positions inside the vehicle, or else you’ll meet an accident. You only need to concentrate your attention on your drone while flying it and prevent any disruption if possible.
Start Flying Small Drones
Practice makes perfect. Doing this tip will help you become familiar with this gadget. Practice the skill on small and cheap drones before striking on the large ones. Before you actually fly it, it’s important to study and understand how you can maneuver it.
Batteries Won’t Last Very Long.
Sometimes, even with less battery energy, you may be tempted to bring your drone to the sky. It’s not a bad idea, but make sure your battery status is not too low. When the battery drains out, even if you’re using the drone with the longest flight time your drone will not drift slowly to the ground, but instead, it just stops and drops quickly. Therefore, it is better to make the battery full before flying it to avoid ruining your drone.
Do Not Rely on Artificial Intelligence.
AI-operated drones are very easy to use. However, you shouldn’t always depend on this technology. This is because there have been some reports of AI feature failure in some, which totally ruined the drone and even caused accidents. In case AI features fail during the flight of your drone, it’s better that you know how to operate it manually.
Where is the Sun?
If you wish to have the best photographs while flying your drone, consider the sun as your primary source of light. You know the basic photography techniques and the camera angles that will enhance your shots. Furthermore, keep in mind that to fly legally, you must fly in line-of-sight–which means that you must always be able to see your drone. If necessary, wear eye protection.
Conclusion
Some of these tips may be too common for you, but you have to remember them all the time. The FAA is always on the lookout for irresponsible drone pilots, so make sure that you won’t be included on their long list. If you always keep safety in mind, especially other people’s safety, we’re confident that you will enjoy your time flying your drone without the fear of legal consequences.