Think you and your new drone are ready for takeoff? Not so fast. Even though your gadget looks like a toy, it’s actually an aircraft. Even though you can’t wait to get it into the air, there are a few things you need to do before that first ascent.
Link to Wing Flying
No. 1 on your list if you’re planning to fly outside: Registering your new unmanned aircraft system (UAS) weighing more than .55 pounds with the FAA. This $5 step is a must; or your penalty could be a fine of up to $250,000 and even imprisonment. Surprised?
Here are five more essentials to cross off your pre-flight checklist.
1. Read The Manual (For Real!)
Many drones come equipped with built-in functions like return-to-home, geo-fencing for designating boundaries and altitude limits that keep the gadget flying no higher than 400 feet—a limit created by an FAA rule meant to prevent collisions with manned aircraft that can cruise as low as 500 feet. But as Josh Olds, director of operations at the Unmanned Safety Institute, says, “If you don’t know about the safety features, they’re not going to help you.” Get acquainted with all that your UAS offers by checking the manual and taking the time to turn on these useful settings.
2. Look Up Local Rules And Conditions
“The FAA regulates airspace, but they don’t regulate local laws,” Olds explains. If you’d like to venture beyond the boundaries of your property, read up on your community’s ordinances and heed signs in public spaces. Parks, for instance, are sometimes off limits. (National parks are a definite no-no for hobbyists.) Since each municipality and state is different, check with your jurisdiction for specific requirements. The FAA also keeps tabs on state laws, with updates on their site.
Always think about where you’re pointing your device’s camera, so you don’t make people uncomfortable or invade their space. (In some cases, photographing people without their consent is considered a crime.)
For more information, please visit drone test equipment.
3. Do A Pre-Flight Check
Flying can be great fun, but it’s also serious stuff: The propeller or rotators can spin faster than 9,000 rotations per minute, Olds says. Any time you’re preparing to send off your drone,
double-check that your device’s propellers are intact and properly attached, and confirm that there’s enough charge in the battery. If you run out of juice mid-flight, “it’s like a car running out of gas, except now your car is falling out of the sky,” says Fontaine Alexander, director of operations at Drone Safety Corp. You’ll want to avoid flying in areas near power lines, trees and other potential obstacles. One invisible hazard Olds warns against: densely clustered Wi-Fi networks, such as those above residential and commercial areas, that create interference. Verify that your device’s signal is strong, and choose a space that allows for better range, like a wide-open field, for example.
4. Keep It Legal
Along with hovering below 400 feet, you’ll also need to avoid traveling over stadiums or large gatherings of people, and within five miles of an airport unless you get permission from the tower, according to FAA rules. Always keep your UAS within view too. Disregarding any of these guidelines could result in fines, so visit faa.gov/uas for more details.
5. Pilot Like A Pro
To gain experience without risking your new equipment, try piloting a flight simulator program on your computer first. Some even allow you to use your drone’s transmitter to fly virtual skies on your monitor. According to Olds, this can help you develop psychomotor skills and increase your comfort in operating a UAS. “It’s a great way to prepare,” he says, “especially if you’re buying a $1,200 aircraft.” Certain drone models have practice simulators built in; your “flight” will be visible on the screen you hook up to the controller.
To familiarize yourself with your equipment, Alexander suggests running drills: Practice taking off; hovering; maneuvering left, right, forward, and backward; and landing in manual mode. Photo enthusiasts will want to rehearse how to circle an object they’d like to capture in images, orbiting clockwise then counterclockwise until the motion is smooth and steady. Alexander says, “It’s the baby-steps approach: Crawl, walk, run.” Or, in this case, hover, circle, soar.
Tech-obsessed? (We are too.) Check out the GEICO Mobile app for the latest and greatest features in your auto insurance policy.
By Catherine Strawn
If you want to learn more, please visit our website motor test stand.
Drone Advice: Buying A Drone
Drone Advice: What You Need to Know About Buying A Drone
Written by EatGoSee
Drone advice is the single most popular request I get in my direct messages whenever I post a photo on my Instagram account. Every time I post a drone photo. Without fail.
Owning, flying and operating a drone has been a learning experience comprising of unmitigated joy, panic and frustration. Yes, all those things can be true at the same time! But never has there been any regret at any time.
This post was first published in November after buying a drone in May . I bought a Mavic Air 2, my second drone, in July . Buying a second drone made me want to update this article as technology moved on in the two years I started flying drones. Moreover, spending more time flying drones made me realize some of the key performance and travel considerations.
The Highs
The Lows
The Highs
The Lows
But first, I need to thank someone special
Firstly, shout out to Mrs EatGoSee who lovingly (but with quiet disbelief) stares at her husband operating this expensive flying camera almost everywhere he goes. For each time I pulled the rental car over on the side of the road because, you know, these sugarcane fields do not take a photo of themselves. The countless weekend mornings I jump out of bed to go drone shooting in the desert on my own or with friends. Running through the door like a child with a glowing school reporting desperate to show her what I saw.
So what are the things I wish I knew that I know now?
These are the tips or provocations that I wish I considered when buying my drone. Some of these points were already considered before I bought my first drone. There are other points that quickly became clear as I used my first Mavic Air more and more.
This is a consolidation of the advice I regularly give people over Instagram and in person about whether to buy a drone and which model to purchase.
My strong recommendation is that you should buy a complete package (Fly Combo Pack) for your drone and do not compromise on this investment.
Key Considerations For Buying A Drone
People have their own reasons but different drones do different things. I wanted stunning, good quality photos and videos. But on a budget. I bought a Mavic Air because the photo quality is pretty good (see my feed) and had the option of good quality videos. If you want to race, this is not your drone. You can click here for a selection of strong camera drone options.
So Why Do You Want A Drone?
I wanted stunning, good quality photos and videos. But on a budget. I bought the first Mavic Air because the photo quality is pretty good (see my feed) and had the option of good quality videos. If you want to race, this is not your drone.
Many people buy a drone because they like the idea of it and they do not think through how they are going to use it. I
highly recommend that you think through when you will use a drone. Will you fly on weekends? Will you fly two to four times a month? Will you only fly when you travel?
If you want a drone for commercial or professional use then you will want to buy a larger drone aimed towards professional such as the Mavic Pro 2 or the DJI Phantom Four. You are unlikely to be a first-time drone owner if you are looking for a commercial-purpose drone.
Know your budget
Drones are a serious investment but you should definitely keep to a budget. My strong recommendation is that you should buy a complete package for your drone and do not compromise on this investment. The accessories that come with the drone really enhance the flying and exploring experience with the drone. I expand on this more in the Extra Equipment section below. Net, buy the drone you can afford but leave headroom for the extra equipment.
I bought my Mavic Air in airport in duty-free after a lot of research. This same model is even cheaper now because new models have come in. Buying online or in duty-free is probably your cheapest option but, independent stores will often price match. It is always good to #SupportLocal and find your local independent camera shop.
Readers in Dubai can check out National Store LLC in Al Ghazal Mall towards Al Hudaiba roughly opposite Ethiad Museum. This is where I bought my second drone, the Mavic Air 2. Supporting your local independent camera shop is important and, also, they will give you a deal to reward you for your purchase.
You should consider buying an older generation model if you are unsure whether you want to really invest in a drone and you are just exploring this as an option. Drones are still fun to use so if you want to fly just to explore an area then a previous model (like a Mavic Air One or Mavic Spark) are adequate to tick that box. I personally would avoid buying a second-hand drone unless you know the previous owner well.
Know The Laws
I am still a lawyer. If I go to a new country, I always go to forums and good old-fashioned Google to see the limitations. There are some places where it is simply just not worth it because laws and enforcement is strong. Also, magnetic fields are real and you may not be able to actually fly much. In Dubai, I have a drone pilot license. It’s mandatory and the authorities make is very easy to obtain.
Portability
I am deeply envious of DJI Phantom Four drone photographers. The DJI Phantom Four flies for
miles. I am not using that hyperbolically. My brother in law has a DJI Phantom Four and we flew the drone close to three miles away over the Greek Islands from the top of a hill before we lost our nerve. The DJI Phantom Four takes exquisite photos and it just looks badass. It resembles a spacecraft and something out of Star Wars.
However, it is massive, cumbersome to carry around and the batteries take a lifetime to recharge. This is why I will not ever buy one.
Portability is really key especially if you will use your drone for travel. Drones can get heavy and they can take up a lot of space especially when the wings are expanded (not that you would travel with the wings expanded). If you buy the extra equipment, you will also carry it around with you. If you like city breaks or the ability to travel with hand luggage, you will want to opt for one of the smaller model drones like the Mavic Mini, Mavic Spark or Mavic Air 2 (maximum).
My Mavic Air and Mavic Air 2 fits comfortably in the palm of my hand. It fits in every bag I own including backpacks. The Mavic Airs easily go on a plane in hand luggage and the batteries take half an hour to charge; however, batteries often cannot go into hand luggage and YOU MUST check with your airline in advance. Sometimes I must separate the drone from the batteries putting one in hand luggage and the other in the storage.
Mid-sized drones like a Mavic Pro are broad or wide drones but not heavy or large when folded. You should look at a Mavic Pro before buying one and, honestly, the Mavic Air 2 is so good that, unless you are a professional photographer and more than an enthusiast, you very likely do not need one.
Battery life
Battery life will vary with a lot of conditions. Wind strength and weather is a really important variable as the drone needs to battle against wind. Sensors will also such the life out of your drone flying time. Sensors are important to ensure you do not crash into obstacles but it will compromise your battery life. A drone remote control (again, get the Fly More Combo complete pack) will allow you at least a Normal and Sport mode. The Mavic Air 2 also comes with a Tripod mode (as do other DJI drone models). I usually fly in Sport mode when I am confident the drone will not crash into anything (open desert, open beaches, mountain tops) as this conserves battery.
The third most battery thirsty factor is video mode. If you are flying a drone to take a lot of gorgeous b roll or drone shot videos then you must get more than one battery.
Both the Mavic Air and the Mavic Air 2 come with three batteries (in the Fly More Combo complete pack). The Mavic Air drone batteries last about 10 – 20 minutes each during the flying time (wind strength and sport mode makes the difference). The Mavic Air 2 batteries last between 20 – 30 minutes each. My opinion is that you want more than one battery when you go out flying. You will burn up the first battery just exploring and learning where to film / take photos. Your second and third battery will really allow you to explore seamlessly without waiting for your battery to recharge.
Extra equipment
Owning a drone is like owning a DSLR camera: you are going to get more than just the body. You want the remote control, you want extra batteries, you want extra blades, you want a bag to carry it around, you definitely want ND filters especially in bright conditions (including snowy or beachy conditions).
These extra features really open up the joy of flying with the drone and afford you the opportunity to explore and push the boundaries. There are few things more infuriating than finding an excellent place to explore, photograph or video and then you run out of battery or you are unable to fly an extra 100 metres because you are out of range. Poor equipment often cause these issues.
Top tip: I also have a battery car charger so I can charge batteries in the car while I am driving between locations or while I am flying on a second or third battery.
I recently discovered a range extender by 4Hawks which was recommended to me by @zoomfromthesky. This is a total game-changer. You should seriously consider whether you want to optimise your costs by getting a cheaper drone but maxing out the flying distance with buying a range extender.
Know your limits
Are you going to fly this once a week? Are you only going to fly when you’re on holiday? Do you live in a place where you can even fly a drone?
I like summarizing on this point because it puts all the previous considerations into perspective. It will focus your budget, the specifications you really need (not the ones that impress you), whether you want the latest tech or an earlier model to just explore.
If you do not have a drone and you want one, ask a question. I will do my best to answer your questions and I know some of my drone pilot followers will do the same. You can me on .
Your Questions Answered
You May Also Like
Follow us @eatgosee on Instagram