Safety is the number 1 thing that everybody is concerned about. Especially when it comes to flying UAV’s. There are a series of precautions you must take in order to assure a safe flight. I have put together my own pre-flight checklist which I think is an excellent way of ensuring a safe flight. Especially if you are a beginner, you MUST READ THIS POST!!! Since I own a DJI Inspire 1, this checklist is designed for that machine, but it is also applicable for other DJI UAV’s and other brands as well.
UAV SAFETY CHECKLIST:
Pre-Flight Check list
- Visual inspection for defects
- Batteries fully charged and checked – Transmitter, UAS, iPad, iPhone
- Props tightened and locked
- SD card in camera
- Lens cap removed
- ND Filter needed Yes / No
- iPad monitor brightness set to high and hood installed
- Antennae up and parallel
- Transmitter turned on (press once, release, then press and hold for 3 seconds)
- Ensure Transmitter is in P Mode
- UAS turned on (press once, release, then press and hold for 3 seconds)
- Flick the transformation switch on transmitter up and down 4 times quickly to convert from travel mode to flight mode or use the app
- DJI Pilot app quit and restarted, no other running apps on iPad
- Tap bar at top of app (Safe to Fly GPS) for full status
- Maps are cached (move the map around, zoom in an out)
- Compass calibration (orange rotate 360 deg on flat, camera facing away from you, turn green nose down, camera near nuts) Light will go off and change to blinking green
- IMU check / recalibration
- Minimum return height adjusted (check for tallest object and set accordingly)
- Clear frequency selected
- Beginner Mode selected
- UAS placed in safe launch and recover position
- Green flashing light = GPS lock and safe to fly
- Home point reprogrammed via app
- Video recording started
- Area clear of people / obstructions
- Do not use auto take-off or auto land – BUGS!
- Take Off
Flight Check List
- Hover close for 20 seconds. Look / Listen for defects
- Confirm expected stick operation
- Raise landing gear
- Monitor battery power
- Monitor signal strength
- Keep line-of-sight with UAS if possible
- Return to home at 30% battery
- Landing gear down
FLY SAFE, FLY SMART. DON’T TAKE RISKS!!!!!!!!
