Are you aware of the precautions you should take while flying drones?
Drones are helpful tools, but they can also bring potential safety, security, and privacy risks. Flying a drone or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can threaten public safety and endanger aviation operations and national security. Therefore, drone pilots have to be knowledgeable and understand the standard operating procedures of drone flights so it will not affect the reputation or the drone industry.
Here are some tips to ensure you take off and enjoy the skies safely.
1. Check The Weather
As we cannot control the weather, you should review the weather forecast during the time of the day that you decide to fly your drone. Flying drones during heavy rain or strong wind might be dangerous as it will disturb your visibility, making it hard for you to maintain visual line of sight with your drone. Change or reschedule your operations to another day bad weather comes up.
2. Make Sure All Devices are Ready
It is essential to check the health and condition of the drones in terms of the batteries, spare batteries, controller and any smart device.
The battery level should be sufficient for your flight, and the controller should be working correctly. If you have an extra battery or appropriate power bank, you can also use it for charging.
3. Inspect for Damage
It is important to inspect your drone and go through a pre-flight checklist. If there is significant damage to the drone, you should send the drone for maintenance. You should also check the battery condition. If the battery is swollen or damaged, you would need to prepare a new battery. It's also advisable to always have spare batteries.
4. Plan a Suitable Location
Pre-flight planning is vital to ensure you are not flying near any restricted areas or controlled airspace. Consider the risks in an area. For example, a residential area might be risky to the safety of people nearby.
5. Monitor the Drone During Flight
The most common way people crash their drones is by getting distracted while flying. It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of other airspace users. You must keep your drone within visual line of sight at all times. Lookout regularly for aircraft, wildlife, drones, people and any other potential hazards, and monitor your drone during the flight.
6. Prioritise the Safety of Others and Review your Environment
Before taking off or landing, you need to ensure your surrounding is safe and clear. Do not fly your drones at crowded public areas, for example, a stadium or during public events. Always make sure you have given uninvolved persons instructions before you land your drone.
We hope these tips can help you fly your drone safely.
If you would like to be a Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) Certified Competent Remote Pilot, email us at admin@droneacademy-asia.com