The average cost of a drone is $280 but can be much more than that. If you’ve just purchased a drone, the last thing you want is to fly it into a tree or have it confiscated by law enforcement.
That’s why it’s important that you know how to avoid common drone flying mistakes. If you want to be a competent and confident pilot, keep reading for five flying mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. Flying Without Knowing Local Drone Regulations
This is not so much a ‘whoopsie’, it’s much more than that. If you fly in an area where you’re uncertain about the regulations, you could end up in a lot of trouble. Even if you’re using drones for work, such as drone application in civil engineering, this doesn’t exempt you from local regulations.
There are rules that prohibit drone flying and flying at certain heights in particular areas. If you are caught flying in these areas you may have your drone confiscated, receive a fine, or even have to appear in court.
Make sure you’re up-to-date on regulations before you fly.
2. Not Checking Drone Batteries Before You Fly
First of all, all drone pilots should have more than one battery otherwise your flying time is limited to between 15 and 30 minutes.
If you’re planning on getting some epic footage and don’t make sure you’ve got a full battery or a second one, you may miss the opportunity entirely.
3. Flying too Close to Objects
Don’t be too overconfident in your drone flying capabilities. While you may be an excellent pilot, you should avoid flying too close to objects.
This is especially important for beginner pilots. You should always practice a lot in wide-open areas first. Remember that objects may seem further away from your viewpoint than they actually are. The last thing you want is to crash your valuable aircraft.
4. Not Establishing a Flight Path and Footage Plans
If you’re planning on shooting some epic aerial footage of an area you should first establish a flight path and your photography target.
Walk around the area, taking into consideration hazards and objects and the best route to take. Once you’ve established a clear, risk-free route, then think about what it is you actually want to capture.
If you spend time doing this then you reduce the risk of crashing your drone. You also will get planned, fantastic footage instead of a bunch of haphazard clips that you need to spend a lot of time editing later.
5. Not Considering Weather Conditions
If you’ve just got a new aircraft with all the latest drone business, you probably can’t wait to take it out for a spin. While the weather may seem fine on the ground, wind can be howling at higher altitudes and this can be disastrous for your drone.
Aside from the risk of crashing your drone in the wind, the wind also drains the battery and you may fly too far out before your drone realizes it doesn’t have enough juice to get back.
Always check weather forecasts and notice whether tall trees are blowing in the wind to get a good idea of the conditions.
Are You Making Any of These Drone Flying Mistakes?
Are you guilty of making any of these drone flying mistakes? If you are, do your best to avoid them so that you can be a responsible pilot and get the best shots. Have fun with your drone, but look after it and respect the laws.
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