Pack up your bird and hit the road, but make sure you know where you’re allowed to fly.

We’re going over the rules and regulations for flying your drones in national parks and preserves

Flying Drones in National Parks:

The Park service released a memo in 2014 that addresses unmanned aircraft use in parks, and directs superintendents “to prohibit the launching, landing, or operation of unmanned aircraft” within park boundaries. This seeks to reduce the risk of harassing wildlife, sUAS accidents, and interrupting the peace and quiet that entices people to visit the national parks in the first place.

While the National Park Service does use drones, the reasons are very specific to search and rescue, wildfire monitoring, academic studies, and aerial documentation.

Drone Usage in National Forests:

On the other hand, the National Forest Service does not prohibit drone use, so long as the drone is not operated in a designated Wilderness Area. The drone pilot must operate in accordance to FAA regulations, in addition to keeping clear of wildlife and populated areas.

The Forest Service does conduct low altitude flights within the National Forest boundaries, so knowing what flights are taking place, and whether there are temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) and NOTAMS is essential for safe drone operation within these boundaries. Check out these Forest Service drone rules for further information.

Flying Drones within Wilderness Areas:

Wilderness Areas are a no-go for drone flight, and any mechanized vehicle for that matter. It’s been that way since 1964. As stated in The Wilderness Act:

“…there shall be no temporary road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installation within any such area.”

Wilderness Areas can sometimes exist within a National Forest, so be sure to use an app like Kittyhawk , B4UFly, or AirMap to be certain you’re not pushing any boundaries. If you’re operating a DJI drone, your DJI GO 4 app will alert you to any airspace issues as well.

Drones in National Wildlife Refuges:

As stated in the National Wildlife Refuge’s Code of Federal Regulations;

“The unauthorized operation of aircraft, including sail planes, and hang gliders, at altitudes resulting in harassment of wildlife, or the unauthorized landing or take-off on a national wildlife refuge, except in an emergency, is prohibited. National wildlife refuge boundaries are designated on up-date FAA aeronautical charts.”

National Wildlife Refuges are often home or breeding grounds for endangered species that are vulnerable to harassment. While we may not be as affected by noise, these animals are acutely aware and easily frightened by such disturbances.

It is tempting to launch a drone for a quick video or photograph, but be cognizant of the area you’re flying in. Sometimes simply being present for a quiet memory is enough. As drone pilots, we have the opportunity to be ambassadors to the industry, and behaving above reproach boosts our positive image in the public eye.

Remember, there is always alternative beautiful skies to fly!

About the Author

Roger became interested in drone aviation soon after retiring from a 25-year career in the fire service. During his tenure as a firefighter with the Nashua, NH Fire Rescue, he serves as a member of the Hazmat & dive rescue teams. he is a sport pilot and Certified Level 1 Thermographer who enjoys flying weight shift control aircraft. Roger splits his time living in Naples, FL & Wells, ME; he enjoys training public service departments & assisting them with the implementation of UAS into their organizations as well as using drones to film at live events.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

The post Summer Skies: Are National Parks a No-Fly Zone For Your Drone? appeared first on DARTdrones.

4. Commercial Drone Maintenance

Drones (or UAS) are prone to wear-and-tear, especially when they are flown regularly for commercial applications. To avoid serious set-backs, you can do small yet effective procedures such as changing a propeller and cleaning its electronics free of dust and debris. Larger procedures such as service to your drone’s electronics and actuators, which can be done by certified repair centers, are crucial too. When both are routinely done, your drone’s performance and longevity will be much greater.

5. Regulations

Even while you have your Part 107 drone certification, you should always refresh your knowledge of the regulations. Airspace, time of day and the surroundings of the area you wish to fly are just some factors you need to account for before flying—and can have serious legal repercussions if you don’t follow them closely.

Not yet certified? Check out the DARTdrones Part 107 drone training course that teaches you all you need to know to become a certified Part 107 Drone Pilot in the US.

6. Post-flight Software for your Commercial Gig

Commercial drone workflows are incomplete without being able to deliver the right product. That is why your post-flight software should be considered for each job you take on. Make sure it can not only work with the media you put into it from your drone, but that it can also create the right deliverable your clients need to get the job done.

7. Clear Communication

If you are coordinating a commercial drone flight with a team, maximize safety and performance by establishing any key words or signals that can be used during the flight. Conduct these checks with anyone who is new to your team as well as with existing members to ensure everyone is on the same page for your mission.

DARTdrones is the nation’s leader in drone training, program development and consultation, offering online and in-person courses in 40+ cities across the United States. DARTdrones takes pride in their comprehensive curriculum, developed by a former US Navy Helicopter pilot, as well as their 40+ flight instructors who are all manned and unmanned aircraft pilots. Visit us online at www.dartdrones.com, call 800-264-3907 or email the DARTdrones Team at info@dartdrones.com to learn more.

The post 10 Important Reminders When Using Drones Commercially appeared first on DARTdrones.

For most commercial organizations and sUAS pilots operating under Part 107 regulations, we will actually be filing an official FAA notification known as an Unmanned Aircraft Operating area or “UOA.” UOA’s can also be converted into official NOTAMs if needed; however, this must either be done by calling Flight Services and filing a Distance NOTAM with a Flight Data Specialist over the phone; or online, if the organization is conducting their sUAS flights under the provisions of a specific FAA issued Certificate of Authorization (COA) and not general Part 107 regulations only.

In many situations, converting a UOA to a NOTAM is not necessary because both UOA’s and Distance NOTAMS for sUAS flights appear on Flight Briefing Reports provided to manned aircraft pilots via Flight Services. In this way, as long as the reason for filing a NOTAM is to alert manned aircraft to the presence of your sUA in the area, the standard UOA filed online via Flight Services will suffice.

To file a UOA online, begin by visiting the Flight Services website at www.1800wxbrief.com 

If it’s your first-time using Flight Services, you will need to quickly create an account.

After creating your account and logging in, you will be taken to the primary Flight Services homepage. Click on the UAS tab at the top of the page, followed by the “Planning” section in the submenu.

Complete the form that follows and submit it. This is what will ensure that your UOA appears on Flight Briefings requested by manned aircraft pilots flying in the vicinity of your sUAS flight area. If you are unclear on what information should be included in any of the requested fields, or how it should be formatted, simply click on, or hover your mouse over the field title for more information.

Once you click Submit, you will be asked to verify the position of the UOA when depicted on a map or Sectional Chart.

Once verified, you will receive a confirmation notice of your UOA submission.

It is recommended that you file your UOA more than 24 hours before your planned flight. Once filed, you can view your Pending UOAs, as well as edit or cancel them as needed.

For individuals or organizations NOT operating under a specific COA, but who still wish to file a traditional NOTAM as opposed to a UOA, you must call Flight Services at 1-877-4US-NTMN. You will provide all of the same information that you provided in the UOA online form to a Flight Data Specialist over the phone. You will also need to know both the Latitude and Longitude coordinates of your flight area, as well as it’s linear distance from the nearest public-use Airport, Heliport or Radio Navigation Aid (VOR/VORTAC) indicated on the relevant Sectional Chart.

As a Part 107 operator, if you are questioning whether filing a UOA, or a full NOTAM, for a specific flight is most appropriate, you should contact your local FAA Flight Standards District office and ask to speak with the Area or Regional UAS Specialist.

The post How to File a NOTAM: Step By Step Guide appeared first on DARTdrones.

Now that you have figured out the purpose for a security drone and have looked into Part 107 training – you are ready to start looking for the perfect match. Expert security drone instructor, Mike Uleski, has offered his recommendations below.

Quick bio on Mike Uleski:
Mike is an active Sergeant with a public safety department and is cross trained as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, and EMT. He has a degree in Aeronautical Sciences from Embry-Riddle, a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine, multi-engine and instrument ratings, and 17 years of experience building and flying remote controlled aircraft.

Mike’s Favorite Security Drone Models

DJI Mavic Pro

• Price: $999.99
• Weight: 1.6 lbs
• Speed: 40-45 mph
• Flight time: 28 minutes

If you need a small, compact security drone that is loaded with features then don’t bother scrolling down. The Mavic Pro can be folded neatly and transported in a small camera bag and the remote controller can be carried in your pocket. This leaves you with plenty of room to carry additional modifications or batteries that only add to the Mavic’s versatility and flight time.

The Mavic Pro may also be one of the stealthiest drones on the market. Its small build with slanted edges reminds me of a Silent Hawk helicopter. It is also very quiet for a drone which allows it to be used in covert missions.

The Mavic Pro carries a camera that is capable of 4K video. An aftermarket FLIR camera is available to provide thermal capability as well. Also, with the ActiveTrack feature, the Mavic can lock onto a subject and follow it from the sky.

Mike’s expert opinion:

“The Mavic Pro is technology packed and a great option at a lower budget requirement than larger aircraft. In addition, the low observability and quiet flight capability are perfect for security situations where you do not want the drone to be obvious.”

Yuneec Typhoon H- $1499.00 (with RealSense)

• Weight: 4 pounds
• Speed: 40-45 mph
• Flight time: 25 minutes

The Typhoon H allows for the advantages of a hexacopter with increased reliability and redundancy of having six motors with a compact folding package. The ST16 ground station has a built-in 7-inch display that provides real-time flight footage and flight telemetry information. The video is downlinked in 720P for a high definition view.

The ST16 ground station has a built-in 7-inch display that provides real-time flight footage and flight telemetry information. The video is downlinked in 720P for a high definition view. A dual visual and FLIR equipped camera is available allowing for an advanced sensor system for budget conscious agencies.

Adding the RealSense option allows for a powerful obstacle avoidance system that is not only capable of sensing the environment, but also remembering the location of obstacles for future flight paths.

With the retractable landing gear, the camera is capable of 360-degree rotation and an unobstructed view.

The Typhoon H is an excellent choice for daylight operations out of the box, or when the budget allows, the addition of the dual visual/FLIR camera to allow for night operations or fire scene operations.

Mike’s expert opinion:

“The Typhoon H brings the redundancy available with six motors. Also, having the option to add a powerful obstacle avoidance system and advanced visual/thermal camera system makes it well suited for security missions.”

DJI Inspire 1v2.0

• Cost: $1899.99
• Weight: 7 lbs
• Speed: 45-55 mph
• Flight time: 18 minutes

This security drone is the bigger brother of the previously mentioned DJI products. It may be a few years old but it still holds up against the latest products. It has proved itself to be a reliable system for many commercial industries.

The Inspire has a few advantages over its little brothers. This aircraft has characteristics that allow it to operate in steady winds up to 30 mph. Its larger build allows it carry more equipment. Specifically, it can carry different camera systems. The standard camera can be upgraded to the Z3 that has 7x digital zoom, the Z30 with 30x zoom, or an FLIR thermal system. Inspire 1 can incorporate thermal imaging for more effective night time operations, and the latest version of the Inspire platform (Inspire 2) is capable of extended flight times up to 30 minutes – compared to the average 18 minute flights of the original.

Mike’s expert opinion:

“The Inspire 1 is a jack-of-all-trades in the commercial and security drone industry. With power to spare and the ability to quickly change payload system, it is highly capable of many different mission requirements.”

The post Expert Security Drone Recommendations appeared first on DARTdrones.

It can be overwhelming when looking at what offerings are available in the drone market today. Each public safety drone program is unique and requires a specific sUAS platform. There are many considerations when choosing what platform works best for your specific uses. In this article, we will discuss the different factors to consider for your public safety drone program.

Platform considerations for law enforcement

There are several considerations that are of importance to make a UAS capable for law enforcement operations:

• Flight time: Due to an unknown duration of an incident, more flight time per battery is important. Second in importance to the flight time duration to a single battery is the ease of recovering the aircraft and changing out batteries and being able to return to station.
• Sensor system: For a law enforcement UAS to be truly valuable it must be night operations capable. This typically means having the ability to utilize a FLIR system
• Wind/Weather capability: Law enforcement incidents cannot be planned and encountering inclement weather is probable at some point. A larger UAS platform can have more capability in maintaining a stable hover in a stiff wind. Other options would be to have the UAV weatherproof/water resistant for operations in rain.
• Ease of deployment: To be effective the UAS must be quick to deploy, typically from a patrol vehicle. Folding UAS that can be more compactly stored in the patrol vehicle can provide a distinct advantage over having to retrieve the UAS from a central location prior to deployment.

Platform considerations for fire services

The considerations when selecting a UAS for fire service use has much in common with their law enforcement brethren:

• Flight time: As with law enforcement incidents, the duration of a fire incident cannot be predetermined. A longer duration battery is preferred.
• Sensor system: Structural fire fighters have utilized FLIR technology for years to provide situational awareness of the fire environment. Being able to utilize the same technology from an aerial perspective can provide intelligence that is impossible to acquire by ground based imagery.
• Wind/Weather capability: Common with emergency situations, the day and time of the incident cannot be predicted. The weather that exists must be dealt with. The more weather capable the UAS is, the more use that it will see.
• Payload capability: For rescue purposes, the ability to carry and deliver a payload, e.g. rope tether, life preserver, radio, etc. can be the difference between life and death. UAVs are capable beyond only being able to capture images and video.

If your department is considering launching a public safety drone program, contact us at 800-264-3907 for drone training and drone consulting.

Be sure to catch our next blog on our experts’ top public safety drone picks!

The post Public Safety Drone Program – UAS Considerations appeared first on DARTdrones.

If you are here, on this page, reading this post, then it is safe to assume you have thought about using a drone for security. Also, it is safe to assume that you are uncertain on which type of drone to purchase. No worries, we’re here to help!

Buying a security drone may seem like a daunting task. There are hundreds of products, reviews and blogs out there telling you which drone is the best. But the truth is that you do not need the “best” drone. What you need is the drone that fits your business best.

What do YOU need?

First, you need to identify the specific reason you need a security drone. What is the purpose? How much land is it going to monitor? How high is it going to fly? What type of camera or imaging system do you need? What flying conditions will it operate in? Do you intend to use the drone for indoor or outdoor monitoring? These are the types of questions you need to answer before purchasing a security drone.

Also, it is extremely important to make sure that you or your pilot is FAA Part 107 certified before operating a drone for commercial purposes.

Things to consider

Keep the following characteristics in mind before purchasing a drone for your business:

• Size – Security drones vary in sizes. Some are as small as soda cans and others are as large as refrigerators. Smaller drones have an obvious security advantage. They make less noise, harder to spot and offer easier maneuverability. Larger drones can carry larger cameras and more attachments but are far less discrete. Small drones are well suited to indoor environments and many are equipped with positioning sensors allowing them to maneuver exceptionally well in enclosed environments without GPS. However, real-world weather conditions often necessitate the use of larger drones to handle changing wind conditions and precipitation (some drones are weatherproof).
• Camera – You are going to need a drone that comes equipped with a high-quality camera. Pretty much all of the drones on the market come with very good cameras but if you are going to be operating at higher altitudes or in foggy climates then you may want to upgrade. Thermal and night vision cameras are also now available as add-on features for many drone platforms. A blurry image of a burglar doesn’t help anyone…except for the burglar.
• Flight time – A security drone that can stay in the air for a good duration of time is something you will definitely want. Otherwise, you will constantly have to land the drone and swap out the battery. This is a problem because a drone on the ground is not capturing any security footage.
• Range –  Large land plots like farms or areas where interference may be expected, such as utility facilities, then you will want to choose one with longer range capabilities and/or a robust command and control communication system designed for industrial environments. If you plan on using the drone to monitor office space or a garage then you may not need the extra range.
• Handling/Stability – If you are inexperienced that you will need to find a drone that is easy to operate. Many people have different opinions on which drone is easiest to fly but it really comes down to preference. You must also take into account your flying conditions. Different drones will be more or less capable depending on wind speeds and various operating altitudes.

Taking the next step

Once you have a full understanding of exactly what tasks you will need your security drone to perform, you can then begin looking for the perfect fit. Check back for Part Two of this blog post in which we will dive into our favorite security drones.

It is important to remember that privacy concerns and laws related to the use of drones are still in a state of discussion and evolution. Before using a drone for ANY surveillance application, it is important to understand the applicable laws in one’s own state and/or municipality.

For more information on becoming Part 107 certified, launching a drone program, or advanced drone training options – please visit www.dartdrones.com or call 800.264.3907

The post Consider This Before Buying a Security Drone appeared first on DARTdrones.

The Inspire 1 controller features an HDMI output as standard equipment. But, if you have a Phantom 3 Advanced/Professional, or Phantom 4, and use a mobile device for FPV, you can enjoy the same immersive flying experience with FPV goggles.

FPV Quadcopter Basics

Most FPV race drones use analog signal transmitters in 1.3, 2.4 or 5.8GHz to transmit their video signal. These are stand-alone transmitters that anyone with a pair of googles tuned to the matching frequency can watch the same image as the pilot. The benefit of this type of video transmission is very little video signal latency, or lag. For a race drone pilot trying to fly through a gate at 50 miles per hour, even a 1/10 of a second video lag can mean the difference from clearing the gate and a crash.

The trade off of this limited latency is the video image is not as crystal clear HD as the digital signal that DJI Lightbridge technology is capable of. But a Phantom is not a race drone, and we can work around the latency issues to have an incredible, immersive, flight experience. Learn more about how to get into the drone racing industry.

The FPV Quadcopter Equipment Needed

First, we will set up our Phantom 3 Advanced/Professional or Phantom 4, so that we can use FPV goggles. Since the DJI Lightbridge signal is digital, we will be using an HDMI output. This can also be accomplished if your mobile device has HDMI output capability, but follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when using this feature. For this post, we will focus on having an HDMI output directly from your transmitter.

We do not have to make any modifications to the drone itself, but we will install a DJI HDMI module on the transmitter to output the video signal in 720P. DJI makes the HDMI module as an easy “plug and play” addition to your transmitter.

Here is a great video that shows how to install it:

After this module is installed, you can stream the transmitted video to any device with an HDMI input.

The FPV Quadcopter Goggles

DJI does its best to provide the clearest image transmission possible to the pilot. The HDMI output provides 720p video. We want to continue having the best image possible to view in FPV, and that will be the main consideration when purchasing a set of goggles.

Fat Shark Dominator HD3

The Fat Shark brand is synonymous with drone racing. Its goggles are hands down the most commonly used goggles for serious race drone pilots. The Dominator series have included a micro HDMI port since the Dominator V2, but have optimized the Dominator HD3 to display an HD image.

Fat Shark goggles use lenses to create one of the most immersive flying experiences possible.

Zeiss Cinemizer OLED Goggle

With the capability to display in 1080p HD, and also HDMI 3-D, the Cinimizer OLED goggle provides the best image possible. Extremely light weight, many consider it one of the most comfortable FPV goggles available.

One of the additional features is stereo audio output. These googles can be connected to any device with an HDMI output. It allows you to watch videos and movies in HDMI quality.

Headplay HD FPV Goggles

My wife says it looks like I am wearing a toaster on my head when I use these. But the image is worth the ridicule. Unlike the Fat Shark Dominator HD3, and Zeiss Cinemizer goggles, the Headplay HD uses a single screen with a very wide viewing angle. It is akin to sitting a few feet from a big screen TV. You have to look around the screen to take in the entire image. An analog 40 channel video receiver is also installed so you can also use these with any analog FPV transmitter.

They may look ungainly, but once the customizable foam is cut to your facial contour, they are actually quite comfortable to wear. People that wear glasses typically have an easier time adapting to this type of goggle rather than adding diopter lenses to the other goggles mentioned above. These are my personal favorite to use with my Phantom 3 Advanced, and also the most affordable option.

Setting up the DJI Go App for HDMI output

After installing the DJI HDMI module, you will find some new settings in the DJI Go app available.

Start on the main settings page:

Open the “HD” tab:

Now, you’ll see a few new settings are available since you installed the HDMI module. I highly recommend turning on the “Simultaneous image output to app and HDMI.” This will allow you to quickly takeoff the goggles if needed, and still have your normal mobile device display.

“Display OSD on HDMI Output” is the second option. OSD stands for “on-screen display.”

When the video is sent to your goggles, you can decide to see only the video image transmitted from the drone, or with the addition of flight information on the top and bottom edges of the view screen. An attitude indicator in the center of the screen and a diamond that helps locate the drone’s set home location are also available.

Your next setting option sets the units displayed on your OSD. This selection defaults to metric until it is changed by the user.

The last setting option is the transmission frequency. Video transmission is NTSC (60Hz) in the United States, or PAL (50Hz) in Europe. If the display in your goggles has distortion, try changing this setting to see if the image improves.

FPV Quadcopter Safety

Now you are all set up and ready to fly your FPV Quadcopter. But there are a few added considerations when flying “under the hood.”

Always Have a Visual Observer for FPV Flights! 

Even with your immersive view, you will lose some situational awareness. Both the AMA rules for hobbyists, and  Part 107 for commercial operators require a visual observer when flying FPV.

Always maintain a high level of situational awareness of where the aircraft is located.

It is easy to become lost flying over an area that you are not familiar with seeing from the air. It is even possible to become disoriented over your own neighborhood. The goggles will not transmit the map view as available on your mobile device. If you get lost, do not hesitate to take the goggles off. Use your mobile device display and map view, along with your own vision, to recover your drone.

Always be prepared to transition back to visual line-of-sight, or your mobile device display.

The reasons can range from your goggles failing to you becoming disoriented about where your drone is. If your UAV is still in GPS mode, let go of both sticks and maintain a stabilized hover while taking off your FPV goggles. Simultaneously transition back to your mobile device display and visual line-of-sight. Maintain good communication with your visual observer as it can take a few seconds for you to reorient yourself after taking off your goggles.

Look for latency and lag in your video feed.

The digital signal transmitted will typically have a very short lag time. But, if you encounter interference during your flight that effects your transmitted video image, you may be flying blind until the video signal is re established. This is extremely important if you are flying in proximity to obstacles, or buildings.

Time To Go Fly Your FPV Quadcopter!

You will find it doesn’t take long to become fully immersed in the view right in front of your eyes. There is nothing quite like flying from the cockpit and enjoying the view. Fly safe.

Mike Uleski is one of DARTdrones’ many expert pilot instructors and also a public safety officer who has written extensively for DARTdrones, including a post on how an agency can develop an UAV program. He wrote this post about FPV Quadcopters.

The post How to Add FPV Quadcopter Goggles to Your DJI Drone appeared first on DARTdrones.

Guidelines for Your First Drone Flight

There are two rules that must be stressed.

• Always remove the propellers when turning on the drone for any reason other than when it is ready to take off.
• Never handle a drone when its motors are armed or spinning.

Here are a few other tips that will helpful when you first learn how to fly a drone:

• 30-Foot Buffer – Keep a safe distance from your takeoff/landing location and the area that you intend to maneuver your drone.
• 10-Foot Minimum Altitude – Many RC pilots use the term “three mistakes high.” You want to operate at an altitude that will keep your drone safe in the event of an operator error incident, but not out of reach.
• Be Aware of Radio Interference – Depending on the radio system that your drone uses, you can encounter interference in certain locations. If your drone begins to show any odd behavior, immediately assess if there is an issue with radio interference. Avoid areas that have power lines and radio towers close by.
• Wind – Wind can significantly affect your first drone flight and those after. Try to learn how to fly a drone on a day with light wind and be aware of turbulence caused by nearby buildings and trees.
• Prop Guards – These accessories are a very good investment. Having a propeller damaged in flight can not only be an inconvenience, it can cause a crash. Prop guards are available for most drones even if they do not come with the drone initially.

Basic Aerodynamics and Control

We’ll keep this part of how to fly a drone simple. Drones fly thanks to a very complicated process involving electronic sensors, micro computers, gyroscopes, accelerometers, and radio waves. However, they are designed to be simple to operate and user friendly. Keep in mind, though, that a drone is a complicated system that requires knowledge and care to operate safely.

Simply, a drone takes off when the spinning propellers produce downward thrust that is more than the weight of the drone itself. More motor power means more thrust from a faster spinning propeller, and the faster the drone will climb. For a GPS or position sensor-equipped drone, the left stick typically stays in the center. Pulling it back decreases power and makes the drone descend. Pushing it forward increases power and will cause the drone to climb. Releasing the stick to the center will allow the drone to maintain the altitude it is at. The flight controller and sensors are doing the work of keeping the drone at the altitude you specified.

For a drone using a basic attitude or rate mode, the left stick will start at the bottom. Pushing it forward causes the motors to spin the propellers, generating thrust. The farther forward you push the stick, the more power the motors provide. Typically, a drone will not take off until the stick reaches the center position, or just beyond. Pulling the stick to the rear, behind the center, will make the drone descend. Making the drone go up and down is as simple as adding or subtracting power.

For maneuvering, a drone uses differential thrust. If your drone is in a stable hover and you want to go forward, you push the right stick forward. This will increase the power to the rear motors causing the drone to tilt forward. The drone will continue to tilt and move forward until you release the right stick to the center causing all of the motors to return to the same power output and the drone to a level altitude.

We call this tilting “pitch,” and it is controlled by moving the right stick forward and backwards. The same differential thrust occurs side to side as well in the “roll” axis. Moving the right stick left and right will cause the drone to move laterally left and right. The last axis is “yaw.” This is accomplished by using the torque of opposing motors to rotate the drone as if it were balanced on a pin. The control used for yaw is moving the left stick left and right.

Each axis can be controlled individually, but to become an accomplished drone pilot you must learn to coordinate them together. Practice is required to hone these skills. Even with a drone that is GPS equipped, I recommended as you learn how to fly a drone to become familiar with how it flies when in attitude mode.

To learn more about what a drone is and the history for drones, check out this article.

Ready for Your First Drone Flight Takeoff

Find a large area, clear of obstacles and people. Start above grass as it can be more forgiving than a hard, concrete surface. It is always a good idea to use a portable landing pad, such as a piece of foam or cardboard, to decrease the amount of debris kicked up from the drone’s rotor wash. 

Drones with GPS

If your drone is GPS equipped, it might have an automatic takeoff option. This will start the motors spinning and have the drone climb to a low altitude and maintain a hover. If you are performing a manual takeoff, start the motors using the required stick command, then push the left stick forward slightly until the drone lifts off of the ground and climbs to a safe altitude of a few feet. Once at your desired altitude, center the left stick to maintain a hover.

Drones Without GPS

If your drone does not have GPS or a positioning system, raise the left stick until the drone lifts off of the ground and begins to climb. Once at your desired altitude slightly pull back on the left stick to maintain a hover. You will have to make constant adjustments to maintain your altitude, so keep a close eye on your drone. Learning how to fly a drone is much easier with a GPS equipped drone. 

Ground Effect

As you prepare for your first drone flight and learn how to fly a drone, now is also a good time to discuss ground effect. When the drone is close to the ground, the downward rotor wash hits the ground and causes turbulent air close to the surface. If the drone stays in this level of turbulent air it may have difficulty maintaining a stable hover. Make sure when taking off,  climb straight up until you are able to hover several feet above the ground so that ground effect is avoided. 

Now that you’ve gotten in the air, let’s keep learning how to fly a drone.

Forward and Back, Left and Right

The first maneuvering flight we are going to work on is moving the drone forward and backwards, and to the left and right.

Once you have taken off and the drone is in a stable hover, make sure your practice area is clear. We are first going to practice forward and backwards movement. During this exercise the drone will always face away from you. Push the right stick forward to make the drone move forward. The farther the stick moves, the faster the drone will fly. If your drone is GPS equipped, releasing the stick should stop the forward movement and maintain a stable hover. If your drone is attitude mode only you will have to pull back slightly to stop your forward movement and return to a hover. Now pull the right stick to the rear to have the drone return to you. Practice this a few times to get a feel for how your drone flies.

Return to your landing spot and now push the right stick to the left and right. The drone will fly side to side. Practice this as well a few times to get the hang of it.

Now that you are comfortable with forwards and backwards, left and right, let’s put it together to fly a square. Start from your landing spot and in a stable hover, push the right stick to the left and fly a few feet. Release the stick to return to a hover. Push the right stick forward to fly forward a few feet, releasing the stick again when you are ready. Push the right stick to the right before releasing it. Try to be in line with your takeoff/landing spot when you stop. Lastly, pull the right stick to the rear and have the drone back up and return to the takeoff/landing spot. Practice this by starting the square both to the left and right, and try to minimize the time you stop at each corner.

Congrats! You’ve just passed your next milestone of maneuvering your drone in a square. Now it is time to increase the challenge.

Staying Oriented

As we discussed, many pilots crash because of a loss of orientation when learning how to fly a drone. It can take a significant amount of practice 

before you are comfortable when flying your drone, and it is not facing away from you. It can be difficult to distinguish the front and back of your drone as most are mostly symmetrical all the way around. A good way for new pilots is to mark the front arms with some colored tape, or purchase prop guards with a different color for the front of the drone. This will make it much easier to tell which end is forward.

For this exercise we are going to go back to the forwards and backwards, left and right. The difference is that we are going to point the front of the aircraft in different directions while performing the exercise.

Start as before over your takeoff/landing point in a stable hover. Push the left stick to the left. The drone will spin in place to the 

left. This is the yaw control. Now that the drone is facing to the left, perform the same practice maneuvers as before. The difference is that now the right stick, instead of pushing forward or backwards to make the drone fly towards or away from you, the right stick will be moved left and right to perform the same function. You are now using the roll control to move forward and away from you. Moving left and right of your position will now be done by moving the right stick, or pitch control, forwards and backwards. Practice this movement for a while before returning your drone over the takeoff/landing point. Use the left stick again to turn the nose of the drone to the right. Repeat the same exercise until you are comfortable with the movement.

Return your drone to the takeoff/landing location and use the left stick to point the nose of the drone directly at you. This is known as “nose-in” hovering. The functions of the right stick have somewhat returned to normal where pushing forwards and backwards will make the drone fly toward or away from you, and pushing left and right will make the drone move left and right, however, the controls are now reversed! As before, take your time and practice the same forwards and backwards, left and right exercise to become comfortable with this change of orientation. Once you are ready, use the left stick to turn the drone away from you again and return to the takeoff/landing spot in a stable hover.  Now we are going to put these motions together in a square pattern.

From the takeoff/landing spot, use the left stick to turn the nose of the drone to the left. Now push forward on the right stick to cause the drone to fly forward a few feet before stopping. Now use the left stick to turn the nose of the drone away from you. Push the right stick forward to fly away from you a few feet. Left stick again to turn to the right before pushing the right stick forward to fly until you are back in line with your takeoff/landing spot. Use the left stick to turn the nose of the drone directly towards the takeoff/landing spot. Push forward on the right stick to fly to the takeoff/landing spot and return to a stable hover once you reach it.

As with the first square exercise, practice this starting off both to the left and right. Try and keep the square side as equal as you can. If at any time you lose orientation, use the left stick to turn the drone until it faces away from you and return it to your desired position. Learning orientation and muscle memory is a skill that takes dedicated practice to master. Take your time during this stage as it is the most important skill that you will need to safely fly your drone.

How To Fly a Drone for Beginners: Getting Coordinated

Up to this stage you have been using one control at a time to maneuver your drone. To be an accomplished drone pilot, you must learn to use all of the controls together, throttle/pitch/roll/yaw in a coordinated manner.

Fly at a slow speed when learning these maneuvers. This will make it easier to add corrections without losing control.

We are going to go back to the second square exercise where you were turning the drone at each corner using the left stick yaw control. Our goal is to start rounding off the corners of the square and work towards flying a circle in with a coordinated turn. For a coordinated turn we want to have the nose of the drone constantly pointing in the direction of travel. But since the drone is turning, the direction of forward flight is constantly changing. We are going to use the left stick yaw control in coordination with the right stick pitch and roll control to accomplish this. Let’s start with a right-hand square pattern. Start by rounding out the corners slowly, then work your way to wider turns. 

When approaching the corner of your square you will be pushing forward on the right stick to move forward. To begin the turn you will move both the left and right sticks to the right at the same time. You will see the drones nose begin to turn to the right while it also rolls to the right. This is similar to how it looks when an airplane performs a coordinated turn. Continue to hold the left and right stick to the right until you are ready to stop the turn. Slowly return both the left and right sticks to the center but continue to push forward on the right stick so that you are still flying forward. Continue to the next corner of your square and repeat the same procedure.

The goal is to eventually round the corners of the square off to the point that you are now flying a constant circle with the nose  of the drone always pointing in the direction of flight. Make sure to practice this maneuver to both the left and right. After some practice, you should be able to make a complete circle in a constant run. 

Learning to make coordinated flight is a major milestone and you should be very proud of your accomplishment. You’re mastering how to fly a drone. Let’s take one final step.

How To Fly a Drone for Beginners: Figuring Out the 8’s

To challenge yourself further you will put together two 360 degree coordinated turns in opposite directions to fly a figure 8. These turns will be exactly like you practiced earlier in one direction at a time, and should have a good handle on. To fly this maneuver you will begin flying a circle, let’s start to the left. Once the drone reaches the point in the  turn where it is facing you, move both the left and right sticks from the left side to the right side. This will change the direction of the turn from left to right. The goal is to have two equal sized circles directly next to each other. As you practice and advance your circles will become more round, of equal size, and you can accomplish  a smooth transition from turn to turn. The “8” can also be done with the circles to the left and right of you, but also towards and away from you.

Mistakes Happen

Learning how to fly a drone for beginners can be fun. But it’s not without complications. As you can tell, there is a lot that goes into operating your drone beyond turning on a transmitter and hooking up the battery. Here are a few mistakes commonly seen in new pilots who are learning how to fly a drone for beginners:

• Not knowing or following the laws and regulations
• Loss of signal
• Fly aways
• Running out of battery power
• Forgetting equipment
• Poor judgment
• Incorrectly setting up your drone
• Not updating firmware
• Flying too fast
• Flying too high
• Panic when encountering an unexpected control response

Crashes happen, but it important to do everything possible to avoid them. All of these factors are easily eliminated by taking the time to learn about theses topics and practice flying your drone in small steps.

The Bird is Definitely Out of the Nest

By this time, you have gained quite a bit of knowledge and skill associated with how to fly a drone.

 Typically your practice sessions are more limited by how many batteries that you brought rather than getting tired of flying. And as with manned aircraft flying, always be learning. You’re learning how to fly a drone as a beginner, but good pilots never stop learning. Use the internet to research different flying techniques and information, read industry magazines to keep c

urrent, and take in-person drone training classes to hone your skills. Also, if you plan to fly for commercial purposes, you will need to get a drone license by taking the Part 107 Airman Knowledge Exam. The technology that has been developed in the past few years has been incredible, and is getting better every day. Fly smart, fly safe.

Mike Uleski has been a pilot since he was 18 and is a patrol division sergeant with a public safety department in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mike wrote this post about how to fly a drone.

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LiPo batteries are by far the best option for drones, but like most everything, with the good, comes some bad.  The LiPo’s biggest drawback is how hazardous they can be if not handled correctly. Here’s a breakdown of the top things to know when using your LiPo batteries:

LiPo vs. NiCd and NiHm

A LiPo battery is superior to NiCd and NiHm batteries in several ways, including power, weight and memory:

Nominal Voltage per Cell

A LiPo battery is usually made up of multiple cells, with a nominal voltage of 3.7 volts per cell. For example, a 7.4 volt battery means it will have two cells. Compared to the LiPo, the NiCd and NiHm battery voltage only yields a nominal voltage of 1.2 volts per cell.  (I will explain the meaning behind a LiPo battery’s different numbers in greater detail a bit later).

LiPo batteries also hold their voltage for longer durations, when compared to the NiCd and NiHm. This superior duration yields a much more stable discharge.

Battery Weight

LiPos are substantially lighter in weight as well, with nearly unlimited shapes and sizes that allow them to be used in numerous applications.

For example, on Nosy Nation, a comparison was done between a Dura Trax NiMh 8 cell 9.6 volt battery weighing 20.99 ounces and a comparable HPI Plazma LiPo 3S 11.1 volt battery weighing 9.5 ounces. The LiPo was 45% lighter! A substantial difference when you are talking about drones.

LiPo batteries don’t suffer from the “memory” issue that other batteries do.  Their super high capacity means even the smallest packages yeild a ton of power. Remember, each LiPo cell is 3.7 volts, compared to just 1.2 volts for the NiCd and NiHm batteries. This high discharge rate makes the LiPo ideal for powering even the biggest energy-sucking electronic devices. 

LiPo Battery Numbers Explained: 

The multiple numbers on a LiPo battery are confusing at first glance. Most LiPo batteries display three different numbers:

LiPo Battery ‘S’ Rating aka Voltage:

“S” rating, or voltage, is much easier to understand than you might think.  The number in front of the “S” rating is the number of cells.  For example, a “5S”  battery is a 5 cell battery which is 18.5 volts (5 cells x 3.7 volts = 18.5 volts).

LiPo Battery ‘mAh’ Rating (Capacity):

The mAh stands for milliamp hours. For example a 2000 mAh battery would take an hour to discharge if it had a 2000 ma load on it. If you put a 1000 mA load on that same battery it will take 2 hours to discharge. Conversely if you have a drone that requires 15 amps (15,000 mA) the same battery would be discharged in roughly 8 minutes (2000 / 15000 = .13 hours = 8 minutes).

‘C’ Rating (Discharge):

“C” rating, or discharge, indicates how fast the ions flow from the anode to the cathode. The “C” rating and cost are directionally propionate to one another. Many people decide which battery to buy based solely on the ‘C’ rating, however more should be taken into account.

The best way to understand this rating is know that the “C” rate is the multiplier at which it can safely be discharged. For example, a 10C 2000 mAh battery will safely discharge at 20,000 mA or 20 amps (10 X 2000 = 20,000 mA = 20 amp).  A 60C 2000 mAh battery will safely discharge 120,000 mA or 120 amps (60 X 2000 = 120,000 mA = 120 amp).

If you are running a very high performance motor that requires more amperage, then it is very wise to use a higher “C” rated battery.  If you try to pull too much amperage from a lower rated battery you can cause it to overheat and damage the battery.

Conversely if you are running a small motor that does not require the higher amperage then it is a waste of money to run too high of a “C” rated battery. The best advice is to understand what type of load you will be putting on the battery by studying the specs on your particular motor and size your battery one size larger to prevent it from overheating.

Swelling: a Tell-tale Sign your LiPo Battery Damaged

Damaged batteries can be dangerous, but just how do you know when your battery has been damaged? One of the best ways to determine if a LiPo battery is damaged is to inspect the battery for swelling or puffing.

When charging your LiPo battery it is important to not overcharge or try to charge it too quickly because this can damage the battery. It is just as important to not keep your batteries fully charged if you don’t plan on using them.

If you are not going to use the batteries for 2-3 days it is best to discharge them to 50% but not take them all the way down.  DJI batteries have an intelligent chargers and processors within the batteries to help prevent damage.

It is best to not use your LiPo battery below 15 degrees F as the cold will prevent the chemical reaction to occur that produces the proper voltage.

LiPo Battery Airplane Rules 

The TSA allows you to carry LiPo batteries in your carry-on bags, but not in your checked bags.  The TSA reserves the right to prohibit any battery if it triggers an alarm during the screening process, appears to have been tampered with, or posses other security concerns.  You may carry your charger in either your carry-on or checked bags.

We recommend printing off the actual wording from the TSA website and carry it with you while you travel. We have had some TSA agents not be aware that LiPo batteries were allowed in carry-on bags. The following are tips, but not requirements,  for traveling with your batteries:

• Place each battery in a protective bag like this one.
• If the contacts are exposed place tape over the contacts to prevent them from shorting out.
• If you carry batteries in the device, tape in the off position if possible.

Proper LiPo Storage and Disposal

The best place to store your LiPo battery is in a protective bag as mentioned above or in an all steel container.  Please keep in mind that if a fire does happen it is a chemical fire and it is best to have a chemical fire extinguisher at hand to put the fire out.

It is also best to keep them in a moderate temperature and not at the extremes.  Heat will damage your LiPo batteries and diminish their lifespan.

On average a LiPo battery will last roughly 250-350 cycles depending on the application.  It is best to keep record of how many times they have been used so you know when they should be replaced.  It is not worth trying to push the limit on these batteries because the consequence of doing this can be severe.

One off the best attributes of the LiPo batteries is that they can be disposed of in your regular trash if you make sure that they are fully discharged.  Keep in mind that if you are discharging your LiPo batteries do it outside in an open area to reduce the risk of a fire.

I hope you find this LiPo battery overview helpful. Keep in mind that reviewing your LiPo manufacturer’s recommendations are key to staying safe and getting the greatest return on your battery’s life.

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To figure out the best drone models on the market for you, here are some purchasing considerations:

1. What’s the Best Drone Model for your Use Case?

Firstly, you will need to figure out what your goals are with your drone. Will you be flying just for fun? Are you hoping to kick start your business idea with your drone? Many drone models have been built with the end user in mind. If you are hoping to fly your drone for fun and maybe take some Instagram-worthy pictures with decent quality, a toy drone may be enough for you. These range anywhere from $30-$300. We recommend you do additional research and check customer reviews. Alternatively, if you are hoping to start an aerial photography or any other type of business, we recommend you look into prosumer drones. DJI has a majority of the market for these types of drones, with their models ranging from the Phantom, Inspire, and Mavic series. The camera quality on these prosumer drones are amazing for a drone within the $1,000-$2,000 range. Each has its own pros and cons, which we will discuss a little more in this post.

2. Think about the Drone’s Camera Quality

Secondly, you will need to think about the drone’s camera quality. As we mentioned previously, DJI prosumer drones have spectacular quality. The newer models, like the Phantom 4 and Mavic Pro, are able to shoot in 4K, which is around 4 times the quality your HD television at home is able to display. The older DJI models, released before the Phantom 3, shot video with a fisheye effect, which can be difficult to correct with photoshop.

3. Figure Out Which Models offer the Best Drone Camera Accessories

Apart from the camera quality itself, you will also need to consider the quality of the gimbal, or the piece of equipment that holds the camera in place. This is not a consideration if you have set your mind on a toy drone, but DJI prosumer drones come with a gimbal that stabilizes and rotates the camera around, which comes in handy when you are flying against the wind or attempting to capture seamless, steady shots. The best drone models come with gimbals that stabilize and rotate the camera up and down, but the DJI Inspire drone is superior in its 360 degree gimbal rotation.

4. Drone Flight Time

People are often shocked when they learn about the flight time of a DJI Phantom drone – 23 minutes! (And DJI prosumer drones have some of the longest flight times of any toy and prosumer drone). To shoot an hour of footage would require at least 4-5 batteries, each of which cost around $170 (at the time this article was written). Before making the investment, do educate yourself on the flight time of the drone and the cost of each battery, to ensure you do not spend more money in the long-run.

5. How Much Does A Drone Cost?

Simply put, your budget will help you determine which drone you can afford to purchase. If you have <$300, there are several good nano drone options on the market that will hopefully suit your needs. These are also wonderful beginner drones for practicing on if you decide later you would like to invest in a prosumer drone. If you have $1,000+, the DJI Phantom or Mavic drones are the best drone models and will give you immense value for money. If you have over $2,000 or are purchasing a drone for your company, you cannot go wrong with the Inspire.

6. The Right Size of the Drone and Portability

Do you envision yourself traveling with your drone in order to take great outdoor pictures? Although the Phantoms are easily packable drones, the Mavic Pro is a great option for drone pilots on the go. It is DJI’s first foldable drone, without compromising the camera quality or maneuverability. Nano drones fit into your pocket, and several of them do not even require a remote control but just the use of your SmartPhone and a mobile app.

Check out our DJI Mavic Unboxing video from our Minnesota Flight Instructor:

There are several questions to consider when figuring out the best drone models for you. Do your research, ask a lot of questions, and make sure you understand all the costs associated with the drone. Your drone is an investment, and with the proper knowledge and training, will be able to make use of it for many years to come! Happy Flying!

About DARTdrones Flight School

DARTdrones is the national leader in drone training with the best flight instructors in the industry. We offer classes both online and in-person throughout the country including Drones 101, Drone Pilot Training, Part 107 Test Prep, and private corporate drone training. All of our flight instructors are manned aircraft pilots and certified drone pilots. Our team of experts include FAA Certified Flight Instructors, military veterans, Blackhawk helicopter pilots, commercial airline pilots, and a curriculum developer of one of the Navy’s drone programs.

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