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Drones For Dummies Cheat Sheet

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|  Updated:  
2022-03-21 21:22:49
|   From The Book:  
Drone Piloting For Dummies
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Drones are high-technology devices that are constantly evolving thanks to a burgeoning community of enthusiastic technologists. Technology has made it possible for multi-rotor drones to be controlled by beginner pilots. But don’t be fooled; while modern drones are much easier to control, they are still dangerous and require the user to pay attention to even the smallest of details. This is where pre-flight and post-flight checklists come in handy.

Drone pre-flight checklist

Pre-flight checklists are a great way to ensure you have all the necessary gear for flying your drone and that you are taking all the proper precautions to ensure you, your drone, and the people around you stay safe while you fly.

Flight date:

Flight location:

Weather conditions:

Check Item Notes
Is the location clear of people,
power lines, and other objects?
_________________________________________
Are you in a no-fly zone? If so,
find a different, appropriate
(legal) place to fly.
_________________________________________
Inspect equipment for damage _________________________________________
First-Aid Kit available? _________________________________________
Extra batteries? _________________________________________
Verify battery charge level _________________________________________
Place drone in a safe level
location
_________________________________________
Turn on camera _________________________________________
Verify transmitter controls move _________________________________________
Verify transmitter controls in
neutral position
_________________________________________
Verify transmitter throttle to zero _________________________________________
Turn on transmitter _________________________________________
Connect drone battery _________________________________________
Power on drone _________________________________________
Start flight timer _________________________________________
Check for any people and
animals near by
_________________________________________
Stand clear and announce
“CLEAR”
_________________________________________
Arm flight controller _________________________________________
Increase throttle slightly and
check for abnormalities
_________________________________________
Hover at 3-5 feet for a few
seconds to check stability
_________________________________________

Drone post-flight checklist

A post-flight checklist is an integral part of good drone ownership and operation. Building a post-flight checklist ensures that you do not skip or forget any key steps to shutting down, maintaining, and storing your drone until your next flight.

Flight date:

Flight location:

Weather conditions:

Check Item Notes
Land drone _________________________________________
Disarm transmitter _________________________________________
Disconnect transmitter battery _________________________________________
Disconnect drone battery _________________________________________
Power off camera _________________________________________
Power off any additional lights or
powered equipment
_________________________________________
Inspect drone for damage,
including landing gear, wiring,
batteries, propellers, and all
connections
_________________________________________
Wipe drone down _________________________________________
Use can of compressed air to
blow dust out of components and
motor
_________________________________________
Discharge batteries to prep for
transport and storage
_________________________________________
Dump video footage to computer _________________________________________
Clear media cards and storage _________________________________________
Place all gear in storage
containers
_________________________________________
Land drone _________________________________________
Disarm transmitter _________________________________________
Disconnect transmitter battery _________________________________________
Disconnect drone battery _________________________________________
Power off camera _________________________________________
Power off any additional lights or
powered equipment
_________________________________________
Inspect drone for damage,
including landing gear, wiring,
batteries, propellers, and all
connections
_________________________________________

About This Article

This article is from the book: 

About the book author:

Mark LaFay is a tenured entrepreneur. He started two successful businesses in the music industry, and he is the co-founder of Lectio and Roust. Mark is also the author of Chromebook for Dummies.