- Joined
- Apr 2, 2019
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Anybody have any thoughts on this subject? I invested quite a bit of cash in my M2P and really don't want to send it to a watery grave early on in its life.
My initial thoughts are:
If you don't want your drone in the drink, don't fly it over water.
But if a shot does require over water flight
- Thorough preflight - inspect the flying area for obstacles, vessels, wildlife, terrain, wires, etc., which can pose a flight hazard and plan a flight accordingly
- Thoroughly inspect aircraft prior to flight. Ensure propellers and battery are secure and that battery has a full charge.
- Obtain a standard weather briefing from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) for the area the flight will take place and at for the proposed time window for the flight.
- Perform a hazard and risk assessment of the area of flight prior to takeoff and mitigate the risks to the greatests degree possible
- Once airborne, be sure the homepoint is stored per operator's manual and that an RTH altitude has been decided on which will keep the UAV well clear of obstacles should a low batt or failsafe RTH be needed.
- Verify aircraft and battery health are good one more time prior to going feet wet.
- Maintain VLOS at all times. If using APAS or other autopilot features on the drone, be ready to disconnect and hand fly if obstacle collision becomes imminent.
- Refrain from high performance flying in high risk situations.
- Do not launch or recover UAV from moving vessels at sea
- For low altitude flight over water, do not descend below 10 ft ASL + Swell Height.
- Monitor weather prior to and during flight. Terminate flight and land as soon as practical if conditions deteriorate. Do not fly in winds that either exceed your personal limitations or those listed in the manufacturer's user manual for your aircraft.
- Set a bingo fuel point such that you will be feet dry ie over land with no less than 20% of available battery left.
- Be wary of hazardous attitudes ie impulsivity, macho, resignation, etc. and counter them.
Anybody have other suggestions here?
My initial thoughts are:
If you don't want your drone in the drink, don't fly it over water.
But if a shot does require over water flight
- Thorough preflight - inspect the flying area for obstacles, vessels, wildlife, terrain, wires, etc., which can pose a flight hazard and plan a flight accordingly
- Thoroughly inspect aircraft prior to flight. Ensure propellers and battery are secure and that battery has a full charge.
- Obtain a standard weather briefing from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) for the area the flight will take place and at for the proposed time window for the flight.
- Perform a hazard and risk assessment of the area of flight prior to takeoff and mitigate the risks to the greatests degree possible
- Once airborne, be sure the homepoint is stored per operator's manual and that an RTH altitude has been decided on which will keep the UAV well clear of obstacles should a low batt or failsafe RTH be needed.
- Verify aircraft and battery health are good one more time prior to going feet wet.
- Maintain VLOS at all times. If using APAS or other autopilot features on the drone, be ready to disconnect and hand fly if obstacle collision becomes imminent.
- Refrain from high performance flying in high risk situations.
- Do not launch or recover UAV from moving vessels at sea
- For low altitude flight over water, do not descend below 10 ft ASL + Swell Height.
- Monitor weather prior to and during flight. Terminate flight and land as soon as practical if conditions deteriorate. Do not fly in winds that either exceed your personal limitations or those listed in the manufacturer's user manual for your aircraft.
- Set a bingo fuel point such that you will be feet dry ie over land with no less than 20% of available battery left.
- Be wary of hazardous attitudes ie impulsivity, macho, resignation, etc. and counter them.
Anybody have other suggestions here?
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