Hovering over water

[Derek1159B]

In one of the recent post there was a discussion on not hovering over water since the water throws off the above ground reading and the drone can or will ditch itself. I am very new to the drone community and that thread saved me from making a bad mistake - I wanted to do low level flying over the salt water creaks during low tide. So is there a list of "Fun Facts" like don't do this for new users. Thanks for any assistance on preventing major mistakes.

 

[slup]

Firstly, welcome to the forum ... Wasn't sure if you only were interested in thing's regarding hovering over water ...

But I anyway add in one very easy check you always should do after powering on your drone, connected to your RC/app & placed it in the take off spot ... but before lift off. This to avoid a really scary event coming from launching from a magnetic disturbed place with following flyaway at height in an uncontrollable "toilet bowl" shaped flight path.

Always check that the drone icon on the map in your app is pointing equal to reality ... if not abort launch attempt & move away and try take off elsewhere.

After this easy check to avoid a disaster ... I go over to thing's I posted in relation to all BlowAway's for the Mini around Christmas.

Thing's in general ...

Read the user manual ...the thick downloadable one, not only the quick start

Keep well under the wind spec were you fly ... and please note that it's not only at ground, it's at the altitude were you fly. The winds up to 400ft are very different then on ground.
Use for instance the UAV Forecast app were you can get a feeling about the wind on higher altitudes, but please note that it's forecasts we are speaking of, a bit of common sense is good to apply to that ... "better skip flying a windy day & fly more another day".

Don't go & calibrate everything on a regularly basis ... why fix thing's that are working, it's just a higher risk that you by mistake calibrate your compass in a magnetic disturbed area & the drone goes haywire 10 meters up in the air. Calibrate IMU + compass according to user manual, keep away from magnetic things like cars, metal tables & reinforced concrete at take off & compass calibrations. If the app recommend a compass calibration first try another launch spot on a far distance from the first ... if calibration still is recommended by the app do it, but only then.

Don't launch in a hurry ... wait until you have at least 8, preferable 10 locked satellites & wait for the lady voice announce that the Homepoint has been updated, check then on the map that it's in the correct spot. Learn how the RTH function works, don't set the altitude for that unnecessary high, look around were you are going to fly and set it to clear the highest obstacle, to high & the drone risks a blow away.

Seek up a large open place ... a soccer field, free of obstacles & people. Test off every function one at a time until you fully understand how it works & the logic behind, confirm through the user manual if needed. Fly low, slow & near.

Take the claimed control distance from DJI with a pinch of salt ... only doable out in the countryside completely free of WiFi disturbance & obstacles in between the Remote & Aircraft.

Don't use the RTH button as a "panic button" it's usually the weakest mode of them all ... you will always have access to more power in the manual modes ... if slow against a bit to strong head wind, go for Sport mode, drop altitude & maneuver the drone home manually.

Learn the rules & regulation ... keep the drone within Visual line of sight, if you can't avoid going out of visual keep it at least in line of sight (unobstructed line between Remote & Aircraft even though you don't see it).

 

[old man mavic]

welcome to the forum

 

[Thomas B]

Welcome to the forum from the deserts of Arizona! Enjoy.
.... and practice!

 

[OurAngryBadger]

Firstly, welcome to the forum ... Wasn't sure if you only were interested in thing's regarding hovering over water ...

But I anyway add in one very easy check you always should do after powering on your drone, connected to your RC/app & placed it in the take off spot ... but before lift off. This to avoid a really scary event coming from launching from a magnetic disturbed place with following flyaway at height in an uncontrollable "toilet bowl" shaped flight path.

Always check that the drone icon on the map in your app is pointing equal to reality ... if not abort launch attempt & move away and try take off elsewhere.

After this easy check to avoid a disaster ... I go over to thing's I posted in relation to all BlowAway's for the Mini around Christmas.

Thing's in general ...

Read the user manual ...the thick downloadable one, not only the quick start

Keep well under the wind spec were you fly ... and please note that it's not only at ground, it's at the altitude were you fly. The winds up to 400ft are very different then on ground.
Use for instance the UAV Forecast app were you can get a feeling about the wind on higher altitudes, but please note that it's forecasts we are speaking of, a bit of common sense is good to apply to that ... "better skip flying a windy day & fly more another day".

Don't go & calibrate everything on a regularly basis ... why fix thing's that are working, it's just a higher risk that you by mistake calibrate your compass in a magnetic disturbed area & the drone goes haywire 10 meters up in the air. Calibrate IMU + compass according to user manual, keep away from magnetic things like cars, metal tables & reinforced concrete at take off & compass calibrations. If the app recommend a compass calibration first try another launch spot on a far distance from the first ... if calibration still is recommended by the app do it, but only then.

Don't launch in a hurry ... wait until you have at least 8, preferable 10 locked satellites & wait for the lady voice announce that the Homepoint has been updated, check then on the map that it's in the correct spot. Learn how the RTH function works, don't set the altitude for that unnecessary high, look around were you are going to fly and set it to clear the highest obstacle, to high & the drone risks a blow away.

Seek up a large open place ... a soccer field, free of obstacles & people. Test off every function one at a time until you fully understand how it works & the logic behind, confirm through the user manual if needed. Fly low, slow & near.

Take the claimed control distance from DJI with a pinch of salt ... only doable out in the countryside completely free of WiFi disturbance & obstacles in between the Remote & Aircraft.

Don't use the RTH button as a "panic button" it's usually the weakest mode of them all ... you will always have access to more power in the manual modes ... if slow against a bit to strong head wind, go for Sport mode, drop altitude & maneuver the drone home manually.

Learn the rules & regulation ... keep the drone within Visual line of sight, if you can't avoid going out of visual keep it at least in line of sight (unobstructed line between Remote & Aircraft even though you don't see it).

Excellent work, your post should be a sticky

 

[Mavic Pro Platinum]

Firstly, welcome to the forum ... Wasn't sure if you only were interested in thing's regarding hovering over water ...

But I anyway add in one very easy check you always should do after powering on your drone, connected to your RC/app & placed it in the take off spot ... but before lift off. This to avoid a really scary event coming from launching from a magnetic disturbed place with following flyaway at height in an uncontrollable "toilet bowl" shaped flight path.

Always check that the drone icon on the map in your app is pointing equal to reality ... if not abort launch attempt & move away and try take off elsewhere.

After this easy check to avoid a disaster ... I go over to thing's I posted in relation to all BlowAway's for the Mini around Christmas.

Thing's in general ...

Read the user manual ...the thick downloadable one, not only the quick start

Keep well under the wind spec were you fly ... and please note that it's not only at ground, it's at the altitude were you fly. The winds up to 400ft are very different then on ground.
Use for instance the UAV Forecast app were you can get a feeling about the wind on higher altitudes, but please note that it's forecasts we are speaking of, a bit of common sense is good to apply to that ... "better skip flying a windy day & fly more another day".

Don't go & calibrate everything on a regularly basis ... why fix thing's that are working, it's just a higher risk that you by mistake calibrate your compass in a magnetic disturbed area & the drone goes haywire 10 meters up in the air. Calibrate IMU + compass according to user manual, keep away from magnetic things like cars, metal tables & reinforced concrete at take off & compass calibrations. If the app recommend a compass calibration first try another launch spot on a far distance from the first ... if calibration still is recommended by the app do it, but only then.

Don't launch in a hurry ... wait until you have at least 8, preferable 10 locked satellites & wait for the lady voice announce that the Homepoint has been updated, check then on the map that it's in the correct spot. Learn how the RTH function works, don't set the altitude for that unnecessary high, look around were you are going to fly and set it to clear the highest obstacle, to high & the drone risks a blow away.

Seek up a large open place ... a soccer field, free of obstacles & people. Test off every function one at a time until you fully understand how it works & the logic behind, confirm through the user manual if needed. Fly low, slow & near.

Take the claimed control distance from DJI with a pinch of salt ... only doable out in the countryside completely free of WiFi disturbance & obstacles in between the Remote & Aircraft.

Don't use the RTH button as a "panic button" it's usually the weakest mode of them all ... you will always have access to more power in the manual modes ... if slow against a bit to strong head wind, go for Sport mode, drop altitude & maneuver the drone home manually.

Learn the rules & regulation ... keep the drone within Visual line of sight, if you can't avoid going out of visual keep it at least in line of sight (unobstructed line between Remote & Aircraft even though you don't see it).

Welcome to the forum! This is excellent advice, I highly recommended that you listen to it! Good luck and happy flying! [emoji106][emoji16]

 

[DamienC]

Noticed the same thing over some mountain rivers here in Idaho! The response by slup is for me to! I stayed manual through all the flying I did over water, didn't get to close to the drink and punched out of any danger and the slightest quiver in my gut. No use risking the cost of the drone! Follow your gut, and re-read slup, I am!

 

[barrybcar]

Noticed the same thing over some mountain rivers here in Idaho! The response by slup is for me to! I stayed manual through all the flying I did over water, didn't get to close to the drink and punched out of any danger and the slightest quiver in my gut. No use risking the cost of the drone! Follow your gut, and re-read slup, I am!

I’m in Boise. Where do you shoot.

 

[Gringorio]

In one of the recent post there was a discussion on not hovering over water since the water throws off the above ground reading and the drone can or will ditch itself. I am very new to the drone community and that thread saved me from making a bad mistake - I wanted to do low level flying over the salt water creaks during low tide. So is there a list of "Fun Facts" like don't do this for new users. Thanks for any assistance on preventing major mistakes.

The safest way to hover or fly over water of any kind is to turn off your downward sensors and, visually pay attention to your height over the water, not by the numbers on the screen, but what you see.

 

[DamienC]

I’m in Boise. Where do you shoot.

North Fork of the Payette, right about at the boundary of Boise and Valley counties, off 55.

 

[DamienC]

The safest way to hover or fly over water of any kind is to turn off your downward sensors and, visually pay attention to your height over the water, not by the numbers on the screen, but what you see.

Agreed. I did not turn off the sensors, but kept a hawks eye on it. Will shut those sensors off next time.

 

[L.Bro]

Welcome to the forum

 

[Dbez1]

Firstly, welcome to the forum ... Wasn't sure if you only were interested in thing's regarding hovering over water ...

But I anyway add in one very easy check you always should do after powering on your drone, connected to your RC/app & placed it in the take off spot ... but before lift off. This to avoid a really scary event coming from launching from a magnetic disturbed place with following flyaway at height in an uncontrollable "toilet bowl" shaped flight path.

Always check that the drone icon on the map in your app is pointing equal to reality ... if not abort launch attempt & move away and try take off elsewhere.

After this easy check to avoid a disaster ... I go over to thing's I posted in relation to all BlowAway's for the Mini around Christmas.

Thing's in general ...

Read the user manual ...the thick downloadable one, not only the quick start

Keep well under the wind spec were you fly ... and please note that it's not only at ground, it's at the altitude were you fly. The winds up to 400ft are very different then on ground.
Use for instance the UAV Forecast app were you can get a feeling about the wind on higher altitudes, but please note that it's forecasts we are speaking of, a bit of common sense is good to apply to that ... "better skip flying a windy day & fly more another day".

Don't go & calibrate everything on a regularly basis ... why fix thing's that are working, it's just a higher risk that you by mistake calibrate your compass in a magnetic disturbed area & the drone goes haywire 10 meters up in the air. Calibrate IMU + compass according to user manual, keep away from magnetic things like cars, metal tables & reinforced concrete at take off & compass calibrations. If the app recommend a compass calibration first try another launch spot on a far distance from the first ... if calibration still is recommended by the app do it, but only then.

Don't launch in a hurry ... wait until you have at least 8, preferable 10 locked satellites & wait for the lady voice announce that the Homepoint has been updated, check then on the map that it's in the correct spot. Learn how the RTH function works, don't set the altitude for that unnecessary high, look around were you are going to fly and set it to clear the highest obstacle, to high & the drone risks a blow away.

Seek up a large open place ... a soccer field, free of obstacles & people. Test off every function one at a time until you fully understand how it works & the logic behind, confirm through the user manual if needed. Fly low, slow & near.

Take the claimed control distance from DJI with a pinch of salt ... only doable out in the countryside completely free of WiFi disturbance & obstacles in between the Remote & Aircraft.

Don't use the RTH button as a "panic button" it's usually the weakest mode of them all ... you will always have access to more power in the manual modes ... if slow against a bit to strong head wind, go for Sport mode, drop altitude & maneuver the drone home manually.

Learn the rules & regulation ... keep the drone within Visual line of sight, if you can't avoid going out of visual keep it at least in line of sight (unobstructed line between Remote & Aircraft even though you don't see it).

Excellent post!

 

[Jack Ray]

Excellent work, your post should be a sticky

I agree.....

 

[Mavic Pro Platinum]

In one of the recent post there was a discussion on not hovering over water since the water throws off the above ground reading and the drone can or will ditch itself. I am very new to the drone community and that thread saved me from making a bad mistake - I wanted to do low level flying over the salt water creaks during low tide. So is there a list of "Fun Facts" like don't do this for new users. Thanks for any assistance on preventing major mistakes.

I have hovered a couple of feet above water and flow above water many times, and it doesn’t throw up and water or moisture. I wouldn’t recommend flying over water unless you’re an experienced pilot that knows what they’re doing. Be especially careful flying over/near salt water because if you land it in salt water your drone is toast. I would recommend wiping your drone down with a microfiber cloth after flying over salt water or water in general. My best advice is to use common sense and not to let anything distract you for even a second while flying over water, and have all of your attention focused on where the drone is at and the controls. [emoji106][emoji16]

 

[zeusfl]

welcome to the forum

 

[Sitka78]

Noticed the same thing over some mountain rivers here in Idaho! The response by slup is for me to! I stayed manual through all the flying I did over water, didn't get to close to the drink and punched out of any danger and the slightest quiver in my gut. No use risking the cost of the drone! Follow your gut, and re-read slup, I am!

Would you please define “slup” for me? Never heard of that before. Thank you.

 

[Dbez1]

Would you please define “slup” for me? Never heard of that before. Thank you.

Slip is the screen name of the second poster in this thread. ?. Excellent post.

 

[Sitka78]

Slip is the screen name of the second poster in this thread. ?. Excellent post.

Got it, just missed that. Thank you.

 

[slup]

Would you please define “slup” for me? Never heard of that before. Thank you.

It's me ? ?