LOW FLIGHT TIME

[Memor Esto]

My drone is less than half a year old. I charge the batteries accordingly but today with testing flight time I could not get more than 15 minutes out of any of the three batteries. Any suggestions to get better flight time?

During my previous flight the drone flight was interrupted with a low battery warning at the drone landed almost immediately in an open field without my control or guidance. I had to go and find it. This battery issue in frustrating. I have never been able to get the 45 minute flight promised in the literature. What is the issue here?

 

[Cafguy]

You will never get the flight times you see in the adds. Those tests are done under very strict conditions.
What drone do you have? You should be getting a little more than that, with the older drones at least 20-30 min.

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America Memor Esto.

Nice to meet you.

Welcome to the Forum.

.

 

[Meta4]

My drone is less than half a year old. I charge the batteries accordingly but today with testing flight time I could not get more than 15 minutes out of any of the three batteries. Any suggestions to get better flight time?

During my previous flight the drone flight was interrupted with a low battery warning at the drone landed almost immediately in an open field without my control or guidance. I had to go and find it. This battery issue in frustrating. I have never been able to get the 45 minute flight promised in the literature. What is the issue here?

The issue is probably your expectation is unrealistic.
DJI doesn't promise a 45 minute flight time.

DJI publish a "Max Flight Time" for reference and comparison purposes, just as your car manufacturer publishes fuel consumption specs, that you'd have trouble achieving.

Reading the fine print in DJI's specs explains how they achieve their times, flying in laboratory conditions.
For the Air 3S ....
Max Flight Time
45 minutes
Measured by DJI Air 3S flying forward at a constant speed of 32.4 kph in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Data is for reference only.

That's flying at only 9 metres/sec or 20.1 mph, which is about half of the Normal Mode full speed.
And it's at a constant speed - any slowing down or accelerating, or climbing will reduce flight time.
And they fly the battery right down to 0%.

 

[Memor Esto]

The issue is probably your expectation is unrealistic.
DJI doesn't promise a 45 minute flight time.

DJI publish a "Max Flight Time" for reference and comparison purposes, just as your car manufacturer publishes fuel consumption specs, that you'd have trouble achieving.

Reading the fine print in DJI's specs explains how they achieve their times, flying in laboratory conditions.
For the Air 3S ....
Max Flight Time
45 minutes
Measured by DJI Air 3S flying forward at a constant speed of 32.4 kph in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Data is for reference only.

That's flying at only 9 metres/sec or 20.1 mph, which is about half of the Normal Mode full speed.
And it's at a constant speed - any slowing down or accelerating, or climbing will reduce flight time.
And they fly the battery right down to 0%.

For my flight time tests today I flew the drone up to 10 meters and noted the time. It hovered there for 15 minutes and 5 seconds on # 1 battery and then landed automatically. #2 and #3 batteries did not do better. I do not think my expectations are unrealistic at all. I am a scientist in the aircraft design and development sector. When DJI makes a statement about flight time they should be able to back it up accordingly.

 

[Meta4]

For my flight time tests today I flew the drone up to 10 meters and noted the time. It hovered there for 15 minutes and 5 seconds on # 1 battery and then landed automatically. #2 and #3 batteries did not do better.
... When DJI makes a statement about flight time they should be able to back it up accordingly.

DJI's specs have always been realistic.

There may be another factor affecting your hover time.
If so, the explanation will probably be found in the recorded flight data from one of those flights.
Post the flight data and someone here will be able to see if there is something there.

To post your flight data there are a couple of options ...

1. Go to DJI Flight Log Viewer | Phantom Help
Follow the instructions there to upload your flight record from your phone or tablet.
That will give you a detailed report on the flight data.
Come back and post a link to the report it provides and someone might be able to analyse it and give you an understanding of the cause of the incident.
or
2. Just post the .txt file here
or
3. If you use Airdata, you can view the flight data on Airdata and post a link for the Airdata report.