New guy from ADK NY

[Prospect62]

Hello all, just dropping in to say hello and get that first post out of the way. I have recently had the privilege of joining the UAS team at my place of work so while preparing for and passing my Part 107 exam for that, I gained an interest in doing this stuff on my own time, too. I have always been fascinated with aviation but too motion-sick to ever do anything about it. This seems like a good way to dabble in it without actually being in the air myself.

Despite the murmurs of an upcoming DJI ban, I picked up a drone that I thought was a nice mix of beginner and respectable performer in my DJI Mini 3. I am learning to fly at work on a DJI Mavic 3T which is just an absolute beauty of a drone. WIth that in mind I looked at several brands of "beginner" drones from cheap Amazon junk to Skydio and beyond. Since I know DJI and I feel there really is no comparing to the DJI experience I decided to pick one up, ban be damned. I guess we will see what happens with that...at work we're kind of in limbo since most of our fleet is DJI but with rumors of the ban circulating they're starting to purchase a lot of Skydio stuff (to include a handful of Skydio X10 "drone in a box" units - pretty cool stuff).

Anyway, I'll be flying this Mini 3 on my own time as I look to build my skill level and flight hours. I've already picked up a strobe and some other accessories for it. Looking forward to learning what this thing can do and becoming a better pilot.

Thanks for hosting a great forum!

 

[Lykus]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Talldiver]

Welcome to the forum Prospect62 from Northwest New Jersey.

 

[PINEBARON]

Welcome from the Beautiful Pacific Northwest in WA

 

[Kendallfordguy]

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

[LoudThunder]

Hello all, just dropping in to say hello and get that first post out of the way.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

Member Map

mavicpilots.com

I grew up North of you in the Adirondack Mountains on the Schroon River, outside Potterville, and I have just one warning… Be careful of actually flying in the area designated as the Adirondack Park… There are so many rules, regulations, prohibitions, that you you think that Moses came down off Mount Marcy with the 10-Preventins…

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First, Even though you are working on your Part 107, you will need the TRUST Certificate… If you have not already done so and you want to fly your drone recreationally, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). This Link is to the Pilot Institute Web Site where you can get your TRUST Certificate. (FREE…)

FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute

Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.

trust.pilotinstitute.com

Next, Since your Drone weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and while you are flying under the 44809 Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone.

However, once you acquire your Part 107, and youe drone flown for other than Recreational fun, you will need to register your Drone. The cost is $5.00…

FAADroneZone

faadronezone-access.faa.gov

Since you live in New York, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.

Federal Drone Laws in the United States (FAA) - Pilot Institute

44809 is an exemption from Part 107 drone laws. This means that drone pilots fly under Part 107 drone rules by default unless they meet all 9 of the requirements to fly under 44809, the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. You can read more about these requirements...

pilotinstitute.com

Even if you have flown Drones before, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a puppy or kitten opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 6- feet (2-meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Below is the link to all of the downloads offered by DJI for the Mini 3, including the User Manual.

After you read the Manual, read it again, you will be surprised what you missed the first time and you will be better prepared for that first "scary moment…"

DJI Mini 3 - Download Center - DJI United States

Learn and download DJI Mini 3 related apps, software, and manuals at the DJI Download Center

www.dji.com

Fly On and Fly Safe…

 

[Prospect62]

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA. We have a Member's Map in the Upper Right of the Title Bar. Click on "Members" and then Click on "Member's Map…" Check it out and you might find some new flying friends.

I grew up North of you in the Adirondack Mountains on the Schroon River, outside Potterville, and I have just one warning… Be careful of actually flying in the area designated as the Adirondack Park… There are so many rules, regulations, prohibitions, that you you think that Moses came down off Mount Marcy with the 10-Preventins…

First, Even though you are working on your Part 107, you will need the TRUST Certificate… If you have not already done so and you want to fly your drone recreationally, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate.

Thanks!

I do have my 107 now (passed with a 95%) and I do plan to register my Mini 3 since with strobe and landing gear I got for it, I'll be north of 250 grams. I also may get into some commercial work with it at some point anyway.

I am always cognizant of the restricted airspace up here in CNY. I am very near the former Griffiss AFB which is Class D airspace with some pretty heavy military stuff still going on almost daily. We also have Fort Drum MOA areas not far north of me as well. Definitely watching where I am.

Thank you for the tips and warm welcome!

 

[Cafguy]

Welcome to the forum from Bakersfield!

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama

 

[LoudThunder]

Thanks!

I do have my 107 now (passed with a 95%) and I do plan to register my Mini 3 since with strobe and landing gear I got for it, I'll be north of 250 grams. I also may get into some commercial work with it at some point anyway.

I am always cognizant of the restricted airspace up here in CNY. I am very near the former Griffiss AFB which is Class D airspace with some pretty heavy military stuff still going on almost daily. We also have Fort Drum MOA areas not far north of me as well. Definitely watching where I am.

Thank you for the tips and warm welcome!

When I googled your hints at your location, "ADK (Adirondack) NY and Mohawk Valley, Google gave me a pin just around Utica… I was stationed at Griffiss in the early '80s, and then, "pretty heavy military stuff still going on almost daily" was almost an hourly thing…

It was an active SAC base with Nuclear Armed B-52s on alert and we always had at least two in the air at all times. Russia was the Evil Empire then, Star Wars was in full production… The two in the air could not land until the replacement two were in the Air… When the base went on Alert and launched all of the Nuclear Armed B-52s, the town of Rome went quiet since they did not know if this was an exercise or the real thing…

That who area is beautiful and you are lucky to have so many mountains, valleys, rivers, and even the canal to over… Enjoy and shoot lots of 360° photspheres and publish them on Google Maps and Google Earth…

Google Maps

Explore a place through a 360° photo.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[sarahb]

Welcome!

 

[msinger]

Welcome to the forum @Prospect62!