Over Water Ops

[Jeff A]

Generally, what tips, tricks and procedures have you found to avoid loosing your drone when flying over water?

 

[Meta4]

Generally, what tips, tricks and procedures have you found to avoid loosing your drone when flying over water?

Exactly the same ones that you use flying over land.
There's nothing different or tricky flying over water, just a psychological issue that some people have about it.

 

[OurAngryBadger]

Exactly the same ones that you use flying over land.
There's nothing different or tricky flying over water, just a psychological issue that some people have about it.

Of course there is some differences; mainly dealing with stronger winds over water or seagulls that want to eat your drone. There is also some speculation that the bottom sensors can be tricked by the water and cause the drone to descend into the water; even DJI suggests to always fly at least 6 ft above water

 

[Meta4]

dealing with stronger winds over water

Wind is no stronger over water than over land
You can encounter strong winds wherever you choose to fly.
The strategies to fly safely are no different

or seagulls that want to eat your drone.

Because birds are only encountered over water?
Almost all my flying is over water and I haven't had any bird encounters there .. but I have on land.

There is also some speculation that the bottom sensors can be tricked by the water and cause the drone to descend into the water

Speculation?

even DJI suggests to always fly at least 6 ft above water

Flying close to any obstacle is risky .. and the water's surface is a big obstacle.

Your drone is a flying machine.
It performs no differently over a wet or dry surface.

 

[OurAngryBadger]

Wind is no stronger over water than over land
You can encounter strong winds wherever you choose to fly.
The strategies to fly safely are no different

Because birds are only encountered over water?
Almost all my flying is over water and I haven't had any bird encounters there .. but I have on land.

Speculation?

Flying close to any obstacle is risky .. and the water's surface is a big obstacle.

Your drone is a flying machine.
It performs no differently over a wet or dry surface.

Re: Wind
The NOAA says otherwise

NDBC - Science Education - Are wind speeds the same over land as they are over the ocean? - Answer

National Data Buoy Center - Science Education - Are wind speeds the same over land as they are over the ocean? - Answer

www.ndbc.noaa.gov

Characteristics of the land surface such as trees, plants, buildings, sand, mud, and rocks slow the wind because of the friction that exists between the wind and the land surface.

You can test the effects of friction by doing three simple exercises:

First, go into a carpeted room (or outside on the grass) and try to slide your fingertips across the carpet (or grass). Doesn't it seem rough? Isn't there some sort of resistance or friction to your hand easily gliding across the surface?
Second, go to a table or a desk. Slide your fingertips across the tabletop or desk surface. Doesn't your hand glide across the surface fairly easy?
Third, pour some water on the table or desk. Again, slide your fingertips across the surface. Isn't it "slipperier" than when the tabletop or desk was dry?

Re: Birds

Sure, birds are everywhere, but seagulls seem to be the most hostile towards drones and they usually stay near water.

Re: Bottom Sensor
Please read the thread here:

Flying over water, possible sensor error

While flying over a river at a height of 6m, the mini started to increase in height on it's own. I had to down stick to fight it. This resulted in the opposite and I had to up stick to keep it from losing height. It was never less than 5m above the water. Could the downward sensor be confused...

mavicpilots.com

 

[Meta4]

Re: WindThe NOAA says otherwise

The NOAA says that friction from trees and topography reduced near-ground wind strengths
That's fine if you are wanting to fly close to the ground or water.
Drone flyers are mostly going to be flying well above the surface of whatever is below their drones.
You can encounter calm and strong winds flying anywhere, over land or sea.
The way you deal with winds is the same regardless of the environment you fly over.

Re: Birds
Sure, birds are everywhere, but seagulls seem to be the most hostile towards drones and they usually stay near water.

Encounters with hostile birds are rare anywhere.
They are too rare over water to require any different approach to flying (just as they are on land).

Re: Bottom Sensor
Please read the thread here:

A thread in which a number of people made guesses that the bottom sensors might have been responsible for an incident.
No flight data was offered to see what really happened.
I'm afraid that forum guesses aren't proof of anything.

Speaking from the point of view of someone that does almost all their flying over the ocean, there are no special tips, tricks or procedures that need to be employed to fly safely there.
It's just the same as flying anywhere else, only a little easier and safer because there are no obstacles or interference.

 

[kazzymax]

Re: Bottom Sensor

I believe it's mostly due to the constantly changing uneven surface that water can have in the same spot due to waves or swells and most of the time it's also very translucent or reflective as well.

 

[RadioFlyerMan]

Regarding wind over water, even though it may be stronger, it has less turbulence over large bodies. I find it easier to fly in a 15 mph wind coming across Lake Michigan than the same wind at the end of my driveway surrounded by 60 foot trees. Turbulence is a challenge when landing and messes up my time lapse shots.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Threats : Wind / Battery Life / Sensors / Magnetic Interference / Birds / Visual Line of Sight / Remote Landings / Sand / and Take off Points !

Wind and Battery Life = Close calls our abundant , remote landing mean disaster. Knowing your battery is key.

Sensors - our a pain just turn them off.

Take Off Points - Wind can make it difficult to hand launch so find Grass , stay away from everything else

Magnetic Interference - Means you choose a bad take off point and you drone is compromised and the adventure begins.

Birds - Loose visual line of sight and your drone is a french fry for those birds. Watch the Birds !

Remote Landings - Wind and Battery did not add up and your drone will Land in the water.

Sand - Taking off from the Beach in the Wind - No

Take Off Points - Key to being a well seasoned Pilot.

Wind - Learn to fly in 15 mph winds , Learn to escort your drone with the Wind , and know the limits of your drone.



Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Mavic in the rain and float on Water.
Coal

 

[bobec231]

I have care refresh and use a lifepreserver from drone-retriever.com

 

[FLPilotshark]

I only made one video where I was worried since I lost connection a few times during this flight.

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[ptwelch]

Generally, what tips, tricks and procedures have you found to avoid loosing your drone when flying over water?

I have well over 150 miles logged over water with my M2 Pro. . Mostly shooting sailboat races and classic yachts. In most respects it's easier and less stressful than flying around trees or buildings. Good sight-lines and connections. Do watch your altitude carefully. I've had the issue where I begin losing altitude and drifting towards the water. Usually occurs at altitudes ~20' AGL. Occurs as a slow descent, sometimes almost imperceptible until you're cresting the waves. Also best if you fly upwind initially. I've had a couple of white knuckle returns to home. The winds over open water are likely not be what you're experiencing from your launch site. Having a tailwind helps. I almost always RTH at 30%-40% depending on how far out I'm flying. I often fly with 2 other drone pilots from a boat, doing hand recovery and launch. Usually we try to have a driver, pilot, and catcher.

 

[Jeff A]

Exactly the same ones that you use flying over land.
There's nothing different or tricky flying over water, just a psychological issue that some people have about it.

From my reading of this forum, it seems to me that "Psychological issues" have put a fair number of drones in the drink. I don't see many posts about terrain strikes while the pilot is trying to maintain straight and level flight over the ground.

 

[Meta4]

From my reading of this forum, it seems to me that "Psychological issues" have put a fair number of drones in the drink.

Because drones are never lost flying over the ground?
It seems to me that a lot of flyers have unjustified fears about flying over water.

I don't see many posts about terrain strikes while the pilot is trying to maintain straight and level flight over the ground.

And I don't see many posts where that happens over water either.
But I do see plenty of people imagining that the over water environment is riskier and that's the psychological issue.

 

[Jeff A]

<SNIP>
And I don't see many posts where that happens over water either.
But I do see plenty of people imagining that the over water environment is riskier and that's the psychological issue.

To be honest, I haven't been keeping score but it just SEEMS to me that a lot of forum members loose their equipment in water. Maybe I'm all wet when it comes to this subject. The reason I started this thread is that I am a new Drone Pilot and I hope learn from others because I have seen some great shots that were taken over water and I myself would like to take some like that in the future.

 

[Meta4]

To be honest, I haven't been keeping score but it just SEEMS to me that a lot of forum members loose their equipment in water. Maybe I'm all wet when it comes to this subject. The reason I started this thread is that I am a new Drone Pilot and I hope learn from others because I have seen some great shots that were taken over water and I myself would like to take some like that in the future.

I've flown 5000 kilometres over the ocean, and I was speaking from my actual experience rather than guessing or speaking from a fear of flying over water.
I also analyse flight logs from flight incidents and it seems that a lot of flyers lose their equipment wherever they happen to be flying.
What they are flying over has no influence on the outcome of any flight.
I am not aware of any issues you would encounter flying over water that what you'd have to deal with flying over land.

The only difference is that sometimes you can find the wreckage if the flight was on land.

 

[LazerMan]

I think the OP asked the wrong question. I would ask what tip and tricks to avoid losing or crashing my drone over land. Since there's way more things that can go wrong over land then water.

 

[Chip]

From my reading of this forum, it seems to me that "Psychological issues" have put a fair number of drones in the drink. I don't see many posts about terrain strikes while the pilot is trying to maintain straight and level flight over the ground.

I have always enjoyed skimming over ground and water at 6 to 10 feet in the right circumstances. I have flown the Mavic many times in a wide open level field at very low altitude to try and learn exactly how well it holds altitude and how much it dips or sinks at various speeds just to build confidence with controls. I consider my M1 and M2 both very reliable at holding altitude and dipping very predictably with hard braking or acceleration. The main psychological issue I have experienced is the illusion that drone is sinking as it flies away at low altitude in straight line. I proved to myself it was just an illusion like 99 times but then there was one time a very unfortunate splashdown under power proved it was not! My understanding is that you should turn off ground sensors if you plan to skim 20 feet or lower over water because light reflection off the water may confuse craft and it may cause forced landing. I do not know this from personal experience but I think there have been some threads on it.

 

[gnirtS]

The only potential issue over water, especially smooth water are the VPS getting confused if flying low.
Keep it at a sensible altitude and theres no difference flying to land except if it crashes, you're never getting it back.
Requires no extra procedures other than making sure its got enough battery to get back as you cant force land anywhere (in other words, be aware of wind and distance).

 

[Deleted member 114292]

Generally, what tips, tricks and procedures have you found to avoid loosing your drone when flying over water?

It is definitely risker. Mainly because if your drone lands in the water, even DJI care isn't going to help you.
So the tip is do not set yourself up for a forced landing, Keep a watchful eye on your distance and battery,
Also be careful flying under a bridge, could lose GPS lock.