Share your flight checklist

[msinger]

I'm working on a few projects to help DJI pilots develop their own flight checklists. If you're using a flight checklist before or after your flights and don't mind sharing it with others, please post it below.

 

[Keule]

This is what we are using:

 

[anonymouse]

There seem to be lots of these in the forums but here's mine. Specifically for Mavic 2 Pro. I've been working particularly on the pre-flight checks -- especially things like checking RTH height which can be a safety issue yet doesn't appear on the summary screen in the controller.

I would welcome comments if I've missed anything, especially safety-related which is my focus.

Incidentally I think checklists are a very important part of becoming a safe flyer. These have been especially useful in teaching my son how to think logically through the safety elements of launching an aircraft. (Plus, when I don't use a checklist I do actually forget things!)


PREFLIGHT PLANNING

Determine flight goal
Review airspace restrictions and NOTAMs
Review distances from restricted structures/areas
Review landscape hazards
Weather: Forecast wind and direction, rain
File flight plan in DroneAssist

PREFLIGHT PREPARATION: OFF-SITE

Download local area maps to controller
Firmware (controller, app, batteries, aircraft) up-to-date
Airframe and blades condition
Controller fully charged
All batteries fully charged (and not hibernated)
SD card space; SD card loaded
Spare propellers packed

PREFLIGHT PREPARATION: ON-SITE

Review area and fallback landing position for current/potential hazards
Review wind conditions (speed and direction)
Install propellers, tighten, check locked
Remove gimbal cover; inspect gimbal and lens
Fit and power up strobes
Unfold transmitter antennas; install control sticks
Check control mode “P” set
Adjust SRE (extra brightness) mode on Smart Controller if needed
Update flight plan if changed

PRE-LAUNCH (FOR EVERY FLIGHT)

Review risk assessment for planned route: anything changed?
Review RTH routes/height vs terrain. Always safe to return at 30m above launch altitude in emergency?
Examine airframe and propellers for damage and positioning
Check battery properly locked on
Power up aircraft
Check controller’s antennas are correctly unfolded
Confirm GPS lock (at least 10)—wait if necessary
Check status: Aircraft battery? Compass? Radio channel quality? Controller battery? Battery temperature?
Check settings: Max altitude 120m? Max distance 500m (=CAA VLOS recommendation)? RTH altitude 30m or to suit terrain? “Link lost” behaviour = RTH?
SD card space? Camera settings (ISO, aperture, EV, white balance)?

LAUNCH

Check take-off area is clear; inform bystanders of imminent takeoff
Manage risk of pedestrians or animals arriving during launch
Motors on
Auto takeoff
Hover check (20-30 seconds): look and listen for abnormalities
Check home point and aircraft orientation are correct
Ascend 7m before moving horizontally, to set Precison Landing point
Monitor battery power and signal strength

LANDING

Check landing area is clear; inform bystanders of imminent landing
Activate RTH; monitor progress and landing position
Power down
Inspect and clean if required
If there was a collision, consider recalibrating vision systems (at home)

 

[johnmeyer]

There have been quite a few of these threads, and I've taken bits and pieces from those previous ones and created my own.

My approach to a checklist is to remind me of things that would screw up a flight if I forget (batteries not charged!!), but not include a lot of stuff that would be easy to fix, or which really isn't going to affect the outcome. I'll probably make this quite a bit shorter after I've done this for a few more months because it still contains way to many obvious items (like extending the arms of the drone) that would be impossible to actually forget.

So, FWIW, here it is.

Mavic Check List
May 20, 2019​

1. Check battery charge on both batteries; on controller; and on smartphone.
2. Check map for no-fly zones.
3. Check for updates.
4. Remove gimbal.
5. Unfold arms.
6. Check ND filter and change if wrong density.
7. Insert battery.
8. Check memory card capacity.
9. Insert memory card.
10. Attach propellers.
11. Turn on and log into phone.
12. Connect phone to controller.
13. Attach range extenders, if needed.
14. Launch DJI Go app.
15. Power on controller.
16. Set flight mode switch to "P".
17. Power on drone.
18. Set phone to airplane mode.
19. Check RTH height and mode.
20. Set maximum distance.
21. Check camera and video settings. Set it to take video.
22. Calibrate compass.
23. Confirm GPS signal and return to home point set.

After takeoff

1. Take off straight up for 23 feet to calibrate RTH.
2. Press focus button to set initial focus [I don't use AFC].

Storage

Remove battery from drone.
Don't charge until batteries are cool.
Deplete batteries to 60% if storing more than two weeks.

Drone Packing List​

1. Drone.
2. Controller.
3. Two batteries.
4. Propellers.
5. Filters.
6. Antenna reflectors.
7. Landing mat.
8. Sun shade.
9. Spare parts box.
10. Smartphone (not in backpack, but mandatory).

Other items to bring

Smartphone !! [I don't own one, so I have to use my wife's]
Weights for landing mat.
Rubber gloves (for changing filters).
Leatherman.
Inverter to charge batteries from car.
Additional camera.
Waterproof bags.

 

[gullisig]

There have been quite a few of these threads, and I've taken bits and pieces from those previous ones and created my own.

My approach to a checklist is to remind me of things that would screw up a flight if I forget (batteries not charged!!), but not include a lot of stuff that would be easy to fix, or which really isn't going to affect the outcome. I'll probably make this quite a bit shorter after I've done this for a few more months because it still contains way to many obvious items (like extending the arms of the drone) that would be impossible to actually forget.

So, FWIW, here it is.

Mavic Check List
May 20, 2019​

1. Check battery charge on both batteries; on controller; and on smartphone.
2. Check map for no-fly zones.
3. Check for updates.
4. Remove gimbal.
5. Unfold arms.
6. Check ND filter and change if wrong density.
7. Insert battery.
8. Check memory card capacity.
9. Insert memory card.
10. Attach propellers.
11. Turn on and log into phone.
12. Connect phone to controller.
13. Attach range extenders, if needed.
14. Launch DJI Go app.
15. Power on controller.
16. Set flight mode switch to "P".
17. Power on drone.
18. Set phone to airplane mode.
19. Check RTH height and mode.
20. Set maximum distance.
21. Check camera and video settings. Set it to take video.
22. Calibrate compass.
23. Confirm GPS signal and return to home point set.

After takeoff

1. Take off straight up for 23 feet to calibrate RTH.
2. Press focus button to set initial focus [I don't use AFC].

Storage

Remove battery from drone.
Don't charge until batteries are cool.
Deplete batteries to 60% if storing more than two weeks.

Drone Packing List​

1. Drone.
2. Controller.
3. Two batteries.
4. Propellers.
5. Filters.
6. Antenna reflectors.
7. Landing mat.
8. Sun shade.
9. Spare parts box.
10. Smartphone (not in backpack, but mandatory).

Other items to bring

Smartphone !! [I don't own one, so I have to use my wife's]
Weights for landing mat.
Rubber gloves (for changing filters).
Leatherman.
Inverter to charge batteries from car.
Additional camera.
Waterproof bags.

One thing I do which is not on this list is to open the sensor page while waiting for GPS.
It will tell you much about the status of the drone and your take off point.
Edited.
Just missed #22. Newer do that and have not for 3 years on my oldest P3S.
Newer calibrate compass unless you know why.
Your app can simply being tell you your take off spot is bad not the compass.
with sensor page open move drone few meters and see if it change.

 

[johnmeyer]

Newer calibrate compass unless you know why.
Your app can simply being tell you your take off spot is bad not the compass.

I've not heard that I should never calibrate the compass, and I don't understand your logic. Also, it only takes fifteen seconds, so why wouldn't I do it?

 

[Scott Kei]

I've not heard that I should never calibrate the compass, and I don't understand your logic. Also, it only takes fifteen seconds, so why wouldn't I do it?

I don't think he meant never calibrate your compass. But to check for outside influences that may be causing the calibrate compass warnings prior to calibration. Calibrating your compass in a bad location(outside influences)is bad news.

 

[gullisig]

I've not heard that I should never calibrate the compass, and I don't understand your logic. Also, it only takes fifteen seconds, so why wouldn't I do it?

If the app tell you to calibrate it can also bee because of your take off spot is not good and is messing with the compass. If you calibrate on that place you will end up with bad compass.
There is no need to calibrate the compass every time you take off and it will not make good compass better but might make your compass worse.
The app has told me many times to calibrate the compass but moving the drone has always corrected that.
That is why I have not calibrated the compass in that drone.
I simply use the app and trust the app.

 

[johnmeyer]

I don't think he meant never calibrate your compass. But to check for outside influences that may be causing the calibrate compass warnings prior to calibration. Calibrating your compass in a bad location(outside influences)is bad news.

Ah, that makes perfect sense. I guess I didn't understand what he meant. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[MavicFT1P]

Oh jesus. Nice thread MVH.
Pilot Types are going to have field day 1uping each other's checklists
You didnt ring the Airport? (And got told they dont care)....
You didnt do weather checks the day prior, etc and so on

I make sure im using a DJI Brand Drone, now give me a like please

edit: thankyou Sir. Reciprocated