It is interesting to learn from the mistakes of others before doing the same yourself & these seem to be points to be considered given the drone problem videos here on youtube:- a) you mention checking RTH on loss of signal & return height. Others thought they had done this but missed that a system update had reset things since they last set it... worth a double check on the day. b) Is the local bird situation benign today?... will they fly away or are they the type to attack your drone in flight & knock it out of the sky?.... Crows even attack Eagles during the nesting season so your drone wouldn't even be a challenge for them. c) Is what you are flying over flammable?.... water obviously not, but bouncing lithium batteries from height hard off the ground could start a fire. Not just some industrial sites but ripe wheat fields or tinder dry forest in drought too. What could you be liable for if something went wrong?..... spot the videos trying to stamp out field fires. d) If you are flying VLoS at range is it purely the height ensuring VLoS. Problems observed from videos were the wind at height necessitated dropping down for return or a battery problem necessitated "landing out" but as the drone reduced height the path then went NLoS due to "clutter" obscuring the path and control/signal was lost causing it to go down uncontrolled. e) Are you flying in any "canyons"? (even "urban canyon" streets) that could cause the gps lock to be lost?..... one drone was lost as it drifted into trees due to gps drift whilst it should have been in a stable hover. f) could interference cause problems with your control signal? (flying near high power radio sites & even wi-fi access points on public buildings). Remembering the further you go, the smaller your signal & the smaller the interference required to impact it. g) NVLoS can bite even at shorter ranges as the control signal is generally VLoS too. One RUclips video flew behind a large pinnacle of rock (but it could easily have been a big church or block of flats). They weren't even that far & either side of this was 100% clear VLoS but they still managed to get into a signal null point behind it & very nearly lost their drone. Don't underestimate NLoS even if it is just for a fraction of your flight. Should these rules be enforced?... No..... personal choice for your wallet!..... just benefit from the (unfortunate) experience of others.
This video is very helpful and informative. Thank you for sharing! Fly safe. Subscribed to your channel.
Thank you and welcome to the channel
Great info Steven, thanks for sharing.
It is interesting to learn from the mistakes of others before doing the same yourself & these seem to be points to be considered given the drone problem videos here on youtube:-
a) you mention checking RTH on loss of signal & return height. Others thought they had done this but missed that a system update had reset things since they last set it... worth a double check on the day.
b) Is the local bird situation benign today?... will they fly away or are they the type to attack your drone in flight & knock it out of the sky?.... Crows even attack Eagles during the nesting season so your drone wouldn't even be a challenge for them.
c) Is what you are flying over flammable?.... water obviously not, but bouncing lithium batteries from height hard off the ground could start a fire. Not just some industrial sites but ripe wheat fields or tinder dry forest in drought too. What could you be liable for if something went wrong?..... spot the videos trying to stamp out field fires.
d) If you are flying VLoS at range is it purely the height ensuring VLoS. Problems observed from videos were the wind at height necessitated dropping down for return or a battery problem necessitated "landing out" but as the drone reduced height the path then went NLoS due to "clutter" obscuring the path and control/signal was lost causing it to go down uncontrolled.
e) Are you flying in any "canyons"? (even "urban canyon" streets) that could cause the gps lock to be lost?..... one drone was lost as it drifted into trees due to gps drift whilst it should have been in a stable hover.
f) could interference cause problems with your control signal? (flying near high power radio sites & even wi-fi access points on public buildings). Remembering the further you go, the smaller your signal & the smaller the interference required to impact it.
g) NVLoS can bite even at shorter ranges as the control signal is generally VLoS too. One RUclips video flew behind a large pinnacle of rock (but it could easily have been a big church or block of flats). They weren't even that far & either side of this was 100% clear VLoS but they still managed to get into a signal null point behind it & very nearly lost their drone. Don't underestimate NLoS even if it is just for a fraction of your flight.
Should these rules be enforced?... No..... personal choice for your wallet!..... just benefit from the (unfortunate) experience of others.
It is not just a monetary choice if you crash into people, cars etc.