You cannot wait to explore the skies after buying a drone. Whether you are a hobbyist or a professional, the drone promises to satisfy your thirst and offer you unbound excitement. Nevertheless, for the beginners, flying a drone can get a bit complicated. In this guide, we have handpicked the vital points that will help you to control the drone competently, and offer you the freedom of exploring things aerially.
Get familiar with your drone
Understandably, you just cannot wait to see the UAV hovering in the sky, but we suggest putting a leash on your eagerness for a while. Spend some time trying to get familiar with the UAV. The crucial aspects that you should check include its controls, settings, battery performance, and other vital information that is directly related to its flight. Furthermore, you should also have a good grasp of the air traffic and drone rules in your region.
As a beginner, it is natural to feel nervous, but you can soon fly the drone like a pro once you practice. Some of the modern drones specifically include beginner modes and simulators to help you get familiar with flying it. With the combo of the flight simulator that you can connect to your smartphone, and the beginner mode promises to make you confident in a short period.
The basic drone controls
If you examine the drone closely, you should find it has some controller sticks and buttons. The shape and size of the controllers can differ from one model to the other, but the basic layout should be the same for the drones. Since our focus is on introducing you to the drone controls, you being a novice, we have selected the most commonly purchased “first-time” drones by users.
To start, you need to push the left joystick upwards to let the drone go airborne and the vice versa to bring it down. Likewise, moving the joystick in the left and right directions will direct the UAV to rotate directions on the respective sides. The right joystick takes care of the drone’s heading and movement. So, by pushing the right joystick on the four directions, will instruct the drone to go forward, backward, left, and right.
Most likely, your drone will have an integrated camera. You will find several buttons for controlling it. Owing to these controls, the drone can record videos, click pictures, tilt or pan the camera and much more. You can try each of these buttons initially to understand their functionalities.
So, as you can see, controlling the drone is not rocket science. You should master the art of flying it after a few practice sessions. Remember; do not confuse the sides of the drone, as it may appear similar in some cases. When you are aware of the sides, you can conveniently control its forward and backward movements. One key rule while flying a drone is to activate the GPS mode on. For some reason, if the controllers do not work, the GPS-enabled drone will not let it go out of sight.
Time to practice in the arena
Well, the arena is unlimited, at least that is what you think when you are all set to hit the skies. However, before you throw caution to the winds, you should have a good idea about the surroundings. Unless you are flying the drone in an open area, your drone will come across multiple obstacles like buildings, trees, power lines and so on. Lastly, make sure, you are not flying the drone anywhere near the local airport. It can land you into trouble since it is against the rules.
The next vital criteria before flying are to assess the terrain and to know about the prevailing weather conditions. Remember, weather elements like wind, rain, and the rising temperature has a direct impact on flight performance. Amidst the thrill and excitement of piloting, do not forget to keep an eye on the battery levels, since you require some time to land the drone. Else, it will run out of juice and crash land.
Things to note before the flight
After the initial flight, you must examine the drone properly for signs of any wear and tear or damages in the propellers. If you have spare batteries, make sure they have the full charge to let the drone fly to its full capacity. Equip the drone with a memory card; here is where the drone will store the pictures and videos.
It is also a prudent idea to let other people in your surroundings know, you are about to let your UAV go airborne. We reiterate it will take some time before you can control the machine accurately. Spend time with it, practice, and gradually you will master the art.
Some key points for takeoff and landing
Mostly, you will tend to mess up things when you intend the drone to take off and after some time want to make it land. Preferably, while you are still on the learning curve, select an area that is free of any obstacles. Refer to the above section, where we mentioned about the checklist before taking off, and that should make it convenient for the drone to take a smooth takeoff.
After initiating the drone, you should keep checking the settings. Let the drone rise some distance from the ground at first. It will give you an idea of whether the drone is performing accurately. When you are sure, you are free to increase the altitude of the drone. When it is time to land, it is a good idea to get vocal and let others know about it. Make sure, to decrease the speed when you want the machine to land. After it lands, check if the propellers are not moving, and then power it off by removing the batteries.
Some important guidelines to remember
Since drones have limited flight timings, you should carry spare batteries to enjoy more flight time. Another important aspect is to have a landing pad to ensure its safe landing. Often, we tend to overlook the importance of these landing pads, and it can cost dearly if the drone crash lands.
When you are into flying drones, you must develop the knack of studying maps. It will accustom you with the possible areas where you can fly the drone without any problems. Make adequate arrangements to protect your drone in all circumstances. When you are travelling to a new place for flying, you should ensure the drone does not incur damages in transit.
Undoubtedly, flying drones promises to be a scintillating experience. But before getting the adrenaline rush, maintain the necessary etiquette. Ensure, people in your neighborhood know about your intentions, and whilst in the flight mode, keep the drone away from the proximity of other people, cars, and homes.
So, that is it, by keeping the above points in mind and making an adequate plan, you can fly and control the drone efficiently. With the passing time, you will gradually learn to be more creative with your drone. It goes without saying it offers you unlimited possibilities, where truly the sky is the limit.