You want to learn how to fly a drone because you are considering buying one or already own one. The good news is that the majority of drones today are quite simple to use, especially the more costly models because they come with cutting-edge flight technology that will enable even beginners to pick up drone flying pretty quickly.
Racing drones and drones without flight stabilization elements, such as a barometer, gyroscope, GPS modules, etc., could be problematic for novices.
These drones can also be mastered with a little practice, but this course is only for those who wish to learn how to fly GPS-enabled drones.
Is Permission Required To Fly A Drone?
You must receive authorization from the CAA or FAA if you reside in the UK or the USA in order to operate a drone, whether it is for personal or professional use.
You will need to obtain a Flyer ID and Operator ID in the UK. The Flyer ID is valid for 5 years and requires you to pass a free online exam.
The Operator ID is required on your drone and is used for registration purposes. It costs £9 per year.
If you anticipate that your drone activities may require you to fly close to people, you may also be needed to obtain a General Visual Line of Sight certificate. These IDs must be obtained whether you are flying for recreational or commercial purposes.
If you fly a drone recreationally in the USA, you must register it (if it weighs more than 250 grams) and pass the Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST). When flying the drone, make sure your registration number is clearly visible on it, and always have your registration documentation on hand.
You must pass the Part 107 exam, a two-hour test that must be conducted in an FAA-approved testing facility, in order to use your license for commercial reasons. To pass, you must have a score of 70% or higher.
If you have no prior aviation experience, the Part 107 exam might be challenging to pass; nevertheless, there are various study aids and courses that can help you boost your chances of passing the first time.
One of the many organizations that provides classes to aid with Part 107 exam preparation is The Pilot Institute. Over 99 percent of their students pass the exam the first time, and they offer a money-back guarantee. They have a very high success record.
How Challenging Is Flying A Drone?
As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, it really depends on the sort of drone you want to fly. Thanks to their sophisticated features, drones from manufacturers like DJI, Autel Robotics, Hubsan, and Holy Stone are rather easy to use.
Some of these drones even include autonomous flight modes and obstacle avoidance technologies, so you won’t even need to manually operate them in addition to the other safety features they provide.
But learning how to fly a drone by being familiar with its controls and their motions is still a smart idea.
On the other hand, racing drones are much more difficult to handle, although even these can be mastered by complete beginners with practice and the help of flight simulators.
What Are The Regulations For Drone Flight?
Although there may be some regional variations in the laws, the laws in the UK and the USA are generally comparable.
- Your drone must be registered.
- Pass the online test for the TRUST certificate or the Flyer ID (UK) (USA)
- the Part 107 test for commercial activities is passed (USA)
- The drone must bear your registration information on it.
- Keep the drone in your line of sight at all times.
- Avoid flying too near to those who are not involved.
- Avoid flying above residential areas.
- Fly away from sensitive and restricted regions, airfields, and airports
- Go below 400 feet
- Drone operation while intoxicated or high is prohibited.
- Avoid interfering with emergency procedures
- Be mindful of others’ privacy
- Checklist for Pre-Flight
- Thoroughly read the drone’s handbook.
- Verify the drone’s condition.
- Your registration information is plainly displayed on the drone.
- The drone and controller’s batteries are completely charged.
- Both the batteries and the propellers are securely fastened.
- The drone is calibrated correctly and is linked to the controller.
- Verify that the camera is operating properly.
- Select a space that is open to practice.
- Avoid flying too close to humans.
- Make sure the wind is not too strong by keeping an eye on the weather.
How To Fly A Drone: Beginner’s Guide to Drone Flying
Do all the fundamental tasks; some pilots prefer to take off right away without reading the instruction handbook or verifying whether they are permitted to fly in a particular location.
Learn how to use the controls and become familiar with the drone’s components. The transmitter is the most crucial component of the drone, and the less familiar you are with its functions, the more probable it is that your drone may crash or perhaps go missing.
Make that the drone’s and transmitter’s batteries are charged, and that the drone is put together correctly in accordance with the instruction booklet.
The DJI Mavic Mini 2 controller, one of the most well-known drones on the market, is shown here.
How To Operate A Drone
The button for takeoff and landing means you don’t even need to use the control stick when using a controller like this one.
The right control stick is used to move forward, backward, left, and right, while the left stick is used to manage the throttle and yaw.
There are buttons for using the gimbal and taking pictures and films.
You must download the DJI Fly app in order to use FPV and use the drones’ other functions. This is an excellent program that makes flying the drone simpler and is simple to navigate and use.
You can use the app to access the FPV stream, change the camera settings, receive notifications when you’re flying in restricted airspace, and even be informed when the wind is too strong.
Although other drone apps won’t have as many features as the DJI Fly app does, all drone controllers will have the same fundamental features.
The operation of the DJ Mini 2 is demonstrated in the video below, but the concepts also apply to other GPS-enabled drones of a similar design.
Flying An FPV Racing Drone
Since they lack the technology and software for automated flight stabilization, learning to handle an FPV racing drone is significantly more difficult, but that is how the individuals who fly these drones prefer it.
If you want to learn how to fly racing drones, you should definitely find a huge open space with no one nearby and perhaps a few obstacles to practice manoeuvring around because the controls are much more sensitive and the drones are considerably quicker.
To get started if you are a total newbie, practicing on a drone flying simulator is one of the greatest options.
On the gaming platform Steam, you can find some excellent drone simulators. The majority of them are paid for, but they are entertaining, helpful for learning the controls, and offer you a fair idea of what it would be like in practice.
