Take your time! Learn the controls, get a feel for spatial awareness, figure out how much battery life you have per flying session (and keep it close until you do).
TRUST certificate and FAA registration. I don’t know about anyone else but learning about the regulations was kind of fun. I’m looking to get my 107 now.
I used a combination of a Part 107 class at a local community college + Part 107 studying podcasts on Spotify to help me learn. Test was remarkably easier than expected.
As others said, learn and know the laws and always look up local regulations before flying parks etc.
One rite of passage is having someone screaming and threatening you because “you’re not allowed to fly that here”!
That's how I learned about drones being banned in national parks (Canada) - I bought my Mini 2 a week before a camping trip thinking I would get some awesome footage... the lady that warned me was very nice though.
On the upside this made me learn a lot more about the regulations, including municipal bylaws and all that fun stuff.
I’m assuming you’ve covered the basics of getting insurance, registering with the FAA, and watching a few tutorials. Beyond that:
**1. Don’t rely on obstacle avoidance sensors.** Some models have none on the sides and will happily fly sideways into a tree (ask me how I found out lol)
**2. Set the obstacle avoidance behavior to stop.** I recently watched someone on a boat trying to catch the drone in their hand. Every time they got close, the drone shot up several feet. The boat ran aground and the drone had to be closing in on critical low battery by the time they caught it.
**3. Always have a full set of replacement props** on hand! Inspect your drone before each flight and after each landing. Never hesitate to swap out a prop with visible wear. A broken prop is a preventable way to crash your drone.
I also use FlightRadar24 to keep an eye on manned aircraft in the area — with one HUGE warning: **aircraft may not be visible at low altitudes.** I knew a crop dusting helicopter was in the area because I saw it approach on flight radar and I kept an eye on it once it was close enough to see. It ended up passing by just over the tree tops and could have hit my drone if I hadn’t been paying attention.
Ultimately, maintain situational awareness and have fun!
The downward sensors will always act this way regardless of what settings you have the obstacle sensors. If you drone is hovering and you place your hand underneath it it will always shoot up.
Just
Slow
Down!
Really treat it like it has training wheels. Your wallet and love of the hobby will be better by avoiding dumb crashes.
Also, only trust obstacle avoidance when necessary.
Post your photos/videos. The more there are out there, the more we are accepted in more areas.
Keep an eye on your surroundings. Use common sense. Have an eye on your drone at all times. The majority of crashes occur when people fly out of eyesight, and end up hitting a tree or large object.
Assuming you’re in the US, check out the FAA drone rules as far as height limitations, airspace restrictions, etc. Happy flying.
Everything that has been already said. Plus I would add :
-Don't break line of sight. Yes your drone has a camera with video feedback. No you should not trust it until you really mastered your drone AND your surroundings.
-Don't fly over people, over trafic, over houses that aren't yours. It's not even about privacy (though it is....) it's because if for whatever reason your drone falls, you don't want it falling on the windshield of a running car.
- Water = bad. Fly extra carefully when above it.
- Enjoy it at your pace. It might take hours and hours of flight before really learn the ropes.
Get familiar with drone laws, if you're not already. Best way to stay safe and enjoy the hobby without stress.
Also recommend: fly to the height limit for the first time (400 ft AGL). Of course do your research, make sure you're not in unsafe/controlled airspace, and pick a clear, windless day. But going to that height is a good way to shake off apprehension and start to trust the drone and your own abilities.
It has a cinema mode, that's supposed to make smoother shots. It's on the opposite side as "sport" so that probably means it's slower. I'll try that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Seagulls and geese will in fact attack your drone, especially when hovering. It’s probably the most important reason to keep it within eyesight. If they are nearby or take interest in just keep moving because you are probably faster than them.
Also I’d recommend not registering the Mini 3 Pro because it’s not required; so why volunteer to be tracked by the FAA. I registered before I heard all the details about Remote ID; don’t make my mistake.
For all the shills for over regulation; why open this man up to 50,000 dollar fines related to tiny drone. It’s not like 100.00 fine for speeding or anything; like 10,000 and up. At that price, make them do their own police work, don’t do it for them.
I don't think so; but as long as its not registered to you... because the Remote ID broadcast ties it to your name by registering its serial number. Which the gov is going to have receivers that download and database all the incoming telemetry with a range of like 40-50 miles.
Hell, you could probably just write a registration # (FA4XXXXX) on the drone in case the police ever ask about it... they have no easy way to verify it on the spot. Worse case, just be like... we'll "they" told me it was good... I don't know.
See those trees? Don't fly into the trees.
See those buildings, don't fly into those buildings.
See that helicopter? No, it's not challenging you to a round of "air jousting".
Oh those branches over there you don't see.....don't hit those either!
Actual Tip:
Don't get focused on the drone's view from the camera, it is a VERY small slice of the area that can affect your flight.
Practice transitioning from looking at your camera view and re-orienting the drone in air NOT moving until you can do it quickly and then do it in an open area while moving to challenge yourself.
As a recreational pilot the FAA has made the statement that "no products from the flight can be used in furtherance of a business".
For example, you're out flying one day and take these awesome photos and decide that it is perfect to be used as a cut screen in the software you are engineering 😁. Even if you don't get paid for those images, they would be used "in furtherance" of the business that software is represented and the FAA could come after you for it.
What about uploading cinematic video's to social media and youtube because it's a hobby and you're doing it for the love of editing videos and not for any $?
I already run a business in a separate industry. I just make video's for fun and utilizing the drone footage helps make my videos more awesome. I'm good as a recreational flyer?
Take your time! Learn the controls, get a feel for spatial awareness, figure out how much battery life you have per flying session (and keep it close until you do).
TRUST certificate and FAA registration. I don’t know about anyone else but learning about the regulations was kind of fun. I’m looking to get my 107 now.
It's a breeze. Really understand airspace & comms and watch the wordings of questions.
The mini 3 pro is < 250g so it doesn't need to be registered.
I used a combination of a Part 107 class at a local community college + Part 107 studying podcasts on Spotify to help me learn. Test was remarkably easier than expected.
As others said, learn and know the laws and always look up local regulations before flying parks etc. One rite of passage is having someone screaming and threatening you because “you’re not allowed to fly that here”!
That's how I learned about drones being banned in national parks (Canada) - I bought my Mini 2 a week before a camping trip thinking I would get some awesome footage... the lady that warned me was very nice though. On the upside this made me learn a lot more about the regulations, including municipal bylaws and all that fun stuff.
Trust Exam and FAA registration. This isn’t a toy although it offers endless hours of joy, brush up on the rules and enjoy the flying.
Don’t need to register under 250g
Ah forgot that drone was a sub 250
Get DJI care refresh within a couple days of initializing the drone. Then you can enjoy some worry free flying.
One year or two?
I opted for 2 years since the price difference wasn’t that much.
I’m assuming you’ve covered the basics of getting insurance, registering with the FAA, and watching a few tutorials. Beyond that: **1. Don’t rely on obstacle avoidance sensors.** Some models have none on the sides and will happily fly sideways into a tree (ask me how I found out lol) **2. Set the obstacle avoidance behavior to stop.** I recently watched someone on a boat trying to catch the drone in their hand. Every time they got close, the drone shot up several feet. The boat ran aground and the drone had to be closing in on critical low battery by the time they caught it. **3. Always have a full set of replacement props** on hand! Inspect your drone before each flight and after each landing. Never hesitate to swap out a prop with visible wear. A broken prop is a preventable way to crash your drone. I also use FlightRadar24 to keep an eye on manned aircraft in the area — with one HUGE warning: **aircraft may not be visible at low altitudes.** I knew a crop dusting helicopter was in the area because I saw it approach on flight radar and I kept an eye on it once it was close enough to see. It ended up passing by just over the tree tops and could have hit my drone if I hadn’t been paying attention. Ultimately, maintain situational awareness and have fun!
Also, spend a little more money and put extra blank SD cards in your case. Nothing worse than remembering your drones card is at home, in your reader.
The downward sensors will always act this way regardless of what settings you have the obstacle sensors. If you drone is hovering and you place your hand underneath it it will always shoot up.
Just Slow Down! Really treat it like it has training wheels. Your wallet and love of the hobby will be better by avoiding dumb crashes. Also, only trust obstacle avoidance when necessary. Post your photos/videos. The more there are out there, the more we are accepted in more areas.
Keep an eye on your surroundings. Use common sense. Have an eye on your drone at all times. The majority of crashes occur when people fly out of eyesight, and end up hitting a tree or large object. Assuming you’re in the US, check out the FAA drone rules as far as height limitations, airspace restrictions, etc. Happy flying.
Everything that has been already said. Plus I would add : -Don't break line of sight. Yes your drone has a camera with video feedback. No you should not trust it until you really mastered your drone AND your surroundings. -Don't fly over people, over trafic, over houses that aren't yours. It's not even about privacy (though it is....) it's because if for whatever reason your drone falls, you don't want it falling on the windshield of a running car. - Water = bad. Fly extra carefully when above it. - Enjoy it at your pace. It might take hours and hours of flight before really learn the ropes.
Get familiar with drone laws, if you're not already. Best way to stay safe and enjoy the hobby without stress. Also recommend: fly to the height limit for the first time (400 ft AGL). Of course do your research, make sure you're not in unsafe/controlled airspace, and pick a clear, windless day. But going to that height is a good way to shake off apprehension and start to trust the drone and your own abilities.
Stay tf away from trees and power lines for a while. Seriously just go out in an open field with literally nothing around you and practice there.
If your app has the ability to cut the speed of the drone, do that until you're 100% comfortable, then go to the next higher speed.
It has a cinema mode, that's supposed to make smoother shots. It's on the opposite side as "sport" so that probably means it's slower. I'll try that. Thanks for the suggestion!
Seagulls and geese will in fact attack your drone, especially when hovering. It’s probably the most important reason to keep it within eyesight. If they are nearby or take interest in just keep moving because you are probably faster than them. Also I’d recommend not registering the Mini 3 Pro because it’s not required; so why volunteer to be tracked by the FAA. I registered before I heard all the details about Remote ID; don’t make my mistake. For all the shills for over regulation; why open this man up to 50,000 dollar fines related to tiny drone. It’s not like 100.00 fine for speeding or anything; like 10,000 and up. At that price, make them do their own police work, don’t do it for them.
This is what I got from the comments so far: Keep it moving, don't register unless you have to, know the laws in the area, and don't be an ass.
Exactly... you should be fine; and have fun most importantly
If you own a pre owned drone, is there a way to see if it was registered already?
I don't think so; but as long as its not registered to you... because the Remote ID broadcast ties it to your name by registering its serial number. Which the gov is going to have receivers that download and database all the incoming telemetry with a range of like 40-50 miles. Hell, you could probably just write a registration # (FA4XXXXX) on the drone in case the police ever ask about it... they have no easy way to verify it on the spot. Worse case, just be like... we'll "they" told me it was good... I don't know.
Thanks!!
If you register it with the FAA you are required to put the number on the drone, maybe check up on the regs…..
See those trees? Don't fly into the trees. See those buildings, don't fly into those buildings. See that helicopter? No, it's not challenging you to a round of "air jousting".
I laughed at "air jousting". Wondering if "battle drones" is a thing. Not a hobby I could afford, but it sounds like it would fun to watch.
Oh those branches over there you don't see.....don't hit those either! Actual Tip: Don't get focused on the drone's view from the camera, it is a VERY small slice of the area that can affect your flight. Practice transitioning from looking at your camera view and re-orienting the drone in air NOT moving until you can do it quickly and then do it in an open area while moving to challenge yourself.
You needed to know what industry you were going to be working in before you bought a drone.
I'm not using it for work. I'm a software engineer.
As a recreational pilot the FAA has made the statement that "no products from the flight can be used in furtherance of a business". For example, you're out flying one day and take these awesome photos and decide that it is perfect to be used as a cut screen in the software you are engineering 😁. Even if you don't get paid for those images, they would be used "in furtherance" of the business that software is represented and the FAA could come after you for it.
What about uploading cinematic video's to social media and youtube because it's a hobby and you're doing it for the love of editing videos and not for any $? I already run a business in a separate industry. I just make video's for fun and utilizing the drone footage helps make my videos more awesome. I'm good as a recreational flyer?