It’s easy to be a bad pilot. We know from experience. Our goal with this post is to help new Part 107 Pilots avoid common mistakes and get the most out of their flying experience. So read on for six killer tips that will make your drone flight experiences safer and more exciting. As a new Part 107 Pilot you will want to ensure that you avoid:
If you want to be a responsible drone pilot, you’re going to have to follow the rules. And we mean both the FAA’s and your local municipality’s regulations. While there have been progressing efforts to make it easier for drone operators by creating a single, unified set of regulations, there are still many municipalities that do not have their own specific rules in place yet. In these cases, it is up to you as an individual pilot and operator to ensure that you know all applicable laws and regulations before taking off with your Part 107 drone license or commercial license.
Airspace research and flight planning are two things that many new Part 107 Pilots overlook, or don’t fully understand. But they’re incredibly important—and if you’re going to be a successful commercial drone operator, you need to know why they’re so vital.
Airspace research is essential for all the information you’ll need about your planned flight site, from regulation information (such as airspace rules) to weather data (like wind speeds at altitude).
Flight planning involves assessing the risk factors for your intended route, including obstacles like trees or buildings that could get in the way of your drone during takeoff or landing.
Luckily, for new and experienced drone pilots alike, there are apps out there – like Mapware Fly – that can help you easily automate the flight planning process.
With Mapware Fly, you get access to automated and accurate 3D drone mapping. You can easily explore and manage high-quality 3D models and orthomosaics straight from your mobile device – allowing for effortless automated flying and data collecting.
For those just getting started, Mapware Fly can help you with:
The first thing you should do before flying is to make sure that everything works.
When you’re starting out as a new Part 107 Drone Pilot, there are rules and regulations that you must follow to ensure your safety as well as everyone else’s. Here are some tips on how to avoid the following pitfalls:
Stay on top of restricted airspaces. While you are planning your flight, turn to Mapware Fly to automatically highlight “restricted” and “authorization” airspace zones directly on our mission map. With this feature, you can feel confident that your drone flights are compliant with local restrictions.
But before you start flying, there are some things you need to know about how this new regulation works.
One major Part 107 rule to note is that the 400-foot limit is not a minimum—it’s a maximum! The FAA has set this height as your absolute ceiling for flight without having to file an exemption request with them first. The reason they did this is that they don’t want pilots accidentally flying over people or structures and hitting them with their drones…which could cause serious harm if they’re carrying any kind of cargo (like human beings).
We’ve seen too many incidents where pilots have flown too close to buildings while attempting low-altitude flights; it’s important that everyone keeps their distance when flying at such heights so as not to put themselves or others in danger.
We have two simple features in Mapware Fly that will help you stay in flight height compliance:
It’s easy to think that drones are indestructible, but they’re not. If you get nervous or flustered while flying and crash your drone, it might not be salvageable—and that’s where the real cost comes in. A crash can damage the drone and its controller (or remote control), which could mean needing to order new parts or buying another device altogether. Don’t let this happen! Always have a backup drone and backup parts on hand. Also, don’t forget about battery life: if your battery dies mid-flight, there goes your chance of getting home safely as well!
To help protect you from crashing your drone, tap into these two Mapware Fly Features:
Even though we’ve covered a lot of ground in this article, it’s just the tip of the Part 107 iceberg. There are plenty of online and in-person resources to help you learn about the rest. The best ones are probably your local aeromodelling club, drone community event, online forum for hobbyists and of course Mapware. The more you learn about UAVs and how to fly them safely and legally, the better off you’ll be as a new pilot!
Mapware makes flight planning and capture easy. Download Mapware Fly and see for yourself.
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