Drones are becoming increasingly popular, but many people make costly mistakes when using them. Flying into restricted airspace and violating Scottish drone regulations is one of the most common mistakes. However, there are numerous ways for pilots to get themselves into trouble.
Take a look at these 5 common drone mistakes and the steps you should take to keep your drone out of trouble and avoid making these costly mistakes.
5 common drone mistakes
1. Do not accept uninvited guests in your control area
Although drones are a hot attraction for many people, you should never allow members of the public into your control area. Your team’s, clients’, and the general public’s safety should be a top priority. Leslie Drones always cordons off control areas to keep the general public from interfering with our tasks.
Only your crew and other authorised parties should be in your control area. Leslie Drones has always used barriers to keep the general public away from our equipment.
2. Don’t fly too close to people or animals
Drones should not be flown too close to people or animals. Capturing images of wildlife may appear to be an appealing idea, but it is not at all. The propellers could cause serious injury if you hit a wild animal or a person. Drones may be attacked by animals feeling territorial, damaging the drone and injuring themselves.
Drones are often attacked by birds because they are flying in an area where birds are nesting, hunting, or protecting a territory. Use a zoom lens to get a great wildlife shot from a distance.
3. Keep your drone in sight at all times
This is one of the most common mistakes that drone users make when flying their drones. It’s also a big no-no under CAA regulations, ‘You must operate your aircraft within visual line of sight (VLOS). If flying using first-person view, you must have a competent observer next to you who maintains VLOS with the aircraft.’.
Check out the Civil Aviation Authority website for an in-depth breakdown of all regulations.
The best way to avoid losing track of your drone or flying into restricted airspace is to keep it within sight at all times. Keeping it in sight will also come in handy if something goes wrong and you need to quickly bring your drone down to retrieve it.
Leslie Drones Drone Pilots are always accompanied by a spotter. Our spotters are always on the lookout for the safety of the drone, its crew, and the general public.
4. Don’t fly your drone near airports or other restricted airspaces
Don’t fly your drone near airports or other restricted airspaces. This is one of the most important safety rules to follow, and breaking it can land you in hot water with the CAA. Before flying anywhere near an airport or other restricted airspace, you must obtain clearance from air traffic control.
We recently finished a job at the V&A in Dundee for a client. The V&A is within the flight path of Dundee Airport. Prior to beginning the job, we received confirmation that we were permitted to fly for a specific period of time. We also informed Police Scotland that we would be operating in the area.
Not sure if you are in a no-fly zone? Check out No Fly Drone.
5. Always have an extra battery on hand
This is one of the items you should never forget to bring with you when flying. If your drone only has a single battery, it may only be able to fly for 20-30 minutes at a time.
If your drone runs out of power in the middle of a job, you’ll need backup batteries to keep your flight going uninterrupted. Invest in a portable battery charger to charge your batteries non-stop all day.
Make Drone Use Simple with These Tips
There are some basic steps you can take to avoid costly mistakes when piloting your drone. First of all, always keep it in sight and don’t fly into restricted airspace or violate CAA regulations. Consider investing in an extra battery because it’s not uncommon for clients to want a full day of use.
Finally, if something goes wrong with your drone make sure to contact the manufacturer immediately so they can help troubleshoot any issues before things get worse!
If this sounds too difficult or costly for you right now but still want some guidance from professionals about how best to use drones as part of your business strategy, let us know- we’re happy to provide expert advice. Get in touch here.
