RPAS Flight Plan Documentation

Pre-flight

• Register the drone
• Put the registration # somewhere clearly visible
• acquire PDFs of the following documents
• RPAS advanced certificate
• Drone insurance
• Drone operating manual
• Drone registration
• IDs?

To fly, must confirm:

1. normal operating procedures, including pre-flight, take-off, launch, approach, landing and recovery procedures

2. emergency procedures, including with respect to

   1. a control station failure

   2. an equipment failure

   3. a failure of the remotely piloted aircraft

   4. a loss of the command and control link

   5. a fly-away

   6. flight termination

1. follow the pre-flight checklist:
   Battery charged and in drone

   Propellers secured, correct directions, no visible defects

   Controller, phone: charged, connected, and physically secured

   Compass, IMU calibrated, GPS receiving signal

   Gimbal calibrated and covers/clips removed

   Flight mode 2 selected

   Involved persons briefed on flight plan and with access to appropriate checklists and manuals

1. controller sticks down and inwards to activate motors

2. lift off approx. 6 meters. keep an eye on surroundings and on remote controller for any errors

1. perform a visual scan of the area surrounding your landing pad + the route you will take to return to it, asking your visual observer to either perform this INSTEAD of you or to keep an eye on the drone while you do this. note any hazards or obstacles in your way

2. approach at a reasonable speed until close enough, then fly the rest of the way slowly. Disable sport mode if necessary

3. drop to about 6-10 meters when near the landing pad

Try to regain control of the aircraft. This involves adjusting the antenna on the controller, moving farther into sight-lines of the craft.

Report the following to the visual observer.

• climb rate

• speed

• compass heading, cardinal directions

• flight time remaining

Instruct them to call the authorities of controlled airspace in the flight path of the drone.

If the drone is hovering, wait for a reasonable amount of time while trying to reestablish control link. Try to activate DJI’s RTH function.

DJI drones will RTH after 3 seconds of communication dropout. If this doesn’t occur, proceed to Control Malfunction.

Assuming flight is terminated, the drone will either RTH, become a fly-away, or crash. In the case of crashing, keep track of where the drone lands and note:

• any obstacles, including trees, power lines, fences, rivers, swamps, rocks, hills

• people or animals nearby

Retrieve the drone if possible.

Assess the state of the drone via:

• error messages on the controller

• irregularities in flight pattern

• visual faults on the drone

If this is severe, the drone has likely crashed already. If not: try to control its descent, keeping away from bystanders, animals, environmental hazards, buildings, and controlled airspace.

If the damage is moderate, but the flight pattern is still being affected: navigate to a relatively safe + close landing site and land ASAP.

If the damage is minor, and the flight pattern is not affected, bring the drone back to its landing site in a safe manner. Do not attempt any risky manoeuvres before assessing the damage close-up.

Before retrieving or touching the drone:

• visually inspect for damage, paying attention to motors and battery

• if safe, turn the battery off and remove it

• bring it to control station if not already there

• assess damage

Follow the steps in order, only proceeding to the next if the previous doesn’t work.

1. hover in place

2. higher altitude and farther away

3. get nearby involved members and or bystanders to restrain the animals

4. if landing is necessary, land quickly and make sure props are stopped and drone is retrieved ASAP

Site Survey

Note about the site:

1. the boundaries of the area of operation;

2. the type of airspace and the applicable regulatory requirements;

3. the altitudes and routes to be used on the approach to and departure from the area of operation;

4. the proximity of manned aircraft operations;

5. the proximity of aerodromes, airports and heliports;

6. the location and height of obstacles, including wires, masts, buildings, cell phone towers and wind turbines;

7. the predominant weather and environmental conditions for the area of operation;

8. the horizontal distances from persons not involved in the operation.

Onsite

Access to:

• RPAS advanced certificate
• Drone insurance
• Drone operating manual
• Drone registration
• Any procedures, checklists, prepared for the flight
• Phone numbers of relevant authorities
• Fire extinguisher
• 2way radio, optional

• Ensure fuel/energy is sufficient
• Brief all involved people on instructions and plans, locations of any emergency equipment, all important documentation/manuals should be accessible
• Ensure takeoff location does not have a likelihood of collisions with another aircraft/person/obstacle

Checklist

1. Battery charged and in drone

2. Propellers secured, correct directions, no visible defects

3. Controller, phone: charged, connected, and physically secured

4. Compass, IMU calibrated, GPS receiving signal

5. Gimbal calibrated and covers/clips removed

6. Flight mode 2 selected

7. Involved persons briefed on flight plan and with access to appropriate checklists and manuals