📋 Flight Preparation
Requested by: | |
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Required Sub-teams | - Mech
- Electrical
- EFS
- CV
- Operation
- Sys-Int
|
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Requested Date | |
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Location and Time | |
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Summary & Goals | |
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Approved? | Yes ✅ / Pending 🟨 / No 🛑 |
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👥 Required Persons During Test
Name | Phone # | Role (Bolded means needed) | Reason |
|---|
| | Flight Test Lead | |
| | Pilot in Command | |
| | Safety | |
| | Data Collector, Data Analyzer, Secondary Pilot …. | |
👥 Other Attendees
📊 Success criteria
Tests | Success Criteria | Requirements | Outcome |
|---|
| | | |
⏲️ Testing Date Time Line
Time | Action |
|---|
| Pre-flight Preparation Feel free to not come at 9 if you don’t have a lot workload During this time get snack if needed |
| Flight brief from flight test lead |
| Loading onto the Car Take your water bottle with you Go washroom before we leave! |
| Drive to the test ground |
| Flight Testing |
| Debrief |
🔧 Week-Before To-Do List
Week Before Checklist
- Drone Registration
- Flight test location booked
- Pilot scheduled
- Test Plan (What we are testing)
- This should also include the flight path where applicable
- Subteam action items (for flight readiness)
- Transportation logistics finalized
- Booking SDC vehicles
- Assigning drivers
- Renting any needed equipment (trailer? generator? etc.)
🔧 Day-Before To-Do List
Day Before Checklist
- Batteries Planned for (DON”T LEAVE CHARGING OVERNIGHT)
- Drone batteries & spares
- Transmitter batteries
- On-site kit together
-
- Battery Storage
- Ground station / Laptop
- Transmitter
- Extra Water
- Power cords / Extension cables
- Wrenches
- Allen keys
- Knives
- Tape
- Rope/string
- Zip/Velcro ties
- Radios
- Safety goggles
- Airfame assembled
- ESCs/flight controller wired
- Radio equipment tested
- Channel mappings
- Flight modes
- Motors tested
- Wiring secured (Harnessing)
- End to end test (neglecting props)
- All components not on the airframe that are required should be in the flight box (e.g. props & prop nuts)
- Airfame payload
- Spare parts
- Props
- Airframe components (landing struts, arms, etc)
- Hardware to assemble these components
- Electronics
- ESCs
- Motors
- Flight controllers
- Receiver
- Flight Code Flashed
- Ground station Software updated
↪️ Pre-Departure Checklist
Pre-Departure Checklist
- Check battery status
- Charge if required, otherwise place into flight box
- Systems test
- Check flight controller orientation
- Check motor spin & rotation direction
- Check transmitter mappings
- Verify communication links (VTX/RX, Controller, Groundstation)
- Only attach props directly before flight (keep off at all other times)
- Get snacks
- Mission Briefing
- Read the flight plan to the team (that was made a week ago)
- Purpose of flight
- Plan of action
- Success criteria
- Delegate and brief on flight line roles
- Safety Briefing
- Key flight characteristics to observe
- Key system characteristics to observe
- Measurements to be made
🚩 Pre-flight Safety Checklist
Pre-Flight Inspection
- Air Frame
- Check all antennas, ensuring they are secure and in good condition
- Check the battery emplacement and secure attachment and ensure there are no cracks
- Check that all lights are operating normally
- Check that all sensors are secured and clear of any obstructions
- Check that the GPS is receiving satellites and providing a navigation solution
- For fixed wing aircraft, Check:
- Wings, ensuring they are securely attached to fuselage
- Wing leading edge surfaces
- Top and bottom of wing surfaces
- Wing tip surfaces
- Read of wing and all flight control surfaces for freedom of movement, security and any skin damage
- For rotary aircraft:
- Inspect top and bottom of air frame arms for cracks, loose parts, or signs of damage
- Check fluid levels and ensure no leaks if applicable
- Landing Gear
- Check landing gear is secure
- Inspect skids or wheels, especially attachment points
- Power plant
- Cowling or motor casing
- Security of engine mounts
- Presence of any cracks
- All wiring and connectors, ensure no cracks, loose connectors, or chaffing
- Propellers / Rotors
- Ensure propeller is secured
- Check for nicks, chips or cracks
- Ensure prop direction is correct
- Batteries
- Inspect to ensure there is no signs of swelling, external leaking or other defects
- Battery wiring and connectors from the battery are connected securely
- Batteries (and spares) are adequately charged
- Wires are not pinched
- Control Station / Receivers / Transmitter
- The battery and spare batteries if required are adequately charged
- Control Station device and cables are properly connected and functioning
- All flight interfaces are functioning normally
- Safety
- Good visibility and safe wind speed
- Surrounding is free of obstables
- Crew far from drone
- Ground Recording / drone footage on
😎 Post-Flight Checklist
Item | Owner |
|---|
- Use Flight-Post Mortem to Debrief
| ALL MEMBERS PRESENT |
- Discard of damaged batteries
| |
- Discharge used batteries for better longevity
| |
Flight Test Post Mortem
RCA for Red Items
Create a RCA and keep it as a child page.
Action Items
Other Resources
Booking WRESTRC Field
How to Book the Flight Grounds