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📋 Flight Preparation

Requested by:

Aidan Bowers (Deactivated)

Required Sub-teams

  • Mech
  • Electrical
  • EFS
  • CV
  • Operation
  • Sys-Int

Requested Date

Location and Time

WRESTRC, 12:00-6:00pm

Summary & Goals

  • Validate fixed wing flight control and stability

  • Gather preliminary estimates of battery life and aircraft range

Approved?

Yes ✅ / Pending 🟨 / No 🛑

👥 Required Persons During Test

Name

Phone #

Role

Reason

 

Flight Test Lead

  • Creating documentation

  • Booking the test flight

  • Creating a thread in #flight-staging

 

 Pilot in Command

  • Aircraft preparation

  • Filling out documentation

Safety

  • Making sure everyone is safe

  • Bringing Med kit

  • Site survey during aircraft setup

Pilot Monitoring

  • Assist pilot with communication, telemetry, etc.

  • Provide pilot advice, act as visual observer as required

Media

  • Take photos / videos for marketing or analysis

Aircraft Technician

  • Aircraft Setup

  • Systems Monitoring

👥 Other Attendees

Name

Role

📊 Success criteria

Tests

Success Criteria

Requirements

Outcome

Fixed Wing Flight

Aircraft is able to fly in a fixed-wing configuration without issue

Cornflakes should be ready to fly, as outlined by all pre-flight checks

Quad-to-Fixed transition

Aircraft is able to successfully perform the transition from quad to fixed wing flight, and back.

Cornflakes should be ready to fly, as outlined by all pre-flight checks

Battery Life

Information on battery voltage/capacity is collected throughout the flight

Proper battery capacity recording and monitoring

⏲️ Testing Timeline

Date/Time

Action

(due)

Aircraft Assembly: Alison Thompson

  • Subframe assembly

  • Wing assembly

(due)

Aircraft Assembly: Alison Thompson

  • Control surface design and construction

  • Motor protection design and construction

  • Aircraft frame assembly

(due)

Electrical Repairs: Daniel Puratich

  • Replace/fix damaged PDB

  • Fix/Replace damaged ESC

(due)

Harnessing: Daniel Puratich

  • Finish wiring new aircraft

Pre-flight Preparation: Aidan Bowers (Deactivated) / Hardy Yu

  • Ensure Incident Procedures, driver lists, etc. are completed

  • Ensure all items in Week-Before and Day-Before checklist are complete

Pre-Flight Systems Review:

  • Review all systems, and complete checklists to ensure systems are functioning as expected

9:00am

Pre-Departure Preparation:

  • Complete all pre-departure checklist items

11:15am

Flight brief from flight test lead

  • Outline what is being tested, responsibilities of all participants, incident procedures, and general coordination.

11:30am

Loading onto the Car

Take your water bottle with you. Go washroom before we leave!

11:45pm

Drive to the test ground

12:00-3:00pm

Flight Testing

3:30pm

Debrief

🧯 Aircraft Incident Procedures

Incident

Procedure

Crash

Outline the procedure for who will go to handle the aircraft in the event of a crash, what should be done, were emergency equipment is, etc.

Flyaway

Outline the procedure for flyaways. List relevant contact information for local authorities and plans of action to recover control of the aircraft

Configuration Error

Outline steps to take in the event of a configuration issue with the aircraft

Injury

Property Damage

🔧 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
  • SDC Vehicle key collected (if required)
  • Batteries Planned for (DON”T LEAVE CHARGING OVERNIGHT)
    • Drone batteries & spares
    • Transmitter batteries
  • On-site kit together
    • First Aid Kit
    • Ground station / Laptop
    • Antenna / Receivers
    • Transmitter
    • Extra Water
    • Power cords / Extension cables
    • Wrenches
    • Allen keys
    • Knives
    • Tape
    • Rope/string
    • Zip/Velcro ties
    • Radios
    • Safety goggles
    • Fire extinguisher
  • Airfame assembled
  • ESCs/flight controller wired
  • Radio equipment tested
    • Channel mappings
    • Flight modes
  • Motors tested
  • Wiring secured (Harnessing)
  • End to end test (neglecting props)
  • Check the center of gravity
  • 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)
    • Verify the mission planner is logging data
  • 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
  • Control Surfaces
    • Ensure Elevator moves correctly
    • Ensure Ailerons move correctly
    • Ensure Rudder moves correctly
  • 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 obstacles
    • Crew far from drone
    • General Site Survey
      • Are there other people on the property
  • Ground Recording / drone footage on
  • Autopilot
    • Control surfaces respond to autopilot in the correct manner
    • Transitions between flight modes have expected effect
    • Return-to-home systems, if present, have been configured

😎 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

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