So, you got a Drone for Christmas, what now? Here are our Top Tips for Drone Flying…
Millions of people around the world have received drones for Christmas this Holiday Season and will begin drone flying. In the UK alone the number of drone users is expected to have doubled after this year’s Christmas Shopping .
So, can you just charge the batteries and fly right away, or are there some things you should learn before you try out your new gadget?
Drone flying for commercial operations such as aerial filming, terra photography, or property inspections allows you to enjoy flying in an amazing variety of places while earning a living at the same time. However, it is worth noting that you always need to be ready for any issues during or before flying your drone.
We know it can be a bit overwhelming trying to understand everything you need to know about drone technology when you are a beginner. So, we have compiled a list of our ‘Top Ten Tips’ for drone beginners.
Enrol for free to Coptrz Academy
Flying for the first time is a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you have no idea what to expect.
Imagine waiting all year to unwrap your brand new drone only to crash it a few moments later because you weren’t trained and prepared.
Before you take to the skies, learn to fly your drone safely and legally at the UK’s largest drone training academy. Take the industry-leading A2 CofC course for FREE and get access to over 400 CPD courses.
With Coptrz Academy, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to confidently fly your new drone outside for the first time, everyone will think you’re a natural.
Listen to the podcast!
In this episode, your hosts Chelsi and Danny share the best tips and tricks for drone pilots just starting out on their flying ventures. From what manoeuvres to practise, to the best insurance policies to buy, if you’re new to drones you need to catch this episode!
Get Insurance
If you are not flying regularly for commercial operations, a way to reduce finances is to sort out your flight insurance as ‘pay as you go’ (PAYG) instead of a full-term policy. Several insurance companies use smartphone or tablet apps that are very useful for PAYG and it is very handy if you have a change of flight plans. Protect yourself and your business by always ensuring you always have the correct amount of coverage and liability for the task you are undertaking!
Join Social Groups
Join social media groups and chat forums within the drone community where you can discuss drone flying. That will allow you to gain valuable information and create access to a platform where you can ask questions if you have any issues.
Coptrz has a great Facebook community for drone pilots that allows like-minded individuals to chat and pass on hints and tips; Coptrz Pilots. Occasionally jobs are also advertised there too.
Where should you store your Drone?
Your drone, as well as batteries, controller, and any other attachments, should be stored in a climate controlled setting. Ideal temperature for storage of your drone is between 20-25°C (68-77°F). Extreme cold or heat can lead to permanent damage of batteries, and also to the electrical elements of the drone and the controller.
Your drone should be stored in a dry place away from humidity, as a humid environment can lead to corrosion of metal elements, and mildew on plastic parts or packaging materials. In practical terms, this means that your drone should not be stored in a damp basement, an uninsulated attic, in a car, or in a non-climate controlled storage unit. The best place for long term storage is somewhere in your regular living space or office, such as a closet or shelf, where it will not be bumped or jostled.a
Also keep in mind that your drone should be stored away from any sources of magnetism, to avoid any scrambling of the computer or electrical components.
You may also like: Flying your Drone In Winter: Our Drone Survival Guide
Look at how you can use your Drone
The use of drones is now a familiar part of daily life in the UK. Their use has transitioned from an exciting new hobbyist movement to real-world application in all types of organisation. From emergency services to environmental survey and from civil engineering to offshore oil and gas. This has opened up a whole new market for business start-ups and existing organisations utilising drones to make their operations faster, safer and more efficient.
Coptrz offers a range of business starter packages, which you can browse here.
Enter Competitions
If you’re looking to get into drone photography or videography, a good way to get your work out there is to enter competitions.
There is a wide variety of competitions for drone videographers in the UK, one being the BBC Drone Photo awards. You can check out this years entries here.
Entering competitions are a great way to break into the industry, you can also get feedback on your work and be in with the chance of winning a prize. Goes without saying but if you don’t enter the lottery, you’ll never win!
Coptrz offers the ‘Ultimate Drone Photography’ package, developed by our brand ambassador Daniel Hughes which includes all the tools you need to take your drone photography to the next level. You can browse the Ultimate Drone Photography package here.
Where to store the data you collect…
Firstly, you need to choose where to store your data after drone flying. You could use an SD card. internal storage on your drone or cloud-based storage.
You should label and organise your files so it is easy to keep track of them and organise them. You could create a separate file for every flight you do with your drone, that way you can search a specific date and the data will appear.
You need to backup your files to avoid losing them – do not learn this the hard way! Backing up your files will prevent the loss of data from file corruption, general loss and any physical damage to your storage location.
Keep yourself Safe whilst Drone Flying
With a little bit of planning and preparation, flying a drone can be done safely. As you become more comfortable with your drone, flying becomes more natural. Your drone will inspire your creative projects, giving you new perspectives and limitless possibilities.
You should fly with a clear line of sight, don’t attempt to exceed your drone’s transmission range and fly in ample lighting conditions.
Always be respectful of your surroundings, and have another person with you as a spotter. Another pair of eyes can be extremely helpful when flying!
And finally…Practice Practice Practice!
Make sure you get lots of practice in flying your drone. Some techniques to try include:
- Hover in place
- Hover and rotate
- Fly left, right, backwards and forwards
- Fly your drone in a square pattern
Practice makes perfect after all.
Have any further questions about drone flying?
There is a lot to take in when you first receive your drone, we are here to help. If you have any further questions about anything covered in this blog post we can help. Get in touch with us today and a member of our team will be happy to help.
Happy flying!
