New Drone Pilot

lbholston

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2023
Messages
3
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Age
72
Location
Pineville, NC
Greetings all;

I'm a new drone pilot with an HS720G. I'm using it to learn control and maneuverability, and then I'll move up to something more useful for commercial purposes. I've recently obtained my Part 107 Certificate and North Carolina commercial certificate, and I'm looking forward to training, learning, and getting better at this.

I'm located in Pineville, NC, within the Class B airspace of Charlotte Airport, so I'm getting good at using LAANC to get flight authorization. Glad to be a part of the community.
 
I'm a new drone pilot with an HS720G. I'm using it to learn control and maneuverability

I've recently obtained my Part 107 Certificate and North Carolina commercial certificate,

I'm getting good at using LAANC to get flight authorization. Glad to be a part of the community.

Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.

I received my Part 107 License last October and I also live in Controlled Airspace, a Zero Altitude Quadrant in Class D Airspace for Langley AFB and it overlaps with the International Airports Class D, but If I launch form the middle of the street in front of my home, I'm in a 400' quadrant, how do you like that?

Be sure register in LAANC with the part 107 License and you can get Night time authorizations, Rec pilots cannot… Also, find locations that requires an authorization or a waiver from the FAA through FAADroneZone even if you do not intend to "do a Roof Inspection" or a "real estate Video" it's all good practice…

Write down this info and save it for furute freerence… The FAA UAS Support Center's email address is [email protected] and their phone number is 844 FLY MY UA (844) 359-6982. They are quick to answer questions and they are happy to talk on the phone…

Since you live in South Carolina, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.


Since you are a new Dronie, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Fly On and Fly Safe…
 
Last edited:
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.

I received my Pat 107 License last October and I also love in Controlled Airspace, a Zero Altitude Quadrant in Class D Airspace for Langley AFB and it overlaps with the International Airports Class D, but it If launch form the middle of the street in front ov my home, I'm in a 400' quadrant, how do you like that?

Be sure register in LAANC with the part 107 License and you can get Night time authorizations, Rec pilots cannot… Also, find locations that requires an authorization or a waiver from the FAA through FAADroneZone evenif you do not intend to "do a Roof Inspection" or a "real estate Video" it's all good practice…

Write down this info and save it for furute freerence… The FAA UAS Support Center's email address is [email protected] and their phone number is 844 FLY MY UA (844) 359-6982. They are quick to answer questions and they are happy to talk on the phone…

Since you live in South Carolina, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.


Since you are a new Dronie, here is some Good Old Fashion Advice…

You paid a lot of money for that Drone, put your phone number on it. If your drone gets lost or stuck in a tree and it finally comes down when you are not around, give the finders an opportunity to contact you so it can be returned.

Now, for the Fun Part, But do not let the excitement of the moment get the best of you. When you are going out to fly, do it slowly and deliberately. Get used to a set procedure and even practice it.

There are so many things I could write but these are the highlights that I feel need mentioning.

Plug in your phone/tablet into your controller; turn on the Controller and DJI Fly App (if it does not start on its own…). On the Drone, open the front legs, then open the back legs, then remove the Gimbal Cover.

The Gimbal is the most delicate item on the Drone and banging or bumping can damage it. I also fastened a short "Remove Before Flight" ribbon to the cover so it's more noticeable and I do not forget to remove it…

Turn on the drone and watch it come to "life." Watching the Gimbal go through its self-check is almost like watching a kitten or puppy opening its eyes for the first time…

Place the drone down (preferably on a Landing Pad) while it finishes its self-test (collecting satellites, etc…).

Check your battery status (Phone, Drone, and Controller), check the Signal Strength, by now the Controller should have reported it updated the Home Point.

Lift off, 4-5 feet (1-1/2 meters) or so, hover a bit, check the controls (move the drone a bit forward, back, left, right, yaw left and right). By now, your Controller will probably report again, Home point Updated.

If you go out in a rush and race thru your start up and take off before the drone has finished it prep, it may update its Home Point over that pond or that old tree you are flying over and in your excitement, you'll fly the drone long past it Low Battery point and when it engages Return to Home and lands in the pond or in a tree; it will be all on you…

Now go have fun, learn to fly the drone by sight before you try to fly it out a distance depending on the video feed, FPV.

I would also advise you to use YouTube and watch a lot of the Videos on flying and setting up the Drone. When it is too dark, too cold, or too wet, you can "fly it vicariously" through YouTube. Also watch some of the Blooper Drone Videos and learn how not to fly your "New Baby."

Fly On and Fly Safe…
Outstanding advice and guidance. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this information. I will definitely use it going forward.
 
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Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
 

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