Drones Tips For New Pilots. Top 10 Questions You May Have


drone with camera

As the popularity of the use of drones increases, so does the amount of uninformed people jumping on the trend ill-prepared. This can lead to safety risks and legal problems, which is why it is crucial to address the questions and concerns related to flying drones before attempting to use them.

Top Ten Questions That Get Asked About Drones?

  • How difficult are Drones to fly?
  • Can anyone fly a Drone?
  • What are the rules for flying a Drone?
  • How to avoid losing your Drone?
  • Are Drones safe for my kids?
  • How much does a Drone cost?
  • Can I fly my Drone over private property?
  • Can I fly my Drone at night?
  • Can all Drones carry a GoPro
  • How much weight can a Drone carry?

These are just a few of the questions people have raised about drones. We look at the most popular

Drones are remotely controlled aircraft of varying sizes that can be used for many different things: For Fun and Recreation is a big one.

Other uses include photography, cinematography, cartography, exploration, observation, and study of animals, among other uses. It is no wonder that interest in drones is widespread, accompanied by a myriad of questions

man with drone in fog

How hard is it to fly a drone?

Whether learning to fly a drone is difficult or not is determined by many variables, such as the individual’s sensorimotor skill level and the quality of the drone being used.

Cheaper drones can be more difficult to fly, as they require more manual effort, while more expensive drones may have automated safety features and Special Flight Modes to keep the machine level, smooth, and out of the way of obstacles.

I started with a beginner drone. It was inexpensive but very good quality. The main reason was so I was able to learn to fly manually.  This is very important.

There are some basic maneuvers you need to learn before you buy the $1000 + drone you’re wishing for. So depending on your budget, i would go with the Nano QX BNF Quadcopter or DJI Mini (links are to the products on Amazon).

2 Can anyone fly a drone?

All drone pilots must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA or Transport Canada if you live there, before flying. Anyone remotely flying a drone must be 16 years old or older, and if the drone weighs more than 0.55g, it is required to be registered with the FAA and Transport Canada.

 Both countries have similar regulations so please check out the FAA Website and Transport Canada’s Website for the latest updates and requirements. In most cases, the registration rules only apply to Drones over 250g or 0.55lbs. Under that, you don’t need to register your Drone.

We have an article looking at the best drones under the weight restrictions with no registration required here on our website. Best Drones Under 250g

3 What are the rules for flying a drone?

The rules depend on whether you are making money with your drone or not. A few of the general rules are as follows:

  • Your drone cannot be flown above 400 feet or faster than 100mph.
  • Do not fly within 5 miles of an airport without prior notice.
  • Do not fly over people
  • Keep your Drone in sight all the time

Check out the FAA and Transport Canada Websites for complete details

4 How can you prevent flyaways?

If your drone has a set-home location or Return to Home feature, allow it to learn your home location before flying. This ensures that if you have a fly-away, it will automatically come back to your location.

Another way to avoid losing your drone is to familiarize yourself with its orientation at far away distances so that you do not accidentally send it out of range.

For an in-depth guide on how not to lose your Drone see this article on our website How to prevent losing your drone. 15 tips

5 Are Drones Safe To Fly??

Drones should never be flown above people because if any interference or user error causes the drone to fall, it can be very dangerous to whomever it may land on.

It is important that users familiarize themselves with the safety procedures before piloting their drones around other people.

For complete details on Are Drones Safe To Fly, See our article here

6. How much does a Drone cost?

There is a wide range of costs for drones of different types, qualities, features, and sizes, ranging from $20 to thousands of dollars. It also varies brand by brand, as brands with higher name recognition are often more expensive—but also potentially more reliable.

More details about the actual cost of a Drone can be found on our website here. 

7. Can you fly drones over private properties?

This differs from state to state, province to province. In some cases, you can be sued or fined for flying a drone over a private property more than once without the property owner’s consent. Always check the local laws first.

 8. Can you fly drones at night?

In the US and Canada, It is currently illegal to fly drones at night without a waiver, but this may be soon overturned.

9. Can all drones carry a GoPro?

For a drone to carry a GoPro, it must be powerful and sturdy enough as well as have a mount for the camera to use one safely. There are several Drone manufacturers threat build drones to carry a GoPro camera.  If you search Amazon, you may be able to purchase a Drone that holds your Go Pro Camera

10. How much weight can a drone carry?

This greatly varies from drone to drone, based on its size and build. It is advised that you check the manual for the particular model you are looking into before expecting it to carry any extra weight.

It also depends on the number of props the drone has.  Consumer drones with four props can’t carry a lot of weight but when you get into the Octa-Copters, these are generally industrial or commercial Drones. You see them on Hollywood movie sets as an example.

small-drone

Drone Tips for Beginners

Along with all of the most common drone questions answered, there are a number of tips that all beginner drone-flyers should adhere to.

Here are some Drone Tips for Beginners:

  • Safety should be your number one priority.
  • Read the owner’s manual!
  • Start out with a cheap model until you become a more experienced pilot.
  • Make sure you are well versed in the rules and regulations to avoid legal repercussions.
  • Read the manual thoroughly before attempting to use your drone.
  • Buy a ready to fly bundle with your Quad.
  • Make sure it has extra batteries
  • Make sure you have extra props
  • Make sure you have prop guards for safety

Flying a drone without prior knowledge and experience can be a serious safety hazard both to you and to those around you.

It is recommended by many that a beginner first purchase a drone in the $20-$100 range until they are confident and qualified pilots.

This is so that if your drone is misused, lost, or damaged, you will not have wasted a substantial sum of money.

MY Real-World Tip If you are buying you Kids a Drone this is important to buy a beginner Drone because the novelty can wear off really fast. Waiting for batteries to charge is zero fun so make sure you buy extra batteries.

Here is a review on Three Excellent Quality Beginner Drones on our website

Drone Safety is so important

Always employ common sense safety practices and research the laws associated with flying drones in your state before flying.

This lowers the risk of you damaging public or private property, injuring yourself or others, or breaking a law that can get you fined or arrested for your misconduct.

Another tip for beginners is to research the different types of drones and their particular specialties to figure out what best fits what you are looking for.

You will want to look for a different drone if your priority is photography than if your priority is a drone made for stunts and tricks. There are many different kinds of drones and there is one for nearly every goal.

Many experienced drone pilots advise that you buy spare parts for your drones in case of damage. This can save you a lot of time and hassle if you already have the extra pieces on hand and available when misfortune strikes.

When selecting your first Drone, shop for the “READY TO FLY” bundles. The bundles typically include an extra battery or three, extra props and prop guard and most important a transmitter.

The bundles cost a bit more but it’s worth it. Trying to buy parts after is a pain in the butt.

Be sure that your drone is fully charged before flying. Most drones have a return to home feature that activates when the drone’s battery is running out, however, malfunctions do occur. This can be devastating to your drone if it drops from the sky at a high altitude.

When taking your drone for its first flight, keep it relatively low to the ground and move it slowly.

DO NOT fly indoors the first time. This can be disastrous and dangerous. Go outside and find a wide open field. Like a park, football field, etc.

(If it’s Winter when you’re reading this, you can fly your Drone in the cold. For complete details about Winter Flying read this article on our website)

Get used to the controls and maneuvers associated with your particular drone at this established safe and low-speed state before taking on higher altitudes, distances, and speeds.

This will give you a low-pressure environment to practice with your drone and eliminate the most serious risks.

Always be aware of the incoming weather when planning on flying your drone.

There are waterproof drones, but most are not. If you do not have one, flying in bad weather such as rain or snow can damage your equipment and impede your ability to pilot your drone predictably, as harsh conditions can impact your drone’s stability and ability to function properly.

no drone sign

Drone Laws in your area

Be prepared for the drone laws in your area to change and check up on them often. It is also important to make sure the location you are flying your drone in is a drone safe area and that there aren’t any local rules against it.

Here is a Link to Every Drone Law in Every Country

Its Recreational Drone Laws Only.

Final Thoughts

Getting your first drone is an exciting experience, one that may lead to many great adventures with the opportunity to explore nearly any field you like.

Drones can be used artistically to capture footage and video, or used educationally to document and study—or it can simply be a vicarious endeavor toward the prospect of flight.

No matter your preferred use for the equipment, it stands that safety, awareness, and education on the subject are the most important factors in being a successful drone pilot.

I wish you a safe flight. Stay out of the tree!

Rob

I'm Rob, the founder of theonetechstop.com. I’m a Marine Corps vet with a master’s degree in Information Systems and have been working in the technology field for over a decade.

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