Planning and performing a flight – operational procedures

Before your flight, make sure that you have brought your certificate of competence, then carry it throughout the flight. You get your certificate of competence when you have passed the theoretical web based examination. The certificate is valid for five years from the date of issue.

Before every new flight you have to get an overview of the surroundings where you are going to fly. Are there any obstacles or people? What do the area and the airspace look like? Are there any restrictions or is it free to fly? You will have to check all of the above before your flight and be aware of it during the flight.

Something that may seem obvious, but is crucial for the prevention of accidents, is to ensure that the drone really works properly. At the end of this section, you will find examples of practical checklists – customize these lists to your specific type of drone and go through them both before and after each flight.

Keep this in mind before the flight

• Bring your certificate of competence.
• Make sure you are aware of any restrictions in the area where you are going to fly.
• Observe the surroundings in which the flight is to take place and check for obstacles or people nearby.
• Make sure the drone system works properly.
• Make sure that the weight of the drone does not exceed the maximum weight allowed for its class.

During the flight you have to make sure that the drone is in your line of sight. Be observant of the area you are flying in, so that you don’t collide with other aerial vehicles. Remember that you have to give a way regardless of which aircraft you encounter. If you and your drone in any way pose any risks or danger to people, animals or the environment, you must immediately abort the flight in the most secure and controlled way possible. It is important that you are well rested and do not suffer from any medical condition that may affect your control of the flight. You should not fly if you are under the influence of alcohol or other psychoactive substances. Always use the drone system according to the manufacturer's user manual.

Your obligations during flight

• Don’t use alcohol or any other psychoactive substances
• Make sure you are well rested and unaffected by anything else that might influence your ability to fly.
• Abort the flight if it poses a risk to other aircraft, people, animals or the environment.
• Make sure you are familiar with the rules and restrictions in the areas where you are flying
• Use the drone system according to the manufacturer's user manual.
• Don’t fly near or within areas where an emergency operation is in progress, unless you have been given permission by the emergency services.

Go through the mission

Go through the planned route with all participants. Make sure that the start area is free of obstacles and people and that there is information available that flying will take place. The remote pilot should wear a safety vest and if possible place a sign with information about the flight. If you are several people, it is important that you clarify each person's role before start. Next to the remote pilot, for example, it may be good to have an observer who is paying extra attention to the surroundings. The observer can help the remote pilot detect hazards and ensure that no one is in the area – but also answer questions from passers-by, take phone calls etcetera, so that the remote pilot is not disturbed.

Regardless of the role, it is important to fly well rested and without being under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants or substances that will affect your judgment or watchfulness.

Check the drone system

Before you start, it is important to ensure that your entire drone system has the correct settings and that both hardware and software work properly.

First and foremost, you need to check the battery levels – both radio transmitters and drones should be fully charged before each new flight.

Make sure that there are no frequency interferences that could affect the video and receiver, and that memory card (SD card) and photo and video equipment are in place and functioning properly. If a compass calibration is needed, make sure this is done.

Start the radio transmitter first, and then the drone. (If you do the opposite, the RTH function might in rare cases be activated, if the drone cannot communicate with the radio transmitter.) Finally, you can start any other equipment.

Once the drone is switched on, it is time to start the camera and make sure all camera settings are correct: stills camera, video, FPS (frames per second), colour system (NTSC/PAL), etc.

Are all controls in neutral position? If the answer is yes, you are ready to fly!.

It is important that the drone and all equipment are checked carefully before each start. It might be a good idea to appoint a technically responsible person if several users fly the same aircraft. Under “Checklists” below, you will find an example of how you can carry out an ocular inspection of your drone before each new start.

Check the area where you are going to fly

If you have no local knowledge, you must check in advance what the area looks like on a map or satellite imagery, and check what applies to the area in NOTAM. The main thing to check is that you will not fly near any animals and, if possible, that you will be able to keep a distance to people. A good rule is to avoid areas where people sometimes gather, such as parks, recreational areas and areas where sports competitions or other events are organized.

Do not fly over people not involved with your flight, in UAS geographical zones inside airport control zones (CTR), or in the prohibited or restricted aviation areas (P or R area), and never fly in violation of the rules. Flying in restricted areas requires a permit. You can apply for a permit to fly in prohibited areas from Traficom, for a permit to fly in restericted areas from Defence Command Finland and for a permit to fly in restricting UAS geographical zones in accordance with the airspace terms. Your application must specify the intended route and altitude, drone used, remote pilot and operator contact details and the desired flight time. The permit to fly in prohibited and restricted areas is subject to a fee.

To avoid that the transmission of flight data is blocked and to prevent accidents, you must take the topography into account and be able to see your drone at all times. Read in drones user manual how to switch off the engines in the air during an emergency situation, a so-called “planned crash”, to be prepared if it is needed.

Remember that the drone's sensors can be disturbed by reflections from shiny surfaces, such as water, glass or mosaic. This may result in the drone losing control of its own position and altitude, which, in turn, may result in a crash. If you are going to fly over lakes, sea areas, ponds or other water accumulations, you should turn off the sensors located on the underside of the drone.

How to choose the take-off position

Be careful when you choose the location of take-off position so that both take-off and landing can be performed safely. The surface should be even, there must be plenty of space, and the place must be located far from obstacles and people. Surfaces with gravel should be avoided. If this is not possible for some reason – use a launch pad.

Check for alternative take-off and landing positions, in case you have to make an emergency landing.

Check the weather

Before you start, check temperature, wind, fog and cloudiness, and keep in mind that if the temperature falls below the freezing point, this may have a negative effect on the batteries. In temperatures below the freezing point, you will need detailed knowledge of the batteries, make sure you are familiar with how your batteries are affected. Also, make sure you keep them heated before start.

At freezing temperatures and humid air, ice may build up on the propellers, dramatically increasing the risk for crash.

Keep in mind that wind speed often increases with altitude.

Before take-off

• Go through the mission: Who is the remote pilot and what are the roles of any other people involved in the flight? What do you want to achieve with the flight?
• Check the drone system: Propellers, battery levels, transport protection, gimbal and compass calibration. Set the RTH and its altitude if there is such a function and check for any error messages.
• The area of the ​​flight: Carry out a risk analysis. Are there any masts, trees or people nearby? Are there any sources of interferences like metal or aerials? When flying over water – turn off the sensors. You also need to be able to ensure safety distances to people and buildings according to the rules for the particular class you fly. You should also consider if you need to put up fences or signs, or if you need help from other people to maintain safety.
• Take-off position: Make sure you have plenty of space around the take-off position, and start from an even surface.
• Weather: check the temperature, the direction and speed of the wind, and the risk of turbulence and fog.

Starting the flight

If you are flying a multirotor drone you should, first of all, check it while it is in the air at low altitude. Do this by lifting it around five meters above the ground and then let it hover in that position. Listen for unusual sounds and check that the steering is responding normally and that the battery levels are adequate. Finally, make sure the GPS is working properly.

While flying

As the remote pilot, it is important that you keep your fingers on the radio transmitter at all times. Also, make sure that the radio transmitter's aerials are pointed correctly to the drone for the best reception capability. This is especially important for long distance flights.

Never fly more than 120 metres above the ground and always keep your drone in sight. You must also be aware of the area under and around the drone at all times. Try to rise to optimum altitude to reduce risks and noise, and avoid flying over animals, electrical lines and buildings. In most cases, you are not allowed to fly over people. Check what applies to the class your drone belongs to.

Also, you must not interfere with ongoing activities or emergency operations, unless you have been granted permission from the emergency services. Immediately land the drone if a helicopter or other low flying aircraft approaches the area. If people or animals move toward the area, fly away from them to a safe place and wait until all is clear. If this is not possible – abort the flight and land the drone.

Be prepared for emergencies

Emergencies can occur when you least expect it, and therefore you must be prepared. Emergencies may be the result of errors in the drone’s system or construction, but they may also be caused by natural forces. Below are some examples of what might happen.

Compass interferences

The compass function may be disrupted in areas with high electronic interference, for example where there are electrical wires, aerials or larger metal objects. Let the drone rise. The interference may then decrease and the drone find its magnetic heading. But remember never to fly above the maximum altitude.

Engine malfunction

Different drones have different numbers of engines, and therefore react differently during an engine malfunction. It is more likely that a smaller drone with fewer engines crashes if one engine fails, while drones with many engines (six or more) might be able to continue flying, and land safely. A fixed wing drone can use its wings to land smoother without engines in case of a failure.

Some types of drones have an automatic rotation function that is activated in case of an engine failure. This means that the drone will start to rotate instead of falling straight down to the ground – and thus land more softly. It also gives you and others in the area more time to seek protection from the falling drone. So find out how your drone works and what it can handle.

Icing

Icing is the build-up of ice on the propellers. If this happens, the propellers will not create the power necessary for a safe flight, which may, in the worst-case scenario, result in a crash. Some drones have safety functions that are activated in icing conditions. The drone will then auto-land. It is not possible to control the drone’s vertical speed during an auto landing, but you can control its flight path to avoid obstacles.

If the radio transmitter loses contact with the drone

Contact between the radio transmitter and the drone can be lost. If RTH is activated, it is important that you have set a safe altitude for an automatic return to home position.

In addition, it is important that you have the settings for RTH and start position that are best suited for the specific occasion. For example, if the drone is flying over water while you are in a moving boat, it may be advisable not to let the drone fly back to its start position, which would mean it will land in the water. In this case, a better idea would be to have the drone follow the radio transmitter. This is done by placing out new home positions during the flight. A good idea is to include this in a checklist before the flight, so that you are always prepared for what happens if the RTH is activated.

Curious birds on collision course

Not only is it important to be attentive to other aircraft in the airspace, but also to birds. Birds are often curious, sometimes even aggressive, disturbing the flight and posing an actual hazard. If you are flying over water, you should also keep in mind that birds like to fly low, close to the surface of the water. If your drone is surrounded by curious or aggressive birds, you should consider landing and aborting the flight.

Landing

You can land both automatically and manually. A common way is to activate RTH and let the drone fly back automatically to the starting position or the radio transmitter and then land automatically – or to choose to take over and land manually.

You must check if there are any obstacles or risks in the landing area. Once you have done this, land the drone at a safe distance from any obstacles and people. If you land with a fixed wing drone, a larger area without trees and houses is required.

Finally, switch off the power of the drone and the landing is completed!

During flight

• Starting the flight: listen for unusual sounds, check that the radio transmitter and GPS are working properly and that the battery levels are adequate.
• While flying: hold the radio transmitter properly, don’t fly higher than 120 metres above the ground, or over animals, people or buildings. Don’t interfere with emergency operations.
• Be prepared for emergencies: Fly higher if the compass has interference. Find out how your drone works if an engine fails or if ice builds up on the propellers. Make sure you have the right settings for RTH and keep a safe distance to birds.
• Landing: land either manually or automatically, at a safe distance from obstacles and people.

Check the drone

Carry out an ocular inspection to look for damage and abnormal wear and tear on and around the fuselage, cables and propellers. All loose parts, such as screws, brackets and joints, must be securely fastened. If you spin the propellers, they should not make much of a sound. A crunching noise may indicate dirt in the engine's ball bearings. If the propellers are damaged in any way, they must be replaced.

Under “Checklist” you will find an example of checklist for an ocular inspection that you can follow both before and after flight.

Batteries

The batteries require careful maintenance. After each landing, remove them and charge them as soon as possible. The batteries should then be stored in a dark, cool and safe place on a fireproof surface. If you don’t recharge the batteries so that they have a chance to discharge into “store mode”, but instead leave them stored with too low charge (below 10 percent), they can take permanent damage and be dangerous to fly with.

After flight

• Check the drone: clean the drone if necessary, check propellers and drone’s general condition.
• Batteries: charge the batteries after flight, keep them in a dark and cool place, and don’t leave them with a low charge.

Make a practice of going through checklists both before and after flight to make sure things go as smoothly and safely as possible. The lists look different, but you can customize them to your drone. Below we have provided examples of what they can look like.

Ocular inspection

1. Are there any cracks in the fuselage or slack in the joints around the folding arms etcetera?
2. Does any unusual sound come from the propellers if you spin them with your fingers? A crunching noise may indicate dirt in the engine's ball bearings and should not be ignored.
3. Are screws, brackets, joints or fasteners loose or damaged? Replace if necessary.
4. Are the propellers damaged in any way, such as cracks? Never fly with damaged propellers.
5. Are there any loose or damaged cables?
6. Are there any loose or damaged connections?
7. Are the propeller brackets, screws and propeller locks tight? Make sure they are.
    

Compass calibration

You should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for compass calibration in the drone’s manual. If you don’t have the access to the manual and you need to calibrate the compass you can follow the generic instructions below:

1. Remove watches and other metal objects from your clothing and body.
2. Turn on the radio transmitter.
3. Place the drone outdoors on a metal-free surface. Switch the power on.
4. Wait until at least six satellites are visible in the app or on the radio transmitter's display.
5. Start calibration in the app (if applicable) or via the radio transmitter.
6. Put the radio transmitter aside, stand behind the drone with the camera facing away from you, then lift the drone and hold it with straight arms.
7. Make a complete clockwise rotation in about 5–7 seconds.
8. "Tip" the drone forward so that the camera points straight down towards the ground. Complete a new rotation at the same pace as before.
9. Put the drone down and ensure that the calibration is completed.
    

Preparation before start

1. Are the radio transmitter and drones batteries fully charged?
2. Are there any frequency interferences that affect video and receiver?
3. Is a compass calibration needed?
4. Are the photo and video equipment mounted correctly?
5. Is the take-off position secured?
6. Are there any airspace restrictions (ref. chapter 2 for airspace restrictions, drone chart, NOTAM and AIP)?
7. Start the radio transmitter first, then the drone and at last any other equipment.
8. Start the camera system (if applicable).
9. Are all control sticks in neutral position?
10. Does the direct remote identification system work properly?
11. Take-off!

During flight

1. Keep your fingers on the radio transmitter at all times.
2. Don’t fly higher than 120 metres above the ground (in uncontrolled airspace) and keep the drone within your visual line of sight.
3. Rise to optimal altitude to reduce risks and noise.
4. Avoid flying over people, animals, electrical wiring and buildings.
5. Don’t disturb ongoing rescue operations.
6. Immediately land the drone if a helicopter or other low flying aircraft is approaching.

Landing

1. Check the landing area for obstacles or any other hazards.
2. Land the drone at a safe distance from obstacles and people.
3. Switch the drone off.

After flight

1. If needed, inform the air traffic control tower that you have completed the flight.
2. Switch off the camera and any other equipment.
3. Carry out an ocular examination: look for damage and abnormal wear and tear.
4. Remove the batteries, recharge them and store them in a safe place.