Lesson 29: Drone Maintenance and Cool Paperwork

Welcome back, future drone pilot! 

You’ve learned so much already. You should be super proud of yourself for making it this far! 

Once you’re ready to take the Part 107 test, there’s a lot of less exciting things that drone pilots need to do – like filling out paperwork, and taking care of their drone. 

Today, we’re going to talk about all the stuff you should take care of once you have your certificate. 

Way back, in the first few lessons, we talked about drone paperwork. That means it’s time for a review! 

Three things drone pilots love: 

The manual 

Checklists 

Logging stuff 

Drone Maintenance
Things to watch out for

If a car starts to smell weird, we can tell something’s probably wrong with it. And drones work the same way. Our drones aren’t always perfect.

As drone pilots, we always have to watch out for signs that tell us our drone might be damaged. 

And according to the Part 107 rules, it’s the remote pilot’s job to make sure that their drone is always safe enough to fly before every single flight. 

Let’s see what happens if stuff goes wrong. 

Now, let's go over what conditions to look out for when inspecting your drone.

The FAA has a helpful checklist of warning signs that tell you your drone might not be in good shape for a safe mission. If you spot any of these, fix the issue before flying.

11 signs your drone might not be safe to fly 

UH-OH… Your drone is not safe to fly if there’s: 

Structural or skin cracking

Delamination of bonded surfaces

Liquid or gel leakage

Strong fuel smell

Smell of electrical burning

Visual indications of electrical burning or arcing

Noticeable sound change

Structural or skin cracking

If you see any cracks in the structure or outer covering of your drone, take a closer look to understand how much damage there is – and if there's any hidden damage.

Delamination of bonded surfaces

Delamination means it’s un-laminated, which is not good! 

If the surfaces of your drone are coming apart where they're glued together, inspect it closely to see how much damage there is and if there's any hidden damage that could make it weaker.

Liquid or gel leakage

If there's any liquid or gel leaking from your drone, find out where it's coming from. This could cause a fire, which would damage your drone and affect how well it flies.

Strong fuel smell

If you notice a strong smell of fuel, find where it's coming from. It might be leaking out, which could cause a fire and damage your drone.

Smell of electrical burning

If you smell something burning or see sparks, find out where it's coming from. This could be an electrical problem that might cause a fire and damage your drone.

Visual indications of electrical burning or arcing

If you see something burning or see sparks, find out where it’s coming from.This could be an electrical problem that might cause a fire and damage your drone.

By the way, “arcing” is when electricity jumps through the air between two points! This creates a visible spark and can happen when electrical connections are damaged. The electrical spark can cause fires!

Noticeable sound change

If you hear a different sound from your drone's engine, check the whole drone, especially the engine parts, for damage or if it's not working as well.

Control inputs not synchronized or delayed

If your drone isn't responding to your controls properly, stop flying it and check the connection between your controller and the drone. Make sure it's working right before you fly again to avoid accidents.

Bulging battery casing

If your drone's battery looks swollen, check if it's still safe to use. A swollen battery might stop working suddenly or even explode, which could damage your drone and be dangerous.

Diminishing flight time capability

If your drone's battery isn't lasting as long as it used to, check if it's still working well. A battery that doesn't last long might not be safe to use, and it could damage your drone.

Loose or missing hardware or fasteners

If any parts of your drone are loose or missing, check if it's still safe to fly. Loose parts might affect how well your drone flies or even cause it to crash. Secure or replace loose or missing parts to keep flying safely.

So, which of these conditions do you think sounds the worst? I’d be pretty worried if I
saw electric sparks flying out of a drone!

So, before every flight, you need to check your drone’s condition and look it over to make sure everything’s working as it should.

Doing Drone Maintenance
And keeping records of it

Just like cars need maintenance, drones need them, too. So, how do you know when it’s time to do maintenance on your drone, before it’s too late? 

Usually, the manufacturer of your drone will give you a maintenance schedule that you should follow. But what if they don’t give you one? 

Easy! Here are a few things to do to make sure you stay on top of your drone maintenance. 

Create your own maintenance schedule! Find a maintenance manual from a drone that’s close to yours. That’s a good starting point for creating your own maintenance schedule.

Do regular inspections on your drone before and after each flight. 

Look for any signs of damage, wear and tear, loose parts, or stuff being weird.

Schedule routine check-ups for the most important components like the propellers, motors, batteries, and sensors. 

Make sure they’re all working well!

(And if you don’t know how don’t know how to fix a drone yourself, you can take it to a drone repair shop – just like you would a computer.) 

Those are great tips! In pilot lingo, doing all of this stuff is called “establishing a maintenance protocol.”

A maintenance protocol is a set of guidelines and procedures designed to make sure your drone works well and is repaired quickly if something is wrong with it. 

A maintenance protocol for drones is a set of steps and guidelines to keep the drone in good working condition and ensure it's safe to fly.

Having one is important because it helps prevent drone malfunctions, ensures safety during flights, and prolongs the drone's lifespan!

Make sure you document any repairs, changes, or replacements done to your drone. This can be either in a written log or an online system. Each part of your drone should have its own entry.

Our memories aren’t perfect. So keeping a record of repairs will help us remember when it’s time to replace a part. 

If you’re wondering what repairs or changes you need to document, here are four things to remember. 

How to document your sUAS Repairs 

Note any damage and repairs

Example, 'Replaced a damaged propeller after it hit a tree during flight on 05/15/2024.'

Record any cool upgrades

Example: 'Upgraded the camera system to a higher-resolution model on 06/01/2024.'

Document major overhauls

A drone overhaul means taking the drone apart to check and fix all its most important parts, like the motors, propellers, and batteries. 

Example: 'Serviced the motor system and replaced worn-out bearings on 07/10/2024.'

Track replacements

Example: 'Installed a new battery pack due to decreased performance on 08/20/2024.'

Did you know that it's important to keep track of how long each part has been in use? This helps you know when maintenance is due, or when you have to replace a part. 

Every time you fly your drone, sit down in the evening and journal about it. This is called ‘logging.’ Remember, you’re the only one responsible! 

Make sure to log your flights so that you cover each part after a flight, like a diary entry! Here are some great examples. 

Documenting Parts 

'Recorded 50 hours of flight time since the last propeller replacement.'

Drone Parts 

'Recorded 25 hours of flight time with the upgraded camera system.'

Drone Parts 

'Recorded 100 hours of flight time since the last motor system maintenance.'

Drone Parts 

'Recorded 150 hours of flight time with the previous battery pack.'

Remember, logging everything is crucial—not just repairs. Record your battery cycles, firmware updates, and any changes or updates you make to your drone.

And, of course, make sure to log your actual flights! Flight logging is like keeping a diary for your drone flights. 

Flight log 

Make sure to write down when and where you flew, how long the flight lasted, and any other important details.

Flight log 

Date: June 10, 2024

Time: 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Location: City Park

Weather: Sunny, light wind

Pilot: John Doe

Drone Model: DJI Mini Pro 

Flight Purpose: Aerial photography

Notes: Everything went smoothly; captured 50
photos, battery at 20%
at the end of the flight.

So remember, for every update, we need to keep track of them! 

Stuff to Record:

✓ When you got repairs   

✓ Parts you replaced or modified  

✓ How long parts have lasted since you last changed them 

✓ Your flights  

If you don’t know how to fix a drone yourself, find someone who’s experienced with your drone model. It’s better to have an expert handle it, so they fix it right!  

Drone Pro Paperwork
to ensure success 

Next, we’ll talk about something that’s not as thrilling as flying, but still super important – paperwork! 

We want to make sure we’re following all the laws of drones and flying them properly. You do not want to get in trouble with the FAA!  

Registering Your Drone

Just like how you need to register your car, you need to register your drone with the FAA. Let’s talk about when you’d need to register it and how! 

Any UAS that weighs over 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered.

Any UAS that weighs over 0.55 pounds and less than 55 pounds must be registered.

Do I have to register a drone if it weighs 0.45 pounds? 

Do I have to register a drone if it weighs 42 pounds? 

In the chat, type out any weight a drone can be for you to register it. 

Good to know! Between 0.55 and 55 lbs. So, where can we actually register our drones? 

The FAA has a website called The Drone Zone – it’s an online portal where you can register your drones, fill out waivers, and get helpful, updated resources for flying. 

To register it, head to the website, create an account, and follow the instructions. You'll need to provide details like the drone's make, model, and serial number – just like a car! 

There’s a small fee, usually around $5, which covers three years of registration.

You have to register your drone again every ________ years. 

You have to register your drone again every ________ years. 

Great! Once our drones are registered, we need to prove it! You’ll get a registration number that you must label on your drone – just like its license plate! 

Labeling Your Drone
Easy as 1, 2, 3! 

Every drone that’s registered with The FAA has to have a label on it! 

And there’s a correct way to label your drone. You can’t just put any sticker on it and call it a day.

The registration number should be visible on the outside of the drone, either directly or on an attached label. Make sure it’s easy to read!

Use a durable label that can stand weather conditions and won’t easily peel off or fade.

You can also use a permanent marker! 

Makes sense, right? 

Applying for Waivers
It’s lots of paperwork!

Sometimes, you’ll need to do drone missions that aren’t covered under the regular Part 107 rules. This is where waivers come in.

Waivers let you legally break a Part 107 rule, and the FAA will give you a special approval!  

But waivers are hard to get, and require a lot of paperwork. You have to write a letter to the FAA telling them how you’ll stay safe. 

Remember, waivers are documents that allow you to legally break a Part 107 rule, as long as you can prove you can do it safely.

In your application, you have to show the FAA how you plan to stay safe. 

Once you apply and get approved for one, you’ll get a “Certificate of Waiver Authorization” from the FAA.

You can’t combine two waivers at once without letting the FAA know! 

You need a waiver when you want to fly your drone in a way that is not normally allowed
by the FAA's Part 107 rules. 

You’d need to apply for a waiver if you want to:  

Fly Over People

Fly Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)

Fly Above 400 Feet

Operate Multiple Drones

Fly in Controlled Airspace

Reduce Your 3SM Visibility Requirement

Operate a drone from a Moving Vehicle Requirement

Fly at night without anti-collision lights

To apply for a waiver, you’d do it through the FAA DroneZone. Your application should tell the FAA details about your mission and how you’ll plan to lower any risks.

You need a solid safety plan for these! You need to show them that you can conduct the mission safely, despite the deviations from standard rules.

If you want to apply for a waiver to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), you can write: I’m going to use advanced technology like GPS tracking and obstacle detection systems. 

Once your waiver is processed, you’ll get a Certificate of Waiver and be able to break that specific Part 107 rule!

Awesome! Now, let’s talk about why we’re all here, and that’s getting our Remote Pilot License. 

So, what happens once you take the exam and pass it? Well, you’ll get your license and celebrate! 

And, once you get your license, as a certified remote pilot, you need to keep your certification up to date. Just like drivers licenses expire, so do pilots licenses. 

Good to know! So, what do we need to do to keep our remote pilot’s license up to date? 

You have to complete recurrent training every 24 months for your license to stay current. This can be done online through the FAA’s website.

Make sure to keep records of your first certificate and any training after that. The FAA can ask for these documents at any time, so be ready to show them! 

The laws for flying a drone change often, because the FAA is always studying what rules work best.  

So it’s important to stay informed. Follow FAA updates and consider connecting with other drone pilots to stay in the loop!

Great work so far! Now, let’s cover just a few more documents. Paperwork isn’t the best part of being a drone pilot, but it is necessary to being a good one! 

MOCs and DOCS
Two important documents!

Now, we’ll talk about two important documents for drone pilots: a Means of Compliance and a Declaration of Compliance. 

Don’t worry! These aren’t like waivers. Drone makers have to worry about these documents, not you! For you, it’s just an extra thing to carry. 

A Means of Compliance (or MOC) is a document that describes how your drone meets safety and performance standards set by the FAA.

Just like cars have to be safe, so do drones. 

It’s a guide that explains how your drone's design and functions comply with the required regulations.

A MOC would detail things like a drone’s safety features, testing results, and how it operates within safe limits. 

This could include information on its weight, flight capabilities, and built-in safety systems.

If you buy a drone from a good manufacturer, the good news is: they probably provide the
MOC for you! Manufacturers test their drones
to ensure they meet FAA safety standards.

Let’s talk about a Declaration of Compliance, or DOC. It’s a formal statement that your drone meets all the necessary regulations. 

Once the maker of your drone has applied for a MOC and then gotten approval by the FAA, they have to submit a Declaration of Compliance (DOC). 

A DOC is a letter that states that your drone meets the safety requirements to operate under certain rules, like sustained flight over people. It passed the test! 

You can see if the serial number on your drone meets those rules on the FAA’s list of drones that have DOCs.

MOCs vs. DOCs

A Means of Compliance (or MOC) is a document that describes how your drone meets safety and performance standards set by the FAA. 

A Declaration of Compliance (or DOC) is a formal statement that your drone meets all the necessary regulations

Did you know that there are two kinds of Declaration of Compliances (DOCs)? 

Declaration of Compliance

A Remote ID DOC

The Two Types of DOCs 

A DOC for flying over people.

This DOC states that it’s safe enough for your drone to fly over crowds of people. You still need a waiver to do so! 

Let’s talk about what Remote ID is! 

Remote ID is like a digital license plate for your drone. 

It lets your drone broadcast its ID and location while flying, so the FAA and law enforcement
can identify it and locate its control station.

Remote ID is a requirement for drones under Part 107 that acts like a digital license plate. It allows drones to broadcast their identification and location information to help ensure safe and secure airspace. 

This information can be received by the FAA, law enforcement, and other drone operators to track and monitor drone activity.

There are 3 Ways to Comply with Remote ID. 

Under Part 107 rules, there are three ways drone pilots can comply with Remote ID requirements.

Standard Remote ID Drones

Remote ID Broadcast Modules

FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs)

Under Part 107 rules, there are three ways drone pilots can comply with Remote ID requirements. Let’s break them down,

Standard Remote ID just means that the Remote ID component is built into the drone.

Remote ID 

Way #1 

Your drone’s serial number must be listed on: 

✓  The drone itself
✓  The FAA-accepted Declaration of Compliance
✓  On the Certificate of Aircraft Registration

A label must be permanently attached to the drone, showing that it meets Remote ID requirements.

All right, let’s move on to option two, a Remote ID broadcast module.

Remote ID Broadcast Modules

These are add-ons that can be attached
to your drone. If your drone doesn’t have Remote ID functions built in, you should
get a Remote ID module!

Make sure the Remote ID module is working before takeoff. If it fails the self-test, you can’t use it.

The module should broadcast ID info from takeoff to shutdown.

You’ll be limited to visual line-of-sight drone missions with this option, but that’s what most of your drone missions will be, anyway, unless you get special permission!

The module’s serial number must be listed on an FAA-accepted DOC and on the drone’s Certificate of Aircraft Registration.

If you use the module on another drone, update the serial number on the new drone’s registration certificate before flying.

The module must have a label indicating it meets the requirements.

All right, let’s move on to the last option, FAA-Recognized Identification Areas (FRIAs).

So, you actually don’t need Remote ID equipment to fly in these special areas.

However, your mission must stay within your line of sight and within the FRIA boundaries.

There are a few other things to keep in mind about Remote ID.

Want to find FRIA locations? Check out this free tool from The FAA here! 

If you’re doing research or testing to meet regulations, you don’t need to use Remote ID. 

You might hear about these devices called transponders – they transmit the aircraft's position, speed, and other data to air traffic control and other aircraft.

They have names like ADS-B Out and ATC Transponders. Don’t use them!

Using these devices on drones is generally not allowed. They could overload communication frequencies used by manned aircraft. Only use them if you’re authorized by the FAA!

Drones registered in other countries must submit a notice of identification with information like the operator’s name, address, contact details, and specifics about the drone before flying in
the U.S.

Finally, what should you do if your Remote ID fails during your drone mission?

Land your drone as soon as you can!

Remember, the FAA can ask you to have your documents ready at any time. They can fine you lots and lots of money – thousands of dollars! 

So once you get your first drone as a remote pilot, make sure to have Remote ID, all….

On your first Drone, remote ID, broadcast module, control station, all your documents, drone journal, in case the FAA tries to stop you! 

Bottom line – it’s good to have it – it’s the law! 

Why do we care about all this stuff? 

This is the kind of stuff that will make the FAA knock on your door! The FAA is able to fine people for around $27,500 - $400,000! Be careful.  

Great work! I see you’re all a few steps closer to becoming a certified drone pilot.