Lesson 30: Dangerous drone missions

Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed the last three lessons on how pilots talk to each other over the radio. 

It’s time to hand it off and start a new chapter on how drone pilots can fly smartly. 

Welcome! In this three-part chapter, we’ll be learning about how drone pilots can fly smart.  

In today’s lesson, we’re going to cover a few different things that can be dangerous for drone missions.   

As you already know, the most important aspect of flying our drones is safety.

Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, safety should always be your top priority.

So, let’s talk about what “unsafe” behavior looks like – and how we can avoid it.

First off, what do we consider to be “unsafe” behavior when flying your drone?

How Drone Pilots Stay Safe
Five Unsafe Behaviors To Avoid     

1. Interfering with Airplanes

2. Flying Over Crowds 

3. Overloading Your Drone

4. Ignoring Weather Conditions 

5. Flying Near Emergency Workers

Unsafe Behavior #1 ⚠︎    

1. Interfering with Airplanes

It’s important to never get in the way of larger aircraft. 

Remember, it’s always your responsibility to yield the right of way to all manned aircraft.

Unsafe Behavior #2 ⚠︎    

2. Flying Over Crowds 

Flying your drone over crowds of people who aren’t part of your drone mission is not allowed. 

What if something goes wrong? You could hurt someone. 

Let’s revisit the categories of operations to refresh our memory on open-air assemblies.

Unsafe Behavior #3 ⚠︎    

3. Overloading Your Drone

Putting too much weight, like a super heavy camera, on your drone can make it hard to control. 

Imagine riding a bike while carrying a big, heavy cinder block! It would be so much harder to balance.

Unsafe Behavior #4 ⚠︎    

4. Ignoring Weather Conditions 

Weather can be unpredictable, especially when flying near buildings, trees, and hilly areas. 

What kinds of wind do you need to worry about? Always check the weather before you take off.

Unsafe Behavior #5 ⚠︎    

5. Flying Near Emergency Workers

Never fly your drone near firefighters, police, or rescue workers during emergencies. They have important jobs
to do, and your drone could get in the way! 

If you’re not involved in the emergency, it’s best to stay clear and let them work.

Awesome! All right, let’s recap the five unsafe behaviors pilots should avoid. 

5 Tips to Avoid Unsafe Behavior ⚠︎    

How to Avoid Unsafe Behaviors for Drone Pilots  ⚠︎    

1. Always yield to larger aircraft.

2. Don’t fly over crowds of people. 

3. Avoid overloading your drone. 

4. Check weather conditions before flying. 

5. Stay away from emergency workers.

Great work! Now, let’s learn about the 10 most common causes of drone accidents so we can make sure to avoid them.

How Drone Pilots Stay Safe
The 10 Most Common Causes of Accidents

1. Not preparing well before flying

2. Not keeping the right speed during a flight

3. Not steering your drone properly

4. Not Noticing and Avoiding Obstructions

5. Not leveling off correctly

1. Not preparing well before flying 

Accidents are most likely to happen when you haven’t taken the steps to prepare for your drone mission, and you go out and just start flying. 

Not preparing well before flying – Solution 

Prepare Well: Before you take off, always inspect your drone, check the weather, and plan your route.

2. Not keeping the right speed during a flight

The “right speed” might be different for each mission. But if you fly faster than your manual recommends, it’s not good.  

If you fly too fast, you might not be able to react in time to avoid obstacles.

Not keeping the right speed during a flight – Solution 

Maintain the Right Speed: Fly at a safe, manageable speed to maintain control.

3. Not steering your drone properly

If you don’t use the controls properly, you might not steer your drone accurately, which can lead to accidents. 

Always check the manual so you know what you’re doing.

Not steering your drone properly  – Solution

Steer Properly: Familiarize yourself with the controls and practice steering accurately.

4. Not Noticing and Avoiding Obstructions

If you don’t pay attention to trees, buildings, or power lines, your drone could crash into them.

Not Noticing and Avoiding Obstructions – Solution 

Watch for Obstructions: Keep your eyes open and be aware of your surroundings to avoid obstacles.

5. Not leveling off correctly

Hold on – what’s leveling off mean?

It’s time to peel the onion! 

“Leveling off” means transitioning to flying in a straight line after reaching your desired altitude.

Leveling off a drone means adjusting its altitude o that it flies straight and steady at a particular height, without going up or down.

Leveling Off 

    Today’s 🔑 Word!

5. Not ‘leveling off’ correctly

“Leveling off” means transitioning to flying in a straight line after reaching your desired altitude. 

If you don’t do it properly, your drone could crash.

Not ‘leveling off’ correctly — Solution 

Level Off Correctly: Practice smooth takeoffs and landings to avoid rough landings.

The 10 most common causes of drone accidents

6. Not managing fuel or your drone battery well

7. Not knowing the distance and speed of your drone

8. Choosing a bad place to fly

9. Making bad decisions while flying

10. Not using flight controls correctly

6. Not managing fuel or your drone battery well

If you don’t monitor your drone’s battery, did you know it could die mid-flight, fall from the sky, and cause a crash? 

Not managing fuel or your drone battery well — Solution 

Manage Battery: Make sure your LiPO batteries are fully charged and tested before flying!

Always keep an eye on your battery level and return to base before it gets too low.

And remember, there are specific weather conditions that drain your battery – like flying in really cold temperatures. 

7. Making bad decisions while flying

Imagine flying directly into a cloud just because you felt like it. Bad decision, right? 

Not only is that illegal, but you could also lose your drone!

Making bad decisions while flying — Solution 

Make Good Decisions: Be aware of the conditions. Maintain situational awareness and make smart choices while flying.

8. Not knowing the distance and speed of your drone

Misjudging your drone’s speed and distance can lead to crashes.

Not knowing the distance and speed of your drone — Solution

Understand Distance and Speed: Practice judging distances and speeds to avoid miscalculations.

9. Choosing a bad place to fly

There are many places that can be bad to fly in for drones. 

Flying in a crowded area or near airports can be dangerous, not just for your drone, but for other people, too. 

Choosing a bad place to fly — Solution 

Choose Safe Locations: Pick open, clear areas to fly your drone.

And of course, make sure you can legally fly in them! 

10. Not using flight controls correctly

Not understanding your drone’s controls can lead to poor handling and accidents. 

Read the drone’s manual, and have your PMC read the manual, too!

Not using flight controls correctly — Solution 

Learn the Controls: Spend time getting to know your drone’s controls and practice regularly.

Awesome job, future drone pro! Now, let’s recap 10 ways to avoid accidents. 

1. Be well-prepared before the flight 

2. Steering your drone properly

3. Identify and avoid obstacles 

4. Maintain the right speed during a flight

5. Level off the right way 

6. Track your drone battery life well

7. Know how far and fast your drone is supposed to go 

8. Choose a good (and legal) place to fly

9. Use good judgment when flying — follow the rules! 

10. Use flight controls correctly — practice first! 

Nice Work! It’s time for a quick break. You deserve it! 

Then, we’ll learn about more dangers to avoid. 

Phew! You’ve done a great job so far! 

Let’s take a much-deserved break. 

– Today’s Short – 

Short videos:

Obstacles to Avoid

And Conducting Site Surveys!

Welcome back! All right, let’s learn about a few hidden hazards that might just totally ruin our drone missions — starting with guy wires.

How Drone Pilots Stay Safe
Avoiding Guy Wires 

Have you ever noticed those tall, skeletal structures like antenna towers?

By “skeletal structures”, we mean towers like this one. Nothing spooky here!

These towers often have guy wires, which are cables that help keep the tower stable. 

Guy wires are strong cables or ropes used to support tall structures, like radio towers or telephone poles.

Wires are anchored to the ground and attached to the structure to keep it stable and prevent it from tipping over or swaying in the wind.

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Longitude 

Guy Wires 

But here's the tricky part—these wires can be almost invisible until you’re really close.

That’s right! If you’re flying your drone near a tall antenna and you don’t see the guy wires, you could crash into them and damage both the structure and your drone!

Fun Fact: Guy wires can extend horizontally up to 1,500-2,000 feet! That's like the length of five football fields! So, a pretty big hazard. 

These towers often have guy wires, which are cables that help keep the tower stable. 

Survey the Area! Always scout the area before flying. Look for skeletal structures and keep an eye out for guy wires.

Stay Away! Unless your mission specifically involves these structures, it’s best to avoid them. The FAA recommends staying at least 2,000 feet away horizontally from Guy Wires.

Just like it recommends staying 2,000 feet horizontally away from clouds! 

And while you’re scouting for guy wires, take note of  overhead lines, construction cranes, and tree branches.

All right, we’re off to the next hidden hazard —  unmanned balloons. 

How Drone Pilots Stay Safe
Unmanned Balloons

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Civil Twilight

Unmanned Balloons

Unmanned balloons are balloons that fly without a person on board. They are often used for scientific research or weather monitoring. 

These balloons can carry instruments to gather data on weather, or to capture photos from the sky. 

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Civil Twilight

Unmanned Balloons

Just like drones, unmanned balloons can be controlled remotely, or set to follow a predetermined flight path!

Unmanned balloons might look harmless and cute, but they can have ropes or wires hanging from them that are hard to see until you're very close! 

Imagine if you’re flying your drone, and you suddenly encounter a balloon with a long trailing wire!

If you’d fly into it, your drone could get tangled or damaged.

If you see an unmanned balloon, stay clear! Use good judgment and keep a safe distance from unmanned balloons.

Unmanned balloons can be so dangerous that the FAA shows them on sectional charts, too! 

Here’s a tip: If you see an unmanned balloon, report it to the nearest FAA ground facility. This helps manage and track them in the airspace.

Maybe your report will end up on the next edition of a Sectional Chart! Kind of cool, right? 

Okay, awesome. We covered guy wires and balloons — now let’s talk about the third hazard to steer clear of: thermal plumes! 

How Drone Pilots Stay Safe
Thermal Plumes 

You’ve probably seen emissions coming from power plants or factories. These are called thermal plumes — high-temperature gases that go upwards.

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Thermal Plumes

A Thermal Plume is like a big, invisible bubble of warm air that rises up into the sky. It happens when something on the ground, like a factory or a volcano, makes the air really hot. 

The hot air then moves up and can affect things like airplanes or birds flying through it.

Thermal Plumes can cause air disturbances like turbulence and shear, reduce visibility, lower oxygen levels, and even cause motor problems or icing.

Dangerous! Flying near a factory and suddenly encountering a thermal plume can cause your drone to become unstable or even damage its motor.

Avoid plumes! Stay away from areas with visible or invisible emissions, especially during low-altitude flights, both in calm and cold conditions.

Try to stay upwind of smokestacks or cooling towers to avoid these plumes.

Plumes can sometimes be seen as smoke or clouds, but they can also be invisible. 

Even if you don't see a plume, be super cautious around industrial areas, as plumes may still be there.

Awesome! We’ve gone through  guy wires, unmanned balloons, and thermal plumes.

Now let’s cover the next hazard: wingtip vortices! Sounds intense, right? 

Wingtip vortices are like invisible tornadoes left behind by the wings of large aircraft. 

Imagine a plane flying through the sky, and as it moves, it creates these spinning patterns of air at the tips of its wings.

Today’s 🔑 Word!

Wingtip Vortices

Wingtip vortices are spirals of air that form at the tips of an airplane's wings when it flies. 

They happen because air under the wing moves around the tip, then above the wing, to the low-pressure area above the wing, creating a spinning motion.

These vortices are the strongest when a slow, heavy aircraft is taking off.

Now, why should you, as a drone pilot, care about these invisible whirlwinds?

When a plane creates these vortices, they can sink below the plane and cause turbulence, which can be dangerous for any aircraft flying through it, especially small, lightweight ones like drones.

While it’s unlikely you’ll be flying your drone close enough to an airplane for this to be a major problem, it’s important to be aware because drones are so small and light!

Awesome! All right, let’s recap the hazards we should spot first, and avoid flying near. 

Hazards to avoid flying near: 

Guy Wires 

Unmanned Balloons

Power Lines, Cranes, and Trees

Wing-tipped vortices

Thermal Plumes

Smoke Stacks & Cooling Towers

Great work! There seem to be so many dangers all around us. So, how can we make sure that we avoid them? We can do this by conducting a site survey. 

And the Remote Pilot in Command should always do one before flying, anyways! 

How Drone Pilots Stay Safe
Site Surveys 

Drone pilots can avoid hidden and big, visible hazards by conducting a site survey!

Conducting a Site Survey means getting a good look at the area where you plan on flying your drone and making note of any hazards. 

This should happen a few days before your drone mission.

So what should our site survey notes include? 

It’s time for another checklist! 

The 6 Steps to Conducting a Site Survey 

Look out for things that could be dangerous, like towers, power lines, trees, nuclear plants, and other structures.

Check for any radio interference that could mess up our drone's signals.

Hold on… What? We just talked about radio frequencies, and I thought we were done.

Hold on – Radio Interference?  

It’s time to peel the onion! 

Did you know that it’s not just pilots who communicate using radio frequencies? 

The drone and the control station communicate via radio frequencies, too!

Most drones use these two frequencies: 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz.

Wi-Fi uses these frequencies, too!

Which is cool, but can cause problems if you’re flying in an area that has lots of office buildings or dense housing. 

The 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz radio frequencies need a direct line of sight to work properly.

If there’s a barrier between your remote control and the drone, for example, a big concrete wall, the frequency will get disrupted. 

Just like the radio in your car cuts out once you drive through a tunnel, or the wifi goes out underground on the subway. 

Good thing that under Part 107 rules, the remote PIC or person manipulating the controls must see the drone at all times!

Basically, be aware of radio frequency interference when flying in places like big, dense cities.

Anyways, let’s get back to the site-survey checklist! And keep it in your back pocket before you fly.

The 6 Steps to Conducting a Site Survey 

1. Look out for things that could be dangerous, like towers, power lines, trees, nuclear plants, and other structures.

2. Check for any radio interference that could mess up our drone's signals.

3. Avoid places with strong magnetic fields that could confuse our drone's compass.

Oh my… we have to worry about radio and magnetic interference, too? 

Well, that was fast… Let’s explore!

It’s time to peel the onion! 

Drones have a built-in digital compass inside them! This helps the drone know its direction in the air. 

Did you know that steel structures can throw off our drone's compass? 

The steel might not even be visible–it’s used in reinforcement in concrete, and there might be steel pipes underground!

Alright! Let’s get back to the checklist. 

Check the traffic patterns of vehicles, both aircraft and ground vehicles, that might be affected by your drone mission.

Look out for regular people who aren't part of your mission or know it’s happening– they can be distracted or get scared.

Check for any structures that might cause chaotic wind patterns! Like tall buildings, bridges, hills, and mountains! 

The 6 Steps to Conducting a Site Survey – Recap 

1. Look out for dangerous obstructions like power lines and balloons 

2. Check for any radio interference that can mess signals up  

3. Avoid places with strong magnetic fields, can mess up your compass

4. Check the traffic patterns of vehicles that affect your mission  

5. Watch out for people who are unaware of your mission 

6. Identify buildings and places that can cause strong wind patterns 

Optional Activity
Look at two areas side-by-side
Identify potential hazards in each one!  

Awesome! That was so much, and you’re doing an incredible job! 

Okay, now we’re pros at conducting site surveys to avoid hazards! But there are still more things that can go wrong during a drone mission.

Heads up! None of this is meant to freak you out. We’re not trying to make you anxious ‘cause you’re imagining a bunch of stressful scenarios. 

But, it’s important to consider all the things that might go wrong so you can prevent them in the first place, and remedy them if they do happen. 

And if you want to be a professional who feels confident in what you’re doing, it’s best to know about these, just in case it ever comes up. 

If you're the rPIC, it's your job to tell everyone involved (clients, crew members, and others on the ground) about what to do if something goes wrong. That’s a big responsibility! 

Planning for emergencies means thinking about things that could break, like propellers, motors, and the compass. You also need to think about keeping your drone and people on the ground safe at all times.

If you feel like a job is too risky, it's okay to say no! Making smart decisions is really important in the drone industry.

If you feel like a job is too risky, it's okay to say no! Making smart decisions is really important in the drone industry.

Optional Activity #2 

Have you ever had to turn down an activity because it felt too risky? Share what it was like to make this tough decision.  

So, what happens if something is wrong with your drone mid-flight?

When something goes wrong with your drone, it might not be immediately obvious. If your drone loses communication with the control station, it should follow pre-programmed instructions to return and land safely on its own.

Always make sure to read the manual first, so you know whether or not your drone has this feature!

What are some emergencies that might require you to perform an emergency maneuver?

Fantastic question! Oh boy, it’s time for another checklist. 

1. Loss of Orientation 

2. Compass error

3. Loss of direct line-of-sight

4. Loss of GPS signal

5. The 9 emergencies to plan for 

6. Loss of video feed

7. Fly-away

8. Structures in line of flight

9. Birds

Now, let’s briefly explain each, one-by-one. 

1. Loss of Orientation 

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

This happens when you're not sure which way your drone is facing or where it's going.

2. Loss of GPS signal

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

Your drone relies on GPS to know its location. If the GPS signal is lost, your drone might not know where it is or how to get back to you.

3. Compass error 

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

Drones use a compass to know which way is north. If the compass malfunctions, your drone might not know which way to go.

4. Loss of direct line-of-sight

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

This means you can't see your drone anymore, which is a problem because you're supposed to keep your drone in sight at all times.

5. Loss of video feed

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

If your drone has a camera and the video feed cuts out, you won't be able to see what your drone is doing or where it's going.

6. Fly-away

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

This is when your drone flies away from you and doesn't respond to your controls. It can happen if there's a strong wind or if something goes wrong with the drone's programming.

7. Erratic movement

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

Sometimes drones can start moving in unpredictable ways, like spinning or tilting, which can be dangerous.

8. Structures in line of flight

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

If there are buildings, trees, or other obstacles in the path your drone is flying, it could crash into them.

9. Birds

The 9 emergencies to plan for 

Birds can be a hazard for drones because they can fly into them and cause damage or knock them out of the sky.

So, what does performing an emergency maneuver look like?

Sometimes it looks like switching your drone to Manual Mode.

Just like a self-driving car, your drone might have an automatic mode. But in emergencies, it's often best to take manual control. 

This gives you more hands-on control, which can be a lifesaver if you lose GPS signal or need to quickly avoid something like an aircraft headed your way!

This gives you more hands-on control, which can be a lifesaver if you lose GPS signal or need to quickly avoid something like an aircraft headed your way!

Other times, emergency maneuvers look like holding a safe altitude.

Picture this – a bystander or a curious animal unexpectedly wanders into the area where you were about to land!

What do you do? Gain altitude and hold it safely until you find another spot to land.

Nice job! Other emergency maneuvers can involve things like an emergency landing. If your drone runs low battery in mid-air, you should land it ASAP!

If there are objects or aircraft in the drone's path, performing evasive maneuvers such as quick turns, climbs, or descents can help avoid collisions.

So, what are the best practices to do in these situations?

First, always be ready to switch to manual mode during emergencies. It's like having a backup plan in case things go haywire.

Once you've regained control, it's time to land safely and turn off your drone. Take a moment to calm down, assess what happened, and then decide if it's safe to continue flying.

Optional Activity #3 

Brainstorm: What are some strategies you can use to calm down if something stressful happens in a drone mission?

Important Rule: If you ever experience an emergency situation while flying, the #1
Rule is to maintain control of your drone. 

If you still feel unsure of how to handle emergencies, that’s okay. Sometimes we don’t know how we’ll respond to a situation until it happens.

What’s important, though, is approaching every mission with safety in mind.