Flying Drones Manually¶
Manual Flight Training¶
The following exercises are useful training for a new pilot to test their skills, before regularly flying unguided in the field.
Precision Hovering (4 Directions)¶
Trainee pilots are expected to hover the UA, in ATTI mode, within a 2 m by 2 m zone. The trainee will be asked to change direction of the UA, from nose-out, to nose-left, to nose-in, to nose-right, and back to nose-out. During this exercise, the UA cannot exit the 2 m by 2 m zone by too much and should return promptly if so.
Climbing and Descending Square Circuits¶
Trainee pilots will operate within a 10 m by 10 m zone, with 4 cones at each corner. They are expected to climb the UA while moving forward, at a gradient of 45 degrees, from one corner to the other. This will be done twice. Once the trainee has climbed twice, the trainee will begin descending while moving forward, also at a gradient of 45 degrees, from one corner to the other. This will also be done twice and the trainee should return back to the starting position.
Figure 8 (Nose-Out and Nose-In)¶
Trainee pilots will operate within the same 10 m by 10 m zone with 4 cones at each corner. They are expected to perform two figures of 8, one nose-in and the other nose-out. The trainee will be asked to start at a 45-degree angle, nose-out, from the centre and travel towards one corner. At the corner, the trainee will need to yaw and begin the curved section of the figure of 8 to the next corner. Once the trainee reaches the corner, they should approach the diagonal corner at a 45-degree angle, ensuring that they cross the centre. This will repeat until they complete the figure of 8. The trainee will be asked to do the same figure of 8 but nose-in.
Precision Landing¶
The trainee pilot will be expected to land the UA within the 2 m by 2 m zone. The trainee will secure a higher score if they can land precisely within a 1 m by 1 m zone within.
Autonomous Flight Path¶
The trainee pilot will be expected to plan and operate an autonomous flight path. Midway through the flight path, the assessor will inform the trainee that there is a helicopter in the vicinity and ask the trainee on their next course of action. The trainee will be expected to cancel the flight as there is a risk involved and fly the UA safely back to the landing point.
Safety Inspections¶
UA pilots should regularly inspect the UA to ensure that it is airworthy for activities like UA mapping. Please do not modify or alter the UA or its components as this may result in potential flight failure and risk the safety of the pilot and people nearby.
Be sure to review the Flight Checklists before you plan to fly.