DJI Aerial Photo Academy

Pre-Flight Checklist for

Recreational Drone Flying

Before Leaving Home

✓ Know and understand the airspace at the flight location. (See airspace resource links in notes
below.)
•Obtain LAANC authorization and/or unlock DJI Geo-space as necessary.

✓ Equipment Check:
•Firmware up-to-date.
•Batteries visually checked for bloating or cracks and fully charged.
•Remote controller fully charged.
•FPV viewing device charged.
•Propellors clean and free of chips or cracks.
•Lens Clean.
•SD card inserted in drone.

On-Location

✓ Situational Awareness:
•Visually check the weather situation.
•Visually check above and 360 degrees around takeoff location.
*Above - identify power lines, trees, antennas, towers, bird activity.
*Around - identify buildings, people, animals.
•Identify the take-off/landing spot (away from sources of electromagnetic interference).
•Identify an alternative/emergency landing location.
•Phone apps to gather additional information prior to the flight:
*Airmap for Drones
*Kittyhawk
•Check incoming weather with phone apps like:
*UAV Forecast
*Windy
*Accuweather
•If in a mountainous, coastal, or urban area, check app Flight Radar 24, especially for small planes
and helicopters.
•Set phone or tablet viewing device to Airplane Mode just prior to the flight.
✓ Flight Objective:
•Identify your subject and the story you want to capture with your camera.
•Visualize your flight distances, altitudes, camera placements.
©DJI Aerial Photo Academy, LLC 2019
✓ Prepare the DJI GO 4 app:
•Remove gimbal protector then start drone battery.
•Format Micro SD card in the drone.
•Prepare both photography and video settings using the Advanced Camera Menus.
•Set the appropriate “Return-to-Home” altitude.
•Monitor the radio frequencies in the immediate area using the HD Menu > Custom. Select and
set a frequency and custom channel if the channels are congested.
•Confirm the battery cells are level in the Battery Menu.
•Calibrate the compass if the drone has been taken to a new location. (Keep the remote controller
and other electronics 5-10 feet away when calibrating the compass.)

Take-off
•Make a final visual check all around for unexpected hazards.
•Listen for unexpected hazards.
•Confirm the satellite lock has been achieved.
•Start motors.
•Confirm home location has been marked.
•Lift the drone off ground to about 10 feet to test control sticks and confirm the airworthiness.
•Fly the mission.

Notes: Airspace resources

•Aeronautical Charts: https://skyvector.com/
•LAANC authorization maps: https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=-
9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad
•LAANC Unlocking Apps:
*Kittyhawk https://apps.apple.com/us/app/kittyhawk-drone-flight-ops/id969578120
*Airmap for Drones https://apps.apple.com/us/app/airmap-for-drones/id1042824733
•DJI Geo Zones: https://www.dji.com/flysafe/geo-map
•DJI Self Unlocking: https://www.dji.com/flysafe/self-unlock
•DJI Custom Unlocking: https://www.dji.com/flysafe/custom-unlock
•NOTAMS: https://notams.aim.faa.gov/notamSearch/

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Get Inspired. Fly Empowered.
©DJI Aerial Photo Academy, LLC 2019
Now that you read all of the above, it feels like rocket science, right? Don’t stress. If you are new to drones
and aerial photography, you will soon develop your own pre-flight routine and realize what items on the
checklist are necessary or un-necessary in certain situations. After you gain some experience and flight
time, you will be able to get through this list in just a couple of minutes before each and every flight.
Remember, this is all about safety.

☑ Research and understand your airspace. ☑ Engage yourself in heightened situational

awareness. Make a visual check of environment.
☑ Inspect & fully charge batteries, R.C. & FPV ☑ Visualize your flight along with objectives and
viewing device. emergency procedures.
☑ Inspect drone for any damage or missing parts. ☑ Confirm DJI Go 4 app for clean radio frequency
& for balanced battery cells.
☑ Using DJI Go 4 app, pre-set drone and menu ☑ Confirm satellite lock & home point marked.
settings and camera menu settings.
☑ Callibrate compass. ☑ Test airworthiness & R.C. stick controls a few
feet off the ground before flying mission.

Here is a very condense pre-flight checklist to carry in your drone case along with your drone registra-
tion card.

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Get Inspired. Fly Empowered.
©DJI Aerial Photo Academy, LLC 2019