These are not TOYS!
We’ve all seen that printed in instruction manuals. It usually comes with something you bought at a toy store. Don’t confuse ANY of these airframes with the air hogs glider that your son, grandson, nephew or neighbor kid got for his birthday. These aircraft bite and bite hard when operated improperly.
Four eyes are best
You NEED a designated spotter any time these aircraft are in flight. The spotter should not be watching your aircraft. Their eyes need to be on a swivel keeping tabs on the surroundings. Hazards include people, animals and vehicles entering the area of operation. The spotter’s job is to keep the pilot from being distracted and allow them to concentrate on performing the mission. They should head off any attempted conversations with the pilot. They should warn anyone in the vicinity that a UAS is in operation and communicate when and where it is safe to move. They should communicate to the pilot any obstructions that may impede the mission or recovery and suggest alterations if necessary. In many cases the spotter can double as a camera operator.
Know when to say when
These aircraft are highly capable and can safely be operated in a variety of conditions. That said… there are limits. Whether it is the pilot or the airframe you need to be aware when these limits are being approached. There is only ONE required maneuver once airborne… landing. Like it or not that thing is coming down at some point. You will be well served to follow your instincts and don’t be shy about scrubbing the mission if you have strong doubts.
Call in the experts
Why increase the risk of damage to your aircraft or even worse to property or people by using an untrained operator? FarmFlyer would love to discuss our capabilities and qualifications. We can run the missions for you or work alongside until you have achieved a safe skill level. Our pilots have the necessary skills and experience to handle any of your sUAS missions.