Flying a Drone

Flying a drone can be simple and straight-forward with the right training.  But there are a number of ways in which you can go wrong, and if you crash the DJI drone it can be a very expensive mistake.  Their simplicity to operate can lead to overconfidence, which in our experience is when crashes happen.

The Controls and the Controller

To fly a drone safely and precisely, you first need to understand the basic controls of a drone’s controller.

The controller is the hand-held transmitter that you’ll use to pilot your drone. All dji controllers come with two joysticks – a right and a left. By adjusting these sticks, you can send your drone in a specific direction.

Mastering the controls is the key to early success with flying a drone.

Start with the basics – your left stick is throttle (up/down) and yaw (left/right). Your right stick is pitch (up/down) and roll (left/right).

On our half day and online course we teach what each type of movement means, and what it looks like. We start by focusing on just one – throttle – and gradually mix in new elements one at a time.

We take the training step by step to build skills, reflexes and confidence, starting indoors on the interactive DJI flight simulator before you experience the thrill of your first real drone flight.

Practice

Flying a drone requires practice, just like any other skill.  We train students in a large area free of obstacles to practice and master the basic skills.

We teach what each button and function of your drone does, practice using them together and in combination.

We work with each student with structured practice until you feel comfortable with the controls and confident that you can handle drone.

If you’re going to learn how to fly a drone safely and precisely, then you first need to understand the basic functionalities of a quadcopter’s transmitter. The transmitter is the hand-held controller that you’ll use to pilot your quadcopter. With a few exceptions, all transmitters come with two joysticks – a right and a left. By adjusting these sticks, you can send your drone in a specific direction.

Conditions

Only fly when conditions are clear and winds are calm. Drones are designed to be light and are affected by gusting winds, which are always stronger at an altitude of 200ft than ground level.  The calmer the conditions the more fun and less worry you will have.

The drone electric motors that power the four props are not waterproof so it is not a good idea to fly any drone in the rain.

Do not fly in low light or darkened conditions. When it’s dark, you may be able to see the drone lights, but that’s about it. You will not be able to see where you’re flying, telephone lines and other objects.

Buying a Drone

If you don't have a drone or have a one but are thinking about buying a new drone, the knowledge and information you receive on a Drone School UK course can help you buy the right drone for you.  Our courses allow you to fly various DJI drones and discuss the features and operation of the different drones.

Drone School UK can give you unbiased advice for you next drone purchase.