Drone Memories; Video highlights from my time with the Mavic Air.

It was almost certainly going to happen someday, but on a Saturday morning in early April, my drone never came home. Most likely some combination of pilot error and high winds resulted in the bird being missing in action. I was able to access the flight log and get a general location of the landing (or crash?) area but unable to locate the unit after a search of about 2 hours. Somewhat like looking for that needle in a haystack even though flight data reported it missing just 100 yards away.

I had other incidents previously where video showed a near-miss with trees or an actual forced landing but was always able to recover control. Almost on a regular basis the drone would lose signal when less than a mile away and return home as a failsafe measure. Just a little excitement included at no extra charge with my $1000 investment.

In the attached video I included some of my favorite drone clips. There is certainly no other way to get such dramatic video than with a drone. However, quite a few pitfalls along the way. I will start my laundry list of gripes as follows.

Entry-level prices start at about $500.00 to get something that is not a toy. A mid-level device would be closer to $1000. The package typically contains only one battery which may provide power for about 20 minutes. So, additional batteries or accessories are almost required costing another $100.

The learning curve is steep. I had my drone ( DJI Mavic Air 1) for about 3 years and still did not use the device to its full capabilities. Drone calibrations and firmware updates all may be needed before even taking off the first time. In addition to knowing the basic operational functions, you would need to develop skills as a pilot and perhaps pick up some video editing skills along the way. Luckily some of the basic video editing software is free. Davinci Resolve likely tops this list.

Restricted flight areas, No-Fly Zones, and angry neighbors all part of the experience with fewer places to fly almost every day. National Parks and State parks typically have restrictions. But, you may find some ways to skirt the rules by taking off from outside the park the flying the perimeter. Without proper skills, it is difficult to fly in urban areas and may be limited to some basic functions or just practicing with controls.

Weather and especially windy conditions are a problem. The drone controller will give you a warning regarding wind conditions but you need to be aware that wind conditions at an altitude of 400 feet may be quite different than on the ground.

It is advised that you register your drone with the FAA. The basic cost is $5 for a 3-year certificate which allows you to operate as a hobbyist. You may legally sell your vacation or archived video on Shutterstock or other sites but this is intended to cover limited applications. However, if you want to use your drone for business purposes that is another certification process. In a bit of government double-speak, there is no charge for the certificate, but it costs $160.00 to take the test? This certification is good for 2 years at which time you will need to retake the test and pay the fee again.

A great place for further research is the DJI forums where the latest information is available along with helpful tips on all things related to drones. You can find here; MavicPilots.com

Personally, I am taking a break from drone piloting to concentrate on things closer to the ground. I may revisit the activity at a later date with a minimum investment for some limited uses such as line-of-sight operations.

As always, comments and questions appreciated!