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Before leaving home
Open your mission platform app — review mission brief, deliverable requirements, altitudes, overlap %
Confirm mission type — roof inspection, mapping, progress photo, video walkthrough
Confirm equipment required — check brief for any specific drone, camera, or resolution requirements
Note job ID / order number — needed for upload and platform completion
Download or screenshot mission brief — for offline reference if signal drops on site
Check the forecast — wind and gusts within your drone's limits, no rain, good visibility
Check airspace — use an airspace app or your country's official drone map to confirm class and restrictions
Check TFRs (US) at tfr.faa.gov
LAANC (US) — check if authorization required and apply; allow time if manual approval needed
Check NOTAMs (US) at notams.aim.faa.gov — look for notices affecting your flight area
All drone batteries fully charged, spares included
Batteries inspected for damage — check for swelling, cracks, or corrosion
Controller and phone/tablet fully charged
Strobe lights charged and packed — if you use them
Storage ready — enough free space on your SD card or internal storage for the mission
Firmware up to date on drone, controller and each battery — check the drone app
Remote ID — if your drone needs an external module, confirm it's charged and packed
Drone and props inspected — no cracks, no damage from last flight
Pilot certificate or license and drone registration packed — if required where you fly
Gear packed — drone, controller, phone/tablet, spare batteries and props, cables, SD cards, charger or power bank
Accessories packed — landing pad, filters or lenses, lens cleaning kit
Self check — fit to fly? Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating (IMSAFE)
On site — pre-flight
External pressures — feeling rushed or pushed to fly? Would you still fly without it?
PPE — put on safety vest, hard hat, steel toe boots as required for this site
Notify property owner or site contact if applicable
Contact site coordinator if required by mission brief
Insurance — confirm coverage is active for this flight (start hourly coverage now if you use it)
Check actual conditions on site — wind and gusts within your drone's limits, no rain, good visibility
Check radar — no weather approaching during your flight
Recheck TFRs (US) — confirm nothing new has popped up since you planned
Assess the area — obstacles, people, animals, power lines, trees, antennas, structures
Identify and record tallest obstacles (trees, structures, power lines)
Choose a safe takeoff and landing zone — level, clear overhead, away from people and obstacles
Secondary landing zone identified — know your backup before arming
Visual observer briefed — if you're using one
Bystanders warned — ask them to stay clear of the launch and landing area
Flight plan — know your route, your limits, and what you'll do if something goes wrong
Fly the upwind leg first — so the drone returns with the wind behind it
Inspect drone body — no cracks, damage, or debris from last flight
Gimbal lock and lens cap removed — confirm before powering on
Gimbal check — movement free, no obstruction
Lens and sensors clear — no fog, dew or smudges; let the drone adjust if it came from a hot car or a house
Filters — select and attach appropriate filter based on conditions: ND (bright sun), CPL (glare/reflections), UV (haze), or specialty filters as needed
Arms unfolded and locked — and landing gear in place, if your drone has it
Props attached and locked — inspect for chips or cracks
Battery installed and latched — confirm it's seated and won't come loose
SD card inserted and its cover closed — before powering on
Temperature — within your drone's operating range (check its manual). Cold: keep batteries warm until launch and expect a shorter flight. Heat: keep the drone and batteries out of the sun and a hot car
Strobe lights attached — if you're using them
Remote ID module attached — if your drone uses one, confirm it's on and broadcasting
Antennas out — controller antennas deployed and adjusted, not left folded away
Power on controller first, then drone — confirm link established
GPS lock — wait for a strong lock (10+ satellites) and confirm the home point is updated
Set RTH altitude — above the tallest obstacle in the area
Confirm active lens — if your drone has multiple cameras, verify the correct lens is selected
Set camera — resolution, frame rate, exposure mode for the session
Confirm recording format — color profile and file type per mission brief
White balance — lock manually before flight; do not leave on Auto
Test photo or short clip — confirm it records and the exposure looks right
Compass calibration — calibrate if the app or controller asks for it, in a new location, or near large metal structures
Other calibrations — IMU, gimbal, vision sensors, controller sticks: calibrate when the app warns, or after a crash or hard landing
Load waypoint/mission file in your mission planning app
Review mission path on map — confirm no conflicts with obstacles
Flight mode — set to Normal for autonomous missions
Controller programmable buttons — confirm mapping for this flight
Obstacle avoidance — enable and set sensitivity appropriate for your environment
Max altitude — set to mission altitude + buffer, within 400 ft (120m) AGL or your regional limit
Max distance — set a limit that keeps the drone within sight
Loss of signal action — set to RTH (not Hover or Land)
Low-battery return level — confirm the RTH battery warning is set
Start screen recording on your controller or phone — if you record your flights
No drone app warnings or errors — clear before arming
During flight
Hover check at 10ft (3m) — confirm stability, no drift, no warnings · briefly test all four directions (forward, back, left, right) before proceeding
Check wind at altitude — hover at mission height briefly and confirm conditions before proceeding
Confirm mission starts correctly — drone following planned path
Confirm mission is capturing — footage or images recording, image count incrementing in the app
Stay within visual line of sight at all times
Stay at or below the maximum altitude allowed in your country/region — 400 ft AGL in the US
Watch for other air traffic and birds — yield to manned aircraft immediately, keep clear of other drones and birds
Be aware of people entering your fly zone — pause or land if needed
Monitor signal strength and satellite count — watch for signs of interference
Monitor battery — start back early enough to land with a reserve, allowing for distance and wind
Note where mission paused if swapping battery — ensure no coverage gap
Post-flight
Safe landing — props stopped before approaching the drone
Stop screen recording — before you power off the controller
Power off drone, then controller
Inspect drone after landing — props, body, gimbal, no damage
Review captured images on controller — confirm coverage, no gaps
Transfer/back up data before leaving site — copy all files to a backup drive and verify the file count
Upload deliverables via your platform portal
Confirm upload complete and submission accepted in platform app
Mark mission complete in platform app — do not leave job open
Let site contact know you're finished — if you notified them
Pack drone properly in case — confirm all parts undamaged and stowed securely
Let batteries cool before charging — a hot battery should rest first
Put batteries on charger when home — don't leave discharged
Log the flight — site, flight time and any issues (tap Save flight record)
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Mission planning (before leaving home)
Define mapping area — confirm boundaries in your mission planner
Set flight altitude appropriate for desired GSD (ground sample distance)
Set overlap — frontal 80%+ and side 70%+ for quality ortho
Estimate image count and flight time — confirm batteries sufficient
Check the forecast — wind and gusts within your drone's limits, no rain, good visibility
Check airspace — use an airspace app or your country's official drone map to confirm class and restrictions
Check TFRs (US) at tfr.faa.gov
LAANC (US) — check if authorization required and apply; allow time if manual approval needed
Check NOTAMs (US) at notams.aim.faa.gov — look for notices affecting your flight area
All drone batteries fully charged, spares included
Batteries inspected for damage — check for swelling, cracks, or corrosion
Controller and phone/tablet fully charged
Strobe lights charged and packed — if you use them
Storage ready — enough free space on your SD card or internal storage for the mission
Firmware up to date on drone, controller and each battery — check the drone app
Save mission file to controller — confirm it loads correctly
Remote ID — if your drone needs an external module, confirm it's charged and packed
Drone and props inspected — no cracks, no damage from last flight
Pilot certificate or license and drone registration packed — if required where you fly
Gear packed — drone, controller, phone/tablet, spare batteries and props, cables, SD cards, charger or power bank
Accessories packed — landing pad, filters or lenses, lens cleaning kit
Self check — fit to fly? Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating (IMSAFE)
On site — pre-flight
External pressures — feeling rushed or pushed to fly? Would you still fly without it?
PPE — put on safety vest, hard hat, steel toe boots as required for this site
Notify property owner or site contact if applicable
Contact site coordinator if required by mission brief
Insurance — confirm coverage is active for this flight (start hourly coverage now if you use it)
Check actual conditions on site — wind and gusts within your drone's limits, no rain, good visibility
Check radar — no weather approaching during your flight
Recheck TFRs (US) — confirm nothing new has popped up since you planned
Assess the area — obstacles, people, animals, power lines, trees, antennas, structures
Walk perimeter of mapping area — note all hazards
Identify and record tallest obstacles (trees, structures, power lines)
Ground control points and checkpoints — if the job needs survey accuracy, place them and record their positions
Choose a safe takeoff and landing zone — level, clear overhead, away from people and obstacles
Secondary landing zone identified — know your backup before arming
Visual observer briefed — if you're using one
Bystanders warned — ask them to stay clear of the launch and landing area
Flight plan — know your route, your limits, and what you'll do if something goes wrong
Inspect drone body — no cracks, damage, or debris from last flight
Gimbal lock and lens cap removed — confirm before powering on
Gimbal check — nadir position, no obstruction
Lens and sensors clear — no fog, dew or smudges; let the drone adjust if it came from a hot car or a house
Filters — typically not needed for mapping; remove all filters for accurate exposure
Arms unfolded and locked — and landing gear in place, if your drone has it
Props attached and locked — inspect for chips or cracks
Battery installed and latched — confirm it's seated and won't come loose
SD card inserted and its cover closed — before powering on
Temperature — within your drone's operating range (check its manual). Cold: keep batteries warm until launch and expect a shorter flight. Heat: keep the drone and batteries out of the sun and a hot car
Strobe lights attached — if you're using them
Remote ID module attached — if your drone uses one, confirm it's on and broadcasting
Antennas out — controller antennas deployed and adjusted, not left folded away
Power on controller first, then drone — confirm link established
GPS lock — wait for a strong lock (10+ satellites) and confirm the home point is updated
RTK — if your drone uses it, wait for RTK FIX before launch
Set RTH altitude — above the tallest obstacle in the area
Load waypoint mission file — review path on map against actual site
Verify mission altitude clears all obstacles on flight path
Confirm active lens — if your drone has multiple cameras, select WIDE for consistent photogrammetry coverage
Set camera — nadir (straight down), correct resolution, exposure
Confirm file format — RAW (DNG)
White balance — lock manually; consistent WB critical for photogrammetry
Test photo or short clip — confirm it records and the exposure looks right
Compass calibration — calibrate if the app or controller asks for it, in a new location, or near large metal structures
Other calibrations — IMU, gimbal, vision sensors, controller sticks: calibrate when the app warns, or after a crash or hard landing
Disable HDR — consistent exposure critical for photogrammetry
Flight mode — Normal (required for waypoint missions)
Controller programmable buttons — confirm mapping for this flight
Obstacle avoidance — enable and confirm it will not interrupt waypoint path at mission altitude
Max altitude — set to mission altitude + buffer, within 400 ft (120m) AGL or your regional limit
Max distance — set a limit that keeps the drone within sight
Loss of signal action — set to RTH (not Hover or Land)
Low-battery return level — confirm the RTH battery warning is set
Start screen recording on your controller or phone — if you record your flights
No drone app warnings or errors — clear before arming
During flight
Hover check at 10ft (3m) — confirm stability, no drift, no warnings · briefly test all four directions (forward, back, left, right) before proceeding
Check wind at altitude — hover at mission height briefly and confirm conditions before proceeding
Confirm mission starts correctly — drone following planned path
Confirm images capturing — image count incrementing on controller
Stay within visual line of sight at all times
Stay at or below the maximum altitude allowed in your country/region — 400 ft AGL in the US
Watch for other air traffic and birds — yield to manned aircraft immediately, keep clear of other drones and birds
Be aware of people entering your fly zone — pause or land if needed
Monitor signal strength and satellite count — watch for signs of interference
Monitor battery — start back early enough to land with a reserve, allowing for distance and wind
Note where mission paused if swapping battery — ensure no coverage gap
Post-flight
Safe landing — props stopped before approaching the drone
Stop screen recording — before you power off the controller
Power off drone, then controller
Inspect drone after landing — props, body, gimbal, no damage
Review image count — matches expected total for coverage area
Spot check images on controller — sharp, correct angle, no gaps
Transfer/back up data before leaving site — copy all files to a backup drive and verify the file count
Upload to your processing platform
Let site contact know you're finished — if you notified them
Pack drone properly in case — confirm all parts undamaged and stowed securely
Let batteries cool before charging — a hot battery should rest first
Put batteries on charger when home — don't leave discharged
Log the flight — site, flight time and any issues (tap Save flight record)
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Before leaving home
Check the forecast — wind and gusts within your drone's limits, no rain, good visibility
Check airspace — use an airspace app or your country's official drone map to confirm class and restrictions
Check TFRs (US) at tfr.faa.gov
LAANC (US) — check if authorization required and apply; allow time if manual approval needed
Check NOTAMs (US) at notams.aim.faa.gov — look for notices affecting your flight area
All drone batteries fully charged, spares included
Batteries inspected for damage — check for swelling, cracks, or corrosion
Controller and phone/tablet fully charged
Strobe lights charged and packed — if you use them
Storage ready — enough free space on your SD card or internal storage for the mission
Firmware up to date on drone, controller and each battery — check the drone app
Remote ID — if your drone needs an external module, confirm it's charged and packed
Drone and props inspected — no cracks, no damage from last flight
Pilot certificate or license and drone registration packed — if required where you fly
Gear packed — drone, controller, phone/tablet, spare batteries and props, cables, SD cards, charger or power bank
Accessories packed — landing pad, filters or lenses, lens cleaning kit
Self check — fit to fly? Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating (IMSAFE)
On site — pre-flight
External pressures — feeling rushed or pushed to fly? Would you still fly without it?
PPE — put on safety vest, hard hat, steel toe boots as required for this site
Notify property owner or site contact if applicable
Insurance — confirm coverage is active for this flight (start hourly coverage now if you use it)
Check actual conditions on site — wind and gusts within your drone's limits, no rain, good visibility
Check radar — no weather approaching during your flight
Recheck TFRs (US) — confirm nothing new has popped up since you planned
Assess the area — obstacles, people, animals, power lines, trees, antennas, structures
Choose a safe takeoff and landing zone — level, clear overhead, away from people and obstacles
Secondary landing zone identified — know your backup before arming
Visual observer briefed — if you're using one
Bystanders warned — ask them to stay clear of the launch and landing area
Flight plan — know your route, your limits, and what you'll do if something goes wrong
Fly the upwind leg first — so the drone returns with the wind behind it
Inspect drone body — no cracks, damage, or debris from last flight
Gimbal lock and lens cap removed — confirm before powering on
Gimbal check — movement free, no obstruction
Lens and sensors clear — no fog, dew or smudges; let the drone adjust if it came from a hot car or a house
Filters — select and attach appropriate filter based on conditions: ND (bright sun), CPL (glare/reflections), UV (haze), or specialty filters as needed
Arms unfolded and locked — and landing gear in place, if your drone has it
Props attached and locked — inspect for chips or cracks
Battery installed and latched — confirm it's seated and won't come loose
SD card inserted and its cover closed — before powering on
Temperature — within your drone's operating range (check its manual). Cold: keep batteries warm until launch and expect a shorter flight. Heat: keep the drone and batteries out of the sun and a hot car
Strobe lights attached — if you're using them
Remote ID module attached — if your drone uses one, confirm it's on and broadcasting
Antennas out — controller antennas deployed and adjusted, not left folded away
Power on controller first, then drone — confirm link established
GPS lock — wait for a strong lock (10+ satellites) and confirm the home point is updated
Set RTH altitude — above the tallest obstacle in the area
Confirm active lens — if your drone has multiple cameras, verify the correct lens is selected
Set camera — resolution, frame rate, exposure mode for the session
Video shutter — if you shoot video, about twice your frame rate (1/60 at 30 fps); fix exposure with the ND filter, not the shutter
Confirm recording format — color profile (Normal / D-Log / D-Log M) and file type (RAW, JPEG, or RAW+JPEG) set for intended use
White balance — lock manually before flight; do not leave on Auto
Test photo or short clip — confirm it records and the exposure looks right
Compass calibration — calibrate if the app or controller asks for it, in a new location, or near large metal structures
Other calibrations — IMU, gimbal, vision sensors, controller sticks: calibrate when the app warns, or after a crash or hard landing
Flight mode — Normal for general flying; Sport only in open areas clear of people and obstacles
Controller programmable buttons — confirm mapping for this flight
Obstacle avoidance — enable and set sensitivity appropriate for your environment
Max altitude — set a sensible ceiling for the location
Max distance — set a limit that keeps the drone within sight
Loss of signal action — set to RTH (not Hover or Land)
Low-battery return level — confirm the RTH battery warning is set
Start screen recording on your controller or phone — if you record your flights
No drone app warnings or errors — clear before arming
During flight
Hover check at 10ft (3m) — confirm stability, no drift, no warnings · briefly test all four directions (forward, back, left, right) before proceeding
Check wind at altitude — hover at mission height briefly and confirm conditions before proceeding
Stay within visual line of sight at all times
Stay at or below the maximum altitude allowed in your country/region — 400 ft AGL in the US
Watch for other air traffic and birds — yield to manned aircraft immediately, keep clear of other drones and birds
Be aware of people entering your fly zone — pause or land if needed
Monitor signal strength and satellite count — watch for signs of interference
Monitor battery — start back early enough to land with a reserve, allowing for distance and wind
Post-flight
Safe landing — props stopped before approaching the drone
Stop screen recording — before you power off the controller
Power off drone, then controller
Inspect drone after landing — props, body, gimbal, no damage
Transfer/back up footage if needed — copy files to backup drive
Let site contact know you're finished — if you notified them
Pack drone properly in case — confirm all parts undamaged and stowed securely
Let batteries cool before charging — a hot battery should rest first
Put batteries on charger when home — don't leave discharged
Log the flight — site, flight time and any issues (tap Save flight record)