If you are worried about loosing your drone when you fly at night / in the fog, don't worry i was, but i took the risk, it was hard at first but i got used to it.


here are some tips and tricks

---

start by flying from 100% battery down to 60% so it won't drop out of sight,
try to move slowly,
stay in GPS mode,
try to stay in sight with the drone,
auto land and auto take off as much as possible.



thankyou and happy flying.

I fly at night without any issues, it’s legal here also.
In the fog that’s a completely different thing! I won’t even try it, I have seen videos of the drones going sky high and then not descending in the fog. So I’m not gonna take any chances there.

Flysafely
Alex

Alex B. Posted at 1-1 14:41
I fly at night without any issues, it’s legal here also.
In the fog that’s a completely different thing! I won’t even try it, I have seen videos of the drones going sky high and then not descending in the fog. So I’m not gonna take any chances there.

ok it's just once i was playing around with a drone in the alps and had to fly for 4 mins in the fog to get back to the take off spot.
fly safe

TC KABREW Posted at 1-1 14:45
ok it's just once i was playing around with a drone in the alps and had to fly for 4 mins in the fog to get back to the take off spot.
fly safe

I think it’s ok to fly with the mavic pro in the fog as you can turn off the bottom sensors.
Those bottom sensors can’t be turned off on the spark and the mavic air however, so I won’t fly with my spark in the fog for sure. Maybe with my mavic pro.

Flysafely
Alex

Alex B. Posted at 1-1 14:55
I think it’s ok to fly with the mavic pro in the fog as you can turn off the bottom sensors.
Those bottom sensors can’t be turned off on the spark and the mavic air however, so I won’t fly with my spark in the fog for sure. Maybe with my mavic pro.

im not sure if the sensors were off or not but it was my friends mavic pro.

Alex B. Posted at 1-1 14:55
I think it’s ok to fly with the mavic pro in the fog as you can turn off the bottom sensors.
Those bottom sensors can’t be turned off on the spark and the mavic air however, so I won’t fly with my spark in the fog for sure. Maybe with my mavic pro.

and do you think you will be upgrading to the mavic 2 pro / zoom

Yes I will. I’m just waiting until someone makes the FCC switch and maybe the boost 1.5 watt will also be done later on the mavic 2. But with FCC I’m happy already
I’m going for the mavic 2 zoom, I think it’s better apart from night/low light filming, in that aspect the mavic 2 pro wins hands down.
But I film mostly during the day. And I like the zoom feature A LOT

Flysafely
Alex

Alex B. Posted at 1-1 15:05
Yes I will. I’m just waiting until someone makes the FCC switch and maybe the boost 1.5 watt will also be done later on the mavic 2. But with FCC I’m happy already
I’m going for the mavic 2 zoom, I think it’s better apart from night/low light filming, in that aspect the mavic 2 pro wins hands down.
But I film mostly during the day. And I like the zoom feature A LOT

and one more thing, do you keep it in 4k or down res to 1080

TC KABREW Posted at 1-1 15:09
and one more thing, do you keep it in 4k or down res to 1080

I film in 2.7k, because at that resolution I can zoom in. In 4K you can’t zoom in.
When I know that I’ll be filming without zooming, then I film in 4K.

Fly safely
Alex

Alex B. Posted at 1-1 16:27
I film in 2.7k, because at that resolution I can zoom in. In 4K you can’t zoom in.
When I know that I’ll be filming without zooming, then I film in 4K.

ok thank you for helping me learn a bit more.

fly safe

TC KABREW Posted at 1-1 16:29
ok thank you for helping me learn a bit more.

fly safe

You are welcome

Flysafely and enjoy
Alex

Is fog considered a cloud?  USA FAA rule is 500 ft below clouds.

FlySD Posted at 1-2 10:02
Is fog considered a cloud?  USA FCC rule is 500 ft below clouds.

FCC ?    you mean FAA and FAA only suggest 400 feet AGL as a rule

if you wish to fly in the fog, disable downfiring vision system (vision positioning system)  i flown in fog many times, and if your drone doesn't have Ultrasonic Sensors + Cameras, but instead uses IR + Cameras it may randomly get confused by the fog and start to auto land because it thinks the ground is right under it.     

i suggest.

1. disable vision positioning system sensors.. fog will trick positioning system and could trigger auto landings, it will also lose track of its height real height if the fog is dense enough.

2. wait for full GPS lock before taking off, this will massively kep keep stability.  

3.  knowing your terrain first, know what high you need to be at to clear trees/homes/obstacles and fly up to that height and dont fly in sport mode stay in position-GPS mode (GPS or P-GPS).


4. use the Minimap if you your getting lost in the fog.

5. do not use RTH or limited RTH use..  better you manually fly it back and land it because you have better control over where it lands or doesn't land..  a full GPS lock may still be off several feet.. without vision system helping it..

6. pay attention to errors, do not initiated RTH if any redundancy failure or exception errors... fly back asap or land it safely (if possible) and go pick it up.. fog/clouds are just suspended moisture condensing in the air, and unlike some rain, the moisture is very small and can easily get sucked into via the cooling fan internally and blown across the internal systems, while unlikely to cause issues, be aware it can it is moisture while shouldn't stick to / condense to those warmer parts, still other parts internal may not be as warm and could condense..

HereForTheBeer Posted at 1-2 10:34
FCC ?    you mean FAA and FAA only suggest 400 feet AGL as a rule

I don't believe it is a suggestion and I was not talking about AGL.  I was talking about Cloud Cover, the rules is 500 ft BELOW the lowest clouds in the area as well as 2k ft horizontally.

The question was, does the FAA consider Fog a cloud.

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:04
I don't believe it is a suggestion and I was not talking about AGL.  I was talking about Cloud Cover, the rules is 500 ft BELOW the lowest clouds in the area as well as 2k ft horizontally.

The question was, does the FAA consider Fog a cloud.

where does it even say this in the FAA guidelines?
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/

I wonder?  Since those batteries are sensitive to moisture, if the Fog would cause any concern?

FlySD Posted at 1-2 10:02
Is fog considered a cloud?  USA FAA rule is 500 ft below clouds.

fog is not a cloud

HereForTheBeer Posted at 1-2 11:08
where does it even say this in the FAA guidelines?
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/

Alex B. Posted at 1-1 16:27
I film in 2.7k, because at that resolution I can zoom in. In 4K you can’t zoom in.
When I know that I’ll be filming without zooming, then I film in 4K.

Thanks for the recommendation of 2.7k, I have not played around with doing a semi-serious filming yet, still learning the basics.

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:04
I don't believe it is a suggestion and I was not talking about AGL.  I was talking about Cloud Cover, the rules is 500 ft BELOW the lowest clouds in the area as well as 2k ft horizontally.

The question was, does the FAA consider Fog a cloud.

it wouldn't make sense if fog was counted as a cloud because you can somewhat predict a cloud but you can't predict fog.

FlySD Posted at 1-2 10:02
Is fog considered a cloud?  USA FAA rule is 500 ft below clouds.

Yes, fog is low clouds - and are made up of moisture I forget if they are Low/High barometric pressure,, perhaps (Low).

TC KABREW Posted at 1-2 11:16
fog is not a cloud

Even if they might not be classified as a cloud, as soon as you lose sight of your drone, you are doing it wrong.  

HH1 Posted at 1-2 11:14
I wonder?  Since those batteries are sensitive to moisture, if the Fog would cause any concern?

wouldn't it depend on how long you were in the fog for or/and how moist the air is where you are

TC KABREW Posted at 1-2 11:18
it wouldn't make sense if fog was counted as a cloud because you can somewhat predict a cloud but you can't predict fog.

I am sure the FAA could care less if you can "predict" it or not.  Low visibility and your drone in moisture = against the rules.

People need to stop trying to skirt around them, that is how the hobby continually gets a bad rap.

HereForTheBeer Posted at 1-2 11:08
where does it even say this in the FAA guidelines?
https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/

Good of you to put that up - it helps.

TC KABREW Posted at 1-2 11:23
wouldn't it depend on how long you were in the fog for or/and how moist the air is where you are

Yep, I would say that is a factor, but the battery instructions were very concerned about moisture, so why take the chance?  However, since these aircraft belong to each of us, then the decision is up to the individual - right

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:23
I am sure the FAA could care less if you can "predict" it or not.  Low visibility and your drone in moisture = against the rules.

People need to stop trying to skirt around them, that is how the hobby continually gets a bad rap.

Good point, and also the FAA recommends that you listen to the Terminal Information on the aircraft AM frequency for the airport closest to you for the current conditions, wind and gusts, visibility etc.

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:23
I am sure the FAA could care less if you can "predict" it or not.  Low visibility and your drone in moisture = against the rules.

People need to stop trying to skirt around them, that is how the hobby continually gets a bad rap.

Good point, and also the FAA recommends that you listen to the Terminal Information on the aircraft AM frequency for the airport closest to you for the current conditions, wind and gusts, visibility etc.

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:17
[view_image][view_image]

thanks, i assumed this wasn't a part 107 flight and was a Section 336 flight.  you can be a 107 pilot but not every flight falls into 107 category if not commercial or that drone isn't registered for part 107..      

but that being said, very broad spectrum rule..  clouds are fog in the sky, fog is clouds on the ground..   but i think when anyone says cloud they mean above our heads not on the group, maybe over simplifying it a bit

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:23
I am sure the FAA could care less if you can "predict" it or not.  Low visibility and your drone in moisture = against the rules.

People need to stop trying to skirt around them, that is how the hobby continually gets a bad rap.

against the rules isn't against the law..    while yes, i much rather live by rules not by laws that are enforceable, at the same time, not everyone is a absolute menace that does something slightly against the rules.   i fly at night, in the fog, in rain, snow, low visibility, sometimes well over 400 feet AGL...   and the ironic part is my only serious occurrence with my drone happened the other day on a bright clear day, and ~50 feet AGL or something low like that, not a single sole (beyond myself) around.. and i crashed my mavic air pretty hard into a light pole....

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:22
Even if they might not be classified as a cloud, as soon as you lose sight of your drone, you are doing it wrong.

if i still have a video feed what's wrong with that?

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:23
I am sure the FAA could care less if you can "predict" it or not.  Low visibility and your drone in moisture = against the rules.

People need to stop trying to skirt around them, that is how the hobby continually gets a bad rap.

i suppose, my bad

HH1 Posted at 1-2 11:29
Yep, I would say that is a factor, but the battery instructions were very concerned about moisture, so why take the chance?  However, since these aircraft belong to each of us, then the decision is up to the individual - right

yh the decision is up to us, whats the difference between very moist air and fog

HereForTheBeer Posted at 1-2 11:36
thanks, i assumed this wasn't a part 107 flight and was a Section 336 flight.  you can be a 107 pilot but not every flight falls into 107 category if not commercial or that drone isn't registered for part 107..      

but that being said, very broad spectrum rule..  clouds are fog in the sky, fog is clouds on the ground..   but i think when anyone says cloud they mean above our heads not on the group, maybe over simplifying it a bit

336 no longer exists. They say to keep using them as a guideline until the replacement is released. I imagine whatever they replace it with will be closer to what 107 is today.
Either way, I still wouldn't fly in the fog, these things are not water proof so I'd be worried about frying something because it got wet.

TC KABREW Posted at 1-2 11:45
yh the decision is up to us, whats the difference between very moist air and fog

Visibility, Line of Sight

FlySD Posted at 1-2 11:49
Visibility, Line of Sight

i meant the difference between what happened with the batteries

TC KABREW Posted at 1-2 11:45
yh the decision is up to us, whats the difference between very moist air and fog

fog is is condensed moisture much closer to rain and is beyond air's saturation point, air can no longer hold onto moisture and is releasing it.  that's why it obstructs your view as physically in the way..  also why foix can sometimes be perceivably wet be droplets on you or things around you..      so flying around in densely foggy area will probably form water on parts of the drone maybe issue for some people as less willign to fly if its wet.. where as flying in humid air wont cause issues, other than maybe you sweating

HereForTheBeer Posted at 1-2 11:53
fog is is condensed moisture much closer to rain and is beyond air's saturation point, air can no longer hold onto moisture and is releasing it.  that's why it obstructs your view as physically in the way..  also why foix can sometimes be perceivably wet be droplets on you or things around you..      so flying around in densely foggy area will probably form water on parts of the drone maybe issue for some people as less willign to fly if its wet.. where as flying in humid air wont cause issues, other than maybe you sweating

okay, i am going to dry all my drones before i fly next.

HereForTheBeer Posted at 1-2 11:53
fog is is condensed moisture much closer to rain and is beyond air's saturation point, air can no longer hold onto moisture and is releasing it.  that's why it obstructs your view as physically in the way..  also why foix can sometimes be perceivably wet be droplets on you or things around you..      so flying around in densely foggy area will probably form water on parts of the drone maybe issue for some people as less willign to fly if its wet.. where as flying in humid air wont cause issues, other than maybe you sweating

Good points all, I'm learning, and thanks for that