Okay guys, I'm thinking about doing an updated video about how to avoid crashing or losing your drone.  I did one a while back, but with all the new people that are coming to the hobby with the Mavic Mini, I thought I'd try to do a new one that is a bit more concise and related to the Mini.  
Also maybe a little less "in your face".  

If you were to make a short concise list of like 5 or 6 items to communicate to someone new, what would they be?

This is the list I initially had in mind.  Any feedback?

• Know Environment
• Know Your Surroundings
• Pre-flight Inspection
• Compass & Magnetic Interference
• GPS Signal and Home Point Acquisition
• RTH Height
  
  

ETA:  7. Know Your Equipment (added based on suggestion from this thread)

Thanks!


p.s. Here is the older "in your face" version referenced above...

Honestly, it's like anything else, practise. Find a calm day, an open field and just fly the drone. Get as familiar as you can with it's limitations in a safe environment. I see so many videos of these reviewers of new products flying their drones on sidewalks near a busy roadway or doing distance tests and flying the drone at 400+ft ... too many bad examples on the web. No wonder they are coming out with crazy laws that will destroy the hobby.

dutch937 Posted at 12-30 18:30
Honestly, it's like anything else, practise. Find a calm day, an open field and just fly the drone. Get as familiar as you can with it's limitations in a safe environment. I see so many videos of these reviewers of new products flying their drones on sidewalks near a busy roadway or doing distance tests and flying the drone at 400+ft ... too many bad examples on the web. No wonder they are coming out with crazy laws that will destroy the hobby.

Thanks for the feedback!

I disagree with the just practice theme.  That may be applicable for someone after they've got some basic knowledge.  I've seen countless people in this forum and others wanting to just practice and end up with crashing or losing their drone because they didn't know about magnetic interference or wait for the GPS signal to get locked in or a number of other things that some of us that have been flying for years are now aware of as common knowledge.  But may not necessarily be so common knowledge for someone that just bought a new toy and want to test it out.

My first crash was 100% my fault because I had no clue about magnetic interference.  I took off right next to a huge chunk of metal and had no clue it would cause problems.  

I'd like to be concise and specific with the advice I give to help prevent such issues.

Thanks!

battery level above 60% for RC, AC and phone

lannes Posted at 12-30 18:56
battery level above 60%

Agreed, battery check would be part of the pre-flight inspection.  I will actually recommend 100% for a new flight for new fliers.

Watch wind levels as the mini struggles in windy conditions

Fly against the wind going out, so that you have a tailwind coming back

lannes Posted at 12-30 19:00
Watch wind levels as the mini struggles in windy conditions

Fly against the wind going out, so that you have a tailwind coming back

Agreed!  That would be the main portion of the "know the environment" portion.  Higher wind speeds at different altitudes would also be part of that.

Hello my dear!,

Maybe they should watch all the DJI Mavic Mini videos as well as yours

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClH0xVO3zOfYdGjoPU6S2hw/search?query=mavic+mini

KlooGee Posted at 12-30 19:01
Agreed!  That would be the main portion of the "know the environment" portion.  Higher wind speeds at different altitudes would also be part of that.

For first few flights (of any drone), would suggest not even a breeze.  
To many other things to learn and concentrate on, to deal with wind, which may be gusting.

How trees can buffer wind to where you don't notice wind, but there is real wind above trees.
Might warn about flying near buildings where wind is tunneled and wind can swirl.

I'm guessing you will mention the use of Apps in the section of Knowing Your Environment.  UAV Forecast, B4UFly, etc.  

Thanks for taking on the task of a new video to help out new flyers.  It appears many don't even bother to read the User Manual so hopefully they are more amenable to getting necessary tips from a video.  

I use and gave my grandson a copy of the pre-flight checklist that Hallmark007 put out in one of the MM threads.  Also great information for new flyers as well as good reminders for those of us who have flown a while.   

Happy New Year.

I agree and would add to the list Read The Manual at least 5 times because all the info is there. I think people are in too much of a hurry to get airborne which is fair enough but with its pitfalls. I personally read the manual over and over again and even then i was not 100% sure until i was in the air. Practice makes for better flying and i still had a couple of brushes with near drone destruction. Very few vids on line talk about the importance of the manual before flying your expensive equipment.

HedgeTrimmer Posted at 2019-12-30 23:13
For first few flights (of any drone), would suggest not even a breeze.  
To many other things to learn and concentrate on, to deal with wind, which may be gusting.

I agree!  Wind will be a big portion of the environment section and taking into account sheltered areas like behind trees and buildings.  Thanks!

DowntownRDB Posted at 1-1 05:30
I'm guessing you will mention the use of Apps in the section of Knowing Your Environment.  UAV Forecast, B4UFly, etc.  

Thanks for taking on the task of a new video to help out new flyers.  It appears many don't even bother to read the User Manual so hopefully they are more amenable to getting necessary tips from a video.  

Yes, his pre-flight checklist is great!  I will plan to briefly mention some of those apps, but won't go into depth on them.  Thanks for the comments!  Much appreciated!

RK7dronzy Posted at 1-2 02:51
I agree and would add to the list Read The Manual at least 5 times because all the info is there. I think people are in too much of a hurry to get airborne which is fair enough but with its pitfalls. I personally read the manual over and over again and even then i was not 100% sure until i was in the air. Practice makes for better flying and i still had a couple of brushes with near drone destruction. Very few vids on line talk about the importance of the manual before flying your expensive equipment.

Good point!  Perhaps I should add a 7th item for "know your equipment"...  Thanks for the thoughts!