Should I do a preflight check. Simple answer YES.

WHY:
There are many good reasons for doing a preflight checklist and none I can think of for not doing a preflight.

1/ preflight check is the best way of insuring you have checked all possible working elements of your drone, and the only way you have of knowing if your aircraft is safe to fly.

2/ the simple fact you have done a precheck will give you much more confidence about flying.

3/ if anything is not ok you will be able to track this before you ever leave the ground, and will have time to sort problem.

HOW:

Preflight checklists can vary and their use can depend how much time operators feel they need to spend on preflight check.

For commercial users preflight is an absolute, and should be done with physical checking and checking off all items on their checklist.

You should print off your preferred checklist and keep it in your flight bag, but should always go through before each days flying, it will also give you a record that before you flew that all was checked and working as it should, you can also use a new printed preflight checklist like commercial pilots each time , this will give you a personal record it will also be a record to show others that you have physically checked and marked off everything as in good working condition before you flew, particularly if on your flight mission you happen to have problems.

I’ll leave below copy of preflight checklist, it’s commercial so don’t think you have to complete all that’s in it before you fly.
But feel free to use any parts you find relevant to your flying experience.
Once you start using preflight checks from your own list you will find that it will become second nature to look for it in your bag before you take off.

Good Luck Fly Safe.
         

1. Pre-Departure Check			3. Pre-Flight Check
Aircraft	Checked		Airframe
Tablet	Charged		Airframe	Undamaged
Firmware	Updated		Motors	Rotating & Free   of FOD
Maps	Cached		Propeller	Tight and Secure
Camera	Lens Cleaned /   Checked		Battery	Voltage Checked &   Secure
SD card	Format
ND Filters	Checked		Transmitter
Gimbal	Checked		Antenna	Set
Spare Props	Checked		Battery	50% or greater.
Lipo Batteries	Checked / Charged		Transmitter	Power On
Charger	Checked		Tablet/Phone	Connect & On
Take-Off Pad	As required		App	Launch
Ops Manual	Checked
Logbooks	Checked		Gimbal/Camera	Attached/Checked
Tool Kit	As required		SD Card	Inserted
Anemometer	As required		Aircraft	Power On
High Vis	Checked		Settings
Protective   Glasses	As Required		Flight Mode	Set
Fire Gloves	As Required		Flight Limits (Vert/Hor)	Set
Fire Ext.	Checked		Return to Home Height	Set
First Aid Kit	Checked		Compass	Calibrate (if   Required)
Cones / Cordon   Tape	As Required		IMU	Level (If Required)
Signage	As Required		Camera Mode	Set
Table / Gazebo	As Required		Battery	Capacity Checked
			Telemetry & Satellites	Checked
2. Set Up Check
Site Safety Assessment	Confirmed		ATC	Advise (If Required)
Emergency   Landing Sites	Identified
Weather	Checked/Recorded
Brief	- Actions:  3rd Party
	- Actions: Aircraft
	- Emergency Land Sites
	- Pilot Incapacitation
	- Risk & Mitigation
4. Take-Off Check			5. Shutdown   Check
Communications	Check		Aircraft Battery	Off
3m Safety Zone	Set		"Safe"	Announce
"Rotors   On"	Announce
			Airframe	Undamaged
Take Off Area	Clear		Propellers	Undamaged
"Taking   Off"	Announce		Motors	Rotating Free &   Temp
			Camera/Gimbal	Checked
Flight   Controls	Check		Logbook	Recorded
Telemetry	Check		ATC	Advise
Battery	Check
			6. Between   Flight Checks
Landing Check			New Battery	Insert
Recording	Stop		Battery	On
Landing Area	Clear		Battery	Capacity &   Voltage Check
3m Safety Zone	Set		Telemetry & Satellites	Checked
			Take Off Check	Commence
"Landing"	Announce
"Rotors   Off"	Announce
	SUA Limits
	Max Wind Speed		22mph
	Max   Temperature		40° C
	Minimum   Temperature		-10° C
	Max Descent   Speed		-4mps
	Max Speed		18mps

Thanks hallmark007.
I carry a precheck as you mentioned in my bag. I also have a copy of all setup procedures  in the controller that I go over to make sure nothing has changed.

I think you forgot to add the  preflight checklist  in the post. Didn't see one.

Very handy advice. I still use the pre flight you gave me when I first got my Spark. Works well for me from then to now

B1houdini Posted at 2018-6-10 07:23
Thanks hallmark007.
I carry a precheck as you mentioned in my bag. I also have a copy of all setup procedures  in the controller that I go over to make sure nothing has changed.

thank you forgot list, its up there now.

Suren Posted at 2018-6-10 07:26
Very handy advice. I still use the pre flight you gave me when I first got my Spark. Works well for me from then to now

thank you, left list out, its up there now.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-6-10 07:31
thank you, left list out, its up there now.

Thank You

Thanks,
Is it OK with you to make a copy??

B1houdini Posted at 2018-6-10 07:37
Thanks,
Is it OK with you to make a copy??

feel free to do as you please.

B1houdini Posted at 2018-6-10 07:37
Thanks,
Is it OK with you to make a copy??

Ha Already copied it

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-6-10 07:38
feel free to do as you please.

I am with Suren, Copied and filed under MP Tips

This is great; thanks for sharing!

Very comprehensive and well thought through, thank you!

Nancy SEO Posted at 2018-6-10 08:02
This is great; thanks for sharing!

your welcome.

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-10 08:19
Very comprehensive and well thought through, thank you!

thank you Captain

That is a good list.
I have a shorter one, but time will tell if that is sufficient!

Montfrooij Posted at 2018-6-10 12:27
That is a good list.
I have a shorter one, but time will tell if that is sufficient!

The most important thing is to have a list that works for you, and of course use it.

This is a very good list.  Thanks for taking the time in putting this together.  This will help new and novice pilots.  Excellent.

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-6-10 13:12
The most important thing is to have a list that works for you, and of course use it.

Very true.

SparksBird Posted at 2018-6-10 18:12
This is a very good list.  Thanks for taking the time in putting this together.  This will help new and novice pilots.  Excellent.

Thank you hope it helps.

1. Pre-Departure Check - Firmware


Really such a good idea?

Nothing like adding several big unknowns to what was a wokring system, (Drone, R.C., Smartdevice, GO-4) - prior to mission.  
Maybe for test flight.   But even then, best to limit changes to minimize risks.

Houston we have a problem.  
What's that?  
Well you know that new firmware you guys loaded in Lander's main computer.
Yeah, what about?
Seems it caused a slow Yaw to left.  We are now headed away from moon.
Let us get back to you on that.  Okay, we need you to re-update firmware and try landing again.
Houston, not sure you understand, it's all over but for gasping of air.

HedgeTrimmer Posted at 2018-6-22 07:17
1. Pre-Departure Check - Firmware

Could you please consider stopping your childish and ignorant rant against well respected other forum members? You have no right to behave this way here and you should rather feel ashamed! Or are there maybe other factors at play that us normal users are not aware of?

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-22 13:00
Could you please consider stopping your childish and ignorant rant against well respected other forum members? You have no right to behave this way here and you should rather feel ashamed! Or are there maybe other factors at play that us normal users are not aware of?

What is wrong with caution I pointed out?

Do you think it is a smart idea to make changes prior to a mission, especially a professional one, without first testing those changes?

Given all recent problems with updates, do you think it is wise to update everything at once?  

(With exception of other updates that are called for in release notes of update that is being done.)

As for you lecturing, you me.  You lost credibility when you refused to call out your buddy hallmark007 for not only crude name calling first time, but his laughing it off with another crude name calling.   But I am willing to give you another chance.





Will you now call him out publicly?  

Or Will you continue to remain silent, with nodding approval?

HedgeTrimmer Posted at 2018-6-22 13:24
What is wrong with caution I pointed out?

Do you think it is a smart idea to make changes prior to a mission, especially a professional one, without first testing those changes?

You have just received a PM from me and consider taking it seriously! And the fifth report tonight for here above.

Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-22 13:27
You have just received a PM from me and consider taking it seriously! And the fifth report tonight for here above.

I take it your silence means you condone hallmark007 calling other people crude names?

As for fifth report tonight.  If you mean reporting me to moderators, that is fine.  They will have to weigh you and hallmark007's repeated taunting of myself and others.

Being I called out another poster for making an over top rude comment about another forum member here, may have been about you, I have a clear conscious.

Thanks for posting that. A few questions for you. How much time does it take you to complete a full check? What kind of things do you typically find during this check that you might not otherwise find?

Also, I do a few more things not on your list that I have found important:

* Check return to home mode (hover, RTH, etc.). This is important because I set this to hover when I'm inside, which is not necessarily what I want when I'm outside.
* Obstacle avoidance on/off as needed
* Do I need prop guards?
* Look around carefully to assess the bird situation (hawks, seagulls, etc.)

In addition, I find it useful to actually fly a bit before I depart - especially if I just got a firmware update.

Danger Lampost Posted at 2018-6-22 15:47
Thanks for posting that. A few questions for you. How much time does it take you to complete a full check? What kind of things do you typically find during this check that you might not otherwise find?

Also, I do a few more things not on your list that I have found important:

Most of it is now fairly routine pre departure I would do always before I leave home, the rest on site, RTH is always done as part of app check.
I have a lighter list for when I’m hobby flying, so not all above would be on there, all those checks above are for company I do some flying for. I am required to physically check all above and they must all be ticked off.

I do find since I do this routinely that if I miss something, that as soon as I take off I remember very quickly, when I’m flying for myself list is somewhat shorter takes less time. There are a few other important things I do , I will try to post these tomorrow, it’s a really good exercise before taking Aircraft to the sky.

Danger Lampost Posted at 2018-6-22 15:47
Thanks for posting that. A few questions for you. How much time does it take you to complete a full check? What kind of things do you typically find during this check that you might not otherwise find?

Also, I do a few more things not on your list that I have found important:

There you go, hope this helps...


Tip To Help Avoid compass interference and crash.


1/ Never calibrate Compass unless prompted to.

2/ start AC leave until you receive enough gps lock ,

3/ if you get Compass interference turn off AC and move to another location,
without interference.

4/ In bottom left hand corner on your map you will see small red triangle, check to make sure that this triangle is pointing in the same direction (heading) as your AC, this will show good compass on the ground.

Raise AC to height of 8ft
Hover for 20 seconds
Fly forward 2ft
Backward 2ft
Left 2ft
Right 2ft
Up 2ft
Down 2ft
Yaw left
Yaw right
Each time returning to hover position
If you have a good horizontal each time, you will then know you have good GPS good IMU and good Compass, and your ready to fly.

This exercise takes less than 2 minutes and is worthwhile doing before every flight,

hallmark007 Posted at 2018-6-22 16:27
There you go, hope this helps...

That is a fabulous little test. I think I do something like that without thinking about it before I take off - kind of like stretching out your muscles to see if you've got any stiff joints.

Danger Lampost Posted at 2018-6-22 16:57
That is a fabulous little test. I think I do something like that without thinking about it before I take off - kind of like stretching out your muscles to see if you've got any stiff joints.

We all should do some preflight .