6. Notate any obstacles or obstructions.
Crew Preparation
Once the LCP has determined the flight path, the LCP must communicate this plan to the Pilot Assistant and
all relevant crew members. LCP should also instruct the crew as to their roles in the flight, to ensure a safe
flight. The LCP should communicate all aspects of the flight and allow for crew members to ask any questions
relevant to the operation. During crew preparation, all crew members should outfit themselves with all
necessary PPE and take their respective positions.
FAA regulations require a pre-flight safety briefing to instruct all crew members of potential
hazards and communicate a plan to keep civilians clear of the operating environment.
Drone Setup
Once your pre-flight safety briefing is complete, operations setup and drone setup may begin. The following
steps should take place to ensure a safe operation:
1. Setup Takeoff and Landing Area
2. Set drone in takeoff position
3. Lift and lock arms into place
4. Remove the propeller guards and straighten out the propellers.
5. Screw GPS antennas onto the top of the aircraft.
6. Connect the hose to the connector beneath the drone frame.
7. Connect the sprayer nozzle to the drone using the quick connect
a. Ensure you hear a click to ensure the sprayer is attached properly
b. May pull gently on the sprayer nozzle to confirm a proper seal.
8. Place both batteries in the respective positions, strap down both batteries
Drone Hardware Checklist
Once drone setup is complete, ensure there is no damage to any integral part of the drone itself. Damage
could have occurred during transportation, a previous flight, storage or a crew member fiddling with the drone.
The LCP holds the ultimate responsibility to ensure a hardware check is completed prior to flight.
Pilots should check the following areas for potential issues prior to flight:
1. Propellers: Propellers should not be chipped, cracked or bent as this will cause an unstable flight and
potential catastrophic loss. Propellers should not have excess debris or material on the propellers. If
propellers become unbalanced, the props will fail in flight. As noted in our training course, propellers
are the most commonly replaced parts of any drone. Follow the maintenance schedule for instructions
on propeller replacement. We advise if propellers hit a tree, bush or other object, they should be
replaced immediately.
2. Motors: Motors should be level and spin freely upon testing. Prior to the flight, crew should confirm the
motors are level and spin freely without making noise. Motors should also be free of debris.
3. Screws: inspect the drone for loose or missing screws, any loose screws should be tightened.
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