Operational Training Techniques

Regulations

Flying drones – or more correctly known as UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) – are very quickly

becoming the must-have new bit of kit for photographers and film makers.

However, there are quite a few rules, principally from the CAA, that must be adhered to in order to

stay legal.

The lists below are intended to give you an idea, and are in no way exhaustive.

Commercial operators require the following before flying:

If you are using the UAV for 'valuable consideration', or, roughly translated, for commercial

purposes, you must have ‘Permission' (PfCO) granted by the CAA. In order to get the PfCO you will

have to go through a National Qualifying Entity (NQE) and pass the courses and tests. All commercial

operators are required to be fully insured and to have an operations manual.

Rules of flights:

You cannot fly further than 500m in visual flight range of the aircraft – you must be able to see it

with the naked eye.

Maximum height allowable is 400ft (120 metres) above ground level.

The landowner's permission must be obtained before commercial flights.

The aircraft must not be flown:

Over or within 150 metres of any congested area (town, city, or busy area) unless special permission has been granted by the CAA

No closer than 50m to a road, structure, or congested area You may not fly within 150m of a crowd of 1,000 people. Within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the

person in charge of the aircraft Within 50 metres of any person except during take-off or landing, During takeoff and landing the aircraft must not be flown within 30 metres of any person

except for the person in charge of the aircraft.

Certain areas like royal palaces, airports, nuclear power stations and military bases are an absolute

no-no.

Most craft will be grounded by rain or winds over 20mph.

Flights are permissible from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset – unless special

permission has been obtained from the CAA.

If person or persons, vehicle, vessel are under the pilots control you may fly closer than 50m if it is

safe to do so.

Principally, this allows the hobbyist to fly in the countryside away from towns and busy areas.

Already, we are seeing some very good use of this technology with great results. If you do wish to fly

within a restricted area, do contact the CAA for further help. On Google Earth, there is a useful

feature that will give you a map of the restricted areas and the free-to-fly areas. Check out also

www.caa.co.uk/uas.

These rules are in place for safety. Too many hobbyists have purchased drones and just gone flying –

ignorance of the rules is not an excuse. You never know what might just happen.

Theory of Flight

Multi Rotor UAS

UAS operate on the same principle. Quad copters operate with opposite rotors turning the same

direction such that any direction taken torque is stabilised by two counter rotating rotors.

Quad copters blade rotates same way on opposite rotors.

Determining Orientation

UAV to determine its orientation, accelerometers and gyroscopes come into action.

Three gyroscopes normally measure velocity for each axis.

Both Accelerometers and gyroscopes have problems through

Accelerometers are sensitive to vibration and slow to react

Gyroscopes are quick to react, vibration resistant but prone to drift

Flight Controllers

Lipo Battery

On board controller

Wireless communication module

4 electronic speed controllers

4 motors

Additional sensors

GPS for stabilising and directional control

Electronic compass to assist primary reference for orientation

(Need to be calibrated)

UAS altimeter are carried for height reference

Multi Rotor Hover Stationery

Whilst hovering the weight of the UAV is exactly offset by the lift generated by the rotors which are

rotating at the same speed. This keeps the UAV in hover.

Multi Rotor Climbing

All rotors are collectively commanded to increase speed which in turn collectively increases lift. UAV

therefore climbs as lift generated greater than UAV weight.

Multi Rotor Move Left

To move UAV left, the right rotor increases speed and the left rotor decreases speed. Due to

increased lift on right hand side and decrease lift left-hand side this causes right side UAV to raise

slightly higher than left inducing vehicle movement to the left.

Multi Rotor Rotate Right

To cause the UAV to rotate right two rotors on opposite sides increase their speed, two rotors on

opposite sides decrease, due to their torque reaction between the pair of opposite rotor the UAV

will rotate in the opposite direction.

Automated Directional Control

GPS ability to track flight and automatically fly home in event of mishap. Fly mission planning can

also be achieved with the use of on board GPS.

Compass Control the magnetometer (electronic Compass) gives readings in X, Y&Z directions and

used alongside the Gyro & Accelerometer gives the aircraft a reference to orientation.

Altimeter Height Control achieved by barometer sensors or GPS which gives height above ellipsoid

which may or may not be same height above ground level.

Multi Rotor Components

Relationship with Altitude

At high altitude there is lower air density; motors require working harder to lift the same weight

therefore significant reduction in battery life

Flying in hot desert conditions when air density can also be low a similar effect upon batteries can

apply

In hot and high conditions therefore may have negative effect on your battery life due to the

propellers having to rotate faster to generate required lift?

Propellers

Like a wing but used as a force called thrust. Force dependant on rotational speed of propeller.

The chord line of a propeller is imaginary line drawn through the blade from leading edge to trailing

edge.

The angle which air strikes the propeller is its angle of attack. This measured from the chord line.

Propeller Twist

If you look down the length of the propeller you will see a twist.

As the out part of the propeller rotates faster than the inside the outer side will generate more

thrust if it was uniform. Twisting the propeller you will achieve more uniform thrust.

Propeller twisted along its length even out the force generated along the length.

UAS Internal/External Loads

Greater intended weight will require higher throttle to maintain lift and height.

External loads create more drag resulting in even more use of power.

External load generally have more effect on fixed wing than rotary due to aerodynamic effect.

When carrying loads consider propeller type, greater chord (greater pitch) will increase lift

capability.

UAS Airworthiness

UAS under 20kg are not required to be registered and therefore do not need a Certificate of

Airworthiness

UAS are expected to be fit to fly condition will not endanger people, animals or property

UAS should be safe such no article will fall off at any time.

Flying the Drone

Preparation before going flying

1: Visually inspect the Phantom 3 aircraft for body damage taking greater attention to the landing

gear and camera/gimbal.

2: Check the propellers you will use during a flying session for damage like chips, cracks, bending and

hub wear.

3: Check your batteries for damage/signs of swelling. Swollen batteries should really not be used for

flying.

4: Spin the motors with your fingers and make sure none feel/sound different.

5: Charge all required flight batteries. Run the battery self check feature.

6: Charge the Phantom 3 controller and power on/off to verify it works.

7: Charge your mobile device. Close all running apps then test the Pilot App to make sure it opens.

8: Make sure you have MicroSD card(s) available empty/formatted. Slot one inside the Phantom

ready.

9: Power on the controller then Phantom 3 and quickly check that IMU readings are within range. It

should normally be OK. Power everything back off.

10. Cache maps in the DJI Pilot App are needed.

11: Make sure Gimbal guard is fitted before transport. You can use the one that came with the

Phantom or another 3rd party one you might have purchased.

12: Pack the Phantom 3 in your chosen transport method making sure its secure.

13. Check Weather, Solar Radiation/Storm Levels, Wind speed/direction and is the location you will

fly in is within a No Fly Zone or not.

Pre-Flight

1: Make sure the area you are going to fly in is safe not only for you and your phantom but members

of the public, animals and other aircraft too. A big wide open field would be best for the first few

flights.

2: Carefully unpack the Phantom 3 and the controller, tablet, batteries and propellers onto a clean

surface. If you transport in a case you can place them on top or take a small plywood board with you

for this purpose. Check the Phantom to make sure its OK. Also remember to remove any lens cap

and check the lens is clean on the camera.

3: Mount your tablet/phone onto the Phantom 3 controller and attach the USB cable from the

device to it.

4: Put the battery into the Phantom 3 making sure it is seated correctly (should be almost no gap

between the Phantom’s shell and the battery).

5: Attach a set of propellers to each motor. Make sure to mount the Black headed hubs to the black

tipped motors and the Gray headed hubs to the silver tipped motors. Make sure to snugly tighten

the propellers by hand.

6: Place the Phantom 3 on clean level ground. Use a small square sheet of plywood or a transport

case if needed.

7: Remove the Gimbal Guard.

8: Power on the controller and then the Phantom 3. Open the Pilot App on your tablet/phone and

verify you can see a live feed from the aircraft. Allow it to set a “Home Point”. Monitor the aircraft’s

status lights to confirm this as well as the Pilot App. Have the antennas setup like Rabbit Ears

( Looking at the controller form the side _| – Looking at the controller form the front \_/ ).

9. Turn the volume UP on the tablet with the Pilot App Open.

10. Set the brightness to full on your tablet.

11: Calibrate the compass. Keep the Phantom about 10 feet from the controller and any metal

objects when doing compass calibration. If the calibration fails, move the Phantom from its current

location and try again.

12. Check that the PAF switch is in the desired position. P mode is best to start with.

13: Move about 10 feet from the Phantom making sure the back of it is facing you. Arm the motors

using the CSC (Combination Stick Command). The Pilot App will confirm the aircraft is ready to fly.

Make sure a valid “Home Point” has been recorded.

14: Slowly increase the throttle and lift the Phantom 3 about 15 feet off the ground. Do a slow

left/right/forward/back movement and YAW to confirm its stable and working as expected. You can

now enjoy flying the DJI Phantom 3.

Emergency Procedures

Loss of GPS Mode A Landing Site

Land ASAP

Loss of Control Freq

RTH activated RTH not working

Mode A Landing Site

Land ASAP

SUA Battery Fail Auto Land

SUA Battery Fail no auto land

Landing Site Land ASAP

TX Battery Fail Auto Land

Loss of Motor Power

Landing Site Land ASAP

Fly Away Mode A Regain Control

Land ASAP

Fly Away no control

RTH activated

Fly Away no RTH

Power off motors TX off Time noted

Heading noted

Call ATC/Emergency Services

Structural Failure

Landing Site Land ASAP

Cordon Breach

Place SUA in safe attitude and hover

(If a breach of the cordon area was to occur the PIC would either place the SUA in a safe configuration, this could be hover away from the breach, hover over the emergency landing area or land).

Air Incursions

Avoid collisions by visually flying the SUA

Land when safe to do so

Subsequent actions Prepare and submit MOR (CAP382 MORS SRG1601 Occurrence Form)

PIC Incapacitation

Abandon flight

Mode P selected

RTH activate

Release TX from harness

-PIC sit down -Call appropriate agency if medical assistance required

Aircraft Fire

Select Mode A

Select landing site

Land safely as soon as possible

Maintain cordon around SUA

-Shut down -Tackle fire if it is safe -otherwise leave -Call appropriate emergency services if required

Injury to Public

Land SUA call appropriate authorities, note time

Damage to property

Land SUA call appropriate authorities, note time

Injury to PIC

See PIC Incapacitation

Injury to Animal and Life Stock

Land SUA, call appropriate authorities

Techniques

Flying

1. Wind

Always check wind direction

Always try to fly the drone into wind, much more stable and if there is a problem it’s easier to fly the drone back to you down wind. Filming across wind in high wind situations will result in offset pictures.

Watch out for down thrusts near ground level and when you raise above trees or walls, be ready.

2. Sunlight

Try to keep sun behind you at all times, check where sun will be when you’re flying

Control camera by manual exposure and settings, it works better.

3. Battery

Always check your battery level, set a margin your comfortable with and a minimum to get you home, increase margin over water,

Do you have a battery heater for cold weather?

4. Home Point

Is it set in the right place? Keep a check on it

5. Cross Wires

Do you have the cross wires and target on your screen to keep the subject on and in frame?

6. Controls

Be gentle, light weight movement is best, trim your control actions from 100% speed to maybe 70%.

Progressive

Be positive and progressive keep the drone moving at one set point and do not stop.

Repeat, repeat and repeat

Do not stop with one take; fly the drone backwards and forwards on a shoot to capture the image.

7. Camera

Is the SD card in?

Is the camera in focus?

What format are you using?

Have you tested the camera is recording?

8. Auto control

Use auto orbits for really good landscape shots

9. Two Person

Always easier if you have a second person to operate the camera if this can be done

10. Fly the drone

Fly the drone not the camera

11. Start high

Start high then come lower

12. Piece to camera

Start by flying back from the subject not to the subject

1. The fly-by

The fly-by is a “Swiss Army knife”-type shot that works well for quick cuts or sprinkling in some fun to a B-roll sequence. The trick with the fly-by is to set your framing before your subject appears in the shot, and coordinating the movement of the gimbal in relation to the movement of the aircraft. And be sure to set your camera operator’s pan and tilt speeds in relation to the type of shot you are pulling off.

2. The reveal

The reveal is aptly named — it’s really just a good old’ fashioned reveal; only this time, it’s from the sky. If your gimbal allows for it, be sure to adjust your ramping speeds to create a smooth finish to your reveal shots. You will want to slow those down and make sure to bench test with the camera you plan to use before you fly.

3. The chase

The chase works as a great closing shot — especially when combined with a long ascension — or as an action punch, which provides ample speed ramping options in. The timing on these shots is the most difficult aspect to contend with, but a great place to start is setting up your shot about 20 feet or so away from your first target (where you want the shot to begin), which will give you plenty of time to get your direction and speed squared away.

4) The high-pan

The high-pan shot is primarily used to showcase landscapes and the proximity of a subject to its surroundings. Once you lock in your favourite portion of the view, be sure to run your shot left to right and right to left multiple times, so you can afford yourself a plethora of options in post.

5) The explorer

The explorer is all about making the most of what you see when your bird is in the sky and you’ve suddenly got vision for miles. Always be aware of just how much power your batteries have left so that you have enough juice to get your drone home.