What are pre-flight safety checks?
Pre-flight checks are the systematic steps taken before take-off to ensure:
• The aircraft is airworthy
• The environment is safe
• The flight is legal
• The mission can be completed without unnecessary risk
They are designed to prevent incidents before they happen, not react to them after.
Why they matter (real-world impact)
Most drone incidents come from:
• Low battery misjudgement
• Compass or IMU errors
• Poor GPS lock
• Environmental hazards (trees, cables, people)
• Rushed take-offs
• Outdated firmware or missing updates
A proper pre-flight check reduces the risk of:
• Flyways
• Crashes
• Airspace infringements
• Equipment damage
• Injury to people
• Lost customer trust
Standard Pre-Flight Checklist (Practical Version)
1. Environment & Airspace
• Check airspace (Drone Assist / Altitude Angel / DJI FlySafe / AirMap)
• Confirm permission if flying in controlled airspace
• Check weather:
o Wind speed (especially gusts)
o Rain / moisture
o Visibility
• Identify hazards:
o Trees
o Power lines
o Buildings
o People
o Animals
2. Aircraft Physical Check
• Arms unfold correctly
• Propellers:
o No cracks
o No chips
o Correctly seated
• Gimbal:
o Gimbal cover removed
o Moves freely
• Body:
o No cracks
o No loose components
• Sensors:
o Cameras clean
o Vision sensors unobstructed
3. Battery & Power
• Flight battery fully charged
• Controller battery sufficient
• Battery seated correctly
• No swelling or damage
• Battery temperature within safe range
4. Firmware & System
• Firmware up to date (aircraft + controller + batteries if applicable)
• No unresolved warnings in the app
• Compass normal
• IMU status OK
• SD card inserted and formatted
5. GNSS & Home Point
• Adequate GPS/GNSS satellites locked
• Home point confirmed verbally
• RTH altitude set above obstacles
• RTH behaviour understood (hover, land, return)
6. Mission Planning
• Objective clear
• Flight path planned
• Emergency landing spots identified
• Max altitude and geofence understood
• VLOS maintained
Professional operators often use formal frameworks like:
If you're speaking to commercial clients, these keywords add credibility:
• SORA methodology (Specific Operations Risk Assessment)
• Operational Authorisation conditions
• CAP722 / CAP722A guidance
• SMS (Safety Management System)
• Dynamic risk assessment (DRA)
But the core checks remain the same.