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A drone preflight checklist for the aircraft, site and mission
A reusable flight sheet helps you remember checks, but it cannot decide whether a mission is authorized or safe. Build it around the aircraft manual, your operating procedures and the actual site. Separate the client's requested shots from the pilot's decision to proceed, delay, change the plan or stop.
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Drone mission preparation and preflight record
Mission and permission review
- Record the mission purpose, pilot, client contact and intended deliverables.
- Verify applicable operating permissions, airspace conditions and site access through authoritative sources.
- Identify any unresolved approval or operating restriction before accepting a launch plan.
- Confirm the owner or authorized contact has agreed the site access arrangement.
Site and weather assessment
- Assess wind, visibility and other conditions against the aircraft limits and operating procedures.
- Identify people, vehicles, wires, trees, structures and other nearby hazards.
- Plan a suitable launch and recovery area with control of ground access.
- Review normal and contingency landing options without assuming the planned area will stay clear.
Aircraft and payload check
- Inspect airframe, propellers, fasteners and payload mounting according to the manufacturer procedure.
- Check batteries for condition, secure fit and charge appropriate to the mission.
- Verify controller connection, navigation status and aircraft indications before proceeding.
- Review the applicable return and failsafe settings in the actual operating environment.
- Check camera setup, lens condition, storage capacity and requested capture settings.
Brief, launch decision and closeout
- Brief anyone supporting the operation on roles, ground hazards and stopping the mission.
- Confirm the intended capture plan remains within the authorized and safe operating scope.
- Make and record the pilot decision before launch; unresolved concerns mean the plan needs review.
- After landing, inspect equipment, secure recorded media and note faults or incomplete captures.
[Aircraft reference; mission location; pilot; authorizations checked; weather assessment; decision and exceptions]
This is an organizational sample, not a complete flight manual, legal checklist or authorization to fly.
Use the aircraft manufacturer instructions and qualified operational guidance for technical checks.
How to use the template.
- Edit the DOCX against your aircraft manual and operating procedures before using it for a mission.
- Add site-specific permissions, hazards and contingency decisions; do not use tick boxes as a substitute for assessment.
- Keep client capture requests separate from the pilot launch decision and record any changed plan.
- Retain the completed mission record through your own process and resolve aircraft faults before another operation.
Useful answers.
Does completing this checklist make a flight legal?
No. You must verify the rules, airspace and authorizations applicable to the actual operation using authoritative sources. This sheet only helps organize your own preparation.
Can one sheet cover every aircraft?
Not without adaptation. Manufacturer checks, payload setup and operating limitations differ, so revise the sheet for the aircraft and mission rather than assuming a generic list is complete.
What if the client asks for a shot outside the planned area?
Reassess the request against permissions, hazards and aircraft limitations before agreeing. A client request does not replace the pilot's responsibility to decide whether the operation can proceed safely.
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