Travelling with Drones? Here is a Checklist to Follow

Drones are becoming more and more popular among the masses with each passing day. The reason I guess is that you can fly it around and can take incredible images and videos from it at very different angles. It is a fun experience that draws in more people. It also has quickly turned into a business also.

Flying a drone is not easy and you need to take formal training or spend several hours perfecting your skills. Therefore, not everyone can fly it with precision to click good pictures. Therefore, many have become professional drone pilots who teach others how to fly a drone as well as how to take good aerial shots while flying the drone.

A drone is a beautiful piece of engineering and has to be handled with care too. Now, many of us don’t have beautiful landscape near where we live or on our daily route. Therefore, we need to travel a lot before we can arrive at a place suitable for aerial photography using drones. But you need to keep few things in mind and know about the government regulations before you decide to take your drone with you on that long trip into Mother Nature.

1. Get a Hard Case for your Drone

There is no explaining this point as everyone knows that the drone has to be protected during traveling. You must have a decent hard case that has ample padding on the inside. It should be sturdy enough to protect your drone from all the bumps and other obstacles that come in your way while traveling.

You get a case from the manufacturer itself when you buy the drone. The case is custom-made to fit the drone and the accessories that come with it. Therefore, it will be more than enough for your short journeys. However, when you have to carry more than one drone with you, it isn’t practical to have different cases for each drone as it will take up too much space.

In such cases, you must opt for a case that is more flexible. But while looking for such a case, make sure it is sturdy, hard on the outside and soft on the inside.

2. Pay Attention To Rules

There are many restrictions on using drones in public places. If you don’t follow them then it can also land you in jail. So give special attention to the rules and regulations for drones at the place where you intend to use them. These rules are being changed constantly and can be confusing, so it is your task to get a clear idea of them.

You must have the relevant license to fly the drone and you should be compliant to the local rules as well. Many drone enthusiasts have traveled to spectacular locations only to be charged with fines or even have their drones confiscated. So it is better to follow guidelines to avoid anything like this.

There are a lot of websites that elaborates all the rules and regulations of the place in great detail. So it is good practice to check such websites and get a clear knowledge of the rules at the place you want to travel to.

3. Maps

When you are going for a trip into nature, it is most likely that you will not get a good signal reception on your mobile. It may happen that you will not be able to find the place you intended to or get totally lost.

Therefore, download the map of that area where you want to go before you leave your house. In this way, you will have the map with you and you will be able to find directions easily. This will be very helpful and you won’t end up spoiling your trip.

4. Traveling With Batteries

Most of the drones are fueled by batteries. They have very less fly time before the battery discharges completely. Therefore, many professionals carry 2 or 3 extra batteries with them just to be able to fly their drone for a longer time. There are specific rules and regulations for transporting such batteries.

These batteries are mostly made of Lithium in different combinations. They have a tiny risk of explosion and, therefore, aren’t allowed to travel with by most airlines. You should discharge these batteries completely before traveling. In addition, you must keep them in fireproof bags as shown above.

At the airport, this thing is completely at the discretion of the airport security officials. Therefore, you have to prove them that you know exactly what you’re doing and you know the risks and have taken steps to minimize them. You can also make a label saying “Batteries Inside” and stick it on your fireproof bag which will also help you to gain the confidence of the security.

5. Accessories

If you’re halfway through your journey or have reached your destination only to find that you have forgotten to bring the battery or any other part or a spare then you will be annoyed. Therefore, it is a good practice to always travel with extra parts like propellers and batteries. Also, you should keep the tools handy that will be required to repair the drone in case of any problem.

You must have a good quality traveling bag to keep your drone and its accessories. If you are interested in going up a notch higher in your drone photography skills then you may want to add a few more gadgets in your kit. An FPV kit helps you to see your flights from very different angles. Also, to get a live feedback from your drone, you can get a dedicated monitor. These gadgets will surely elevate your experience while flying your drone.

There are lots of apps available that can help you with your drone flying and aerial photography. There are many apps from DJI that will help you understand drone photography in more detail and will help you take better shots.

6. Insurance

Let’s face it, drone technology is new and, therefore, they are an expensive piece of machinery. Also, you may accidentally hit something or someone and need to pay for damages as well. Therefore, it will be a good idea to get your vacation with your drone insured. This will prove useful in the future.

You shouldn’t go for conventional travel insurance as it will not have any special cover for your drone equipment. You should get an insurance cover from a legitimate drone insurance broker. This will save you a lot of money and time if you get into problems while on your trip or doing some professional drone photography or video shooting. There are many giving such facilities whom you can easily find on Google. Traveling with your drone will always be a fun and unique experience. Just keep in mind these simple things and follow them to avoid any problems and have a happy and fruitful experience.

If you have any queries or suggestions, please leave a comment below.