I made a preflight checklist what do you all think?

Cole Slaw · May 7, 2015

Any feedback is very welcome I can update easily on my end and make the file available to everyone.

Direct Download of the PDF if you want it:
http://www.inspirepilots.com/resources/dji-pre-flight-checklist-and-reference-guide.5/

turbodronepilot · May 8, 2015

Hey cole slaw!!
Welcome to the forum!!
Would like to know where you came up with the handle cole slaw??
Nice format and layout..
The preflight check list seemed more like a set up how to..IMO
I liked the quick reference guide!!
Overall nice work !!
Turbo

Harry Nicholson · May 8, 2015

Great work mate

sirnikolas · May 8, 2015

Very nice mate. Good effort!

Mazz · May 8, 2015

"Leave launch area as you found it." Not too big a problem for us but nice that you stuck it in there. Important not to disturb the great locations we seek out.

AMCR · May 8, 2015

Awesome. I am going to print this out and keep with me until it is engrained in my brain. It does bring up one question that I keep forgetting to ask but always err on the side of caution.
Do you need to power down the I1 after exiting travel mode and before you attach the camera? I always do out of fear that sudden power could harm the camera but, it would be great if there was no need for this step. If it is neccessary you might want to add it to the doc.

damoncooper · May 8, 2015

My list (parts stolen/borrowed from others here - thank you!)

Pre-Flight Checklist

1______CHOOSE A GOOD TAKE-OFF LANDING PLACE
2______CHECK PROPS
3______CHECK CAMERA FILTER
4______TURN ON REMOTE CONTROL
5______CHECK TABLET BATTERY LEVEL
6______TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE ON TABLET
7______FLIGHT MODE SWITCH IN GPS POSITION
8______TURN ON INSPIRE
9______TURN ON PILOT APP – CONFIRM BASICS ON SCREEN
_______FLIGHT MODE (GPS)
_______AIRCRAFT BATTERY CHARGED
_______RC BATTERY CHARGED
10______CALIBRATE COMPASS
11______CONFIRM GPS CONTROL
_______APP SCREEN - SATELLITE BARS FULL
_______APP SCREEN – SAFE TO FLY (GPS CONTROL)
_______INSPIRE REAR LIGHT BLINKING GREEN
12______CONFIRM GIMBAL MODE ON APP (FOLLOW, for me)
13______MAP CHECK – AIRPLANE ICON AT HOME BASE?
14______CHECK AND CONFIRM CAMERA SETTINGS
15______STAND BEHIND INSPIRE
16______TAKE OFF – HOVER – FINAL CHECK OF BATTERY LEVELS, GPS CONTROL
17______RAISE LANDING GEAR
18______FLY SAFELY, SHOOT. CONSTANT BATTERY CHECK – ALLOW TIME TO RETURN

Cole Slaw · May 8, 2015

turbodronepilot said:
Hey cole slaw!!
Welcome to the forum!!
Would like to know where you came up with the handle cole slaw??
Nice format and layout..
The preflight check list seemed more like a set up how to..IMO
I liked the quick reference guide!!
Overall nice work !!
Turbo

Thanks!! Good to be here. I like joining the communities when I get into something new. My first name is Cole and my friends called me Cole Slaw since then. So I just carry it over to other places. Yeah since I am new there is a little "how to"ness to it. I like that though keeps me up to date on everything.

AMCR said:
Awesome. I am going to print this out and keep with me until it is engrained in my brain. It does bring up one question that I keep forgetting to ask but always err on the side of caution.
Do you need to power down the I1 after exiting travel mode and before you attach the camera? I always do out of fear that sudden power could harm the camera but, it would be great if there was no need for this step. If it is neccessary you might want to add it to the doc.

Glad to hear it will help someone. This is just what works for me so you may feel like you need to add or remove things. If you want the copy of the PDF itself so you can print a nice copy I can PM you a link to it. The camera piece is a good question. I always power my inspire down when I attach it. It just makes me feel better. I should add that into this one.

Mazz said:
"Leave launch area as you found it." Not too big a problem for us but nice that you stuck it in there. Important not to disturb the great locations we seek out.

My thoughts exactly. I am really big into backpacking so I carry over the "Pack in, pack out" mentality to the rest of my life.

AllanVB · May 8, 2015

Cole Slaw said:
Any feedback is very welcome I can update easily on my end and make the file available to everyone. View attachment 1553

Love it. Can you PM me so I can get a copy? Appreciate.

Cole Slaw · May 8, 2015

AllanVB said:
Love it. Can you PM me so I can get a copy? Appreciate.

So I am really struggling with finding the PM button, SO I just uploaded it to my public folder in dropbox. I updated the original post with the link so everyone can get it there.

Mazz · May 8, 2015

No need. If people like it that much you can upload it to the documents section. This will give everyone access.

AllanVB · May 8, 2015

Cole Slaw said:
So I am really struggling with finding the PM button, SO I just uploaded it to my public folder in dropbox. I updated the original post with the link so everyone can get it there.

thanks....
I am going to print and laminate....

Cole Slaw · May 8, 2015

Mazz said:
No need. If people like it that much you can upload it to the documents section. This will give everyone access.

Uploaded to the resource section!

jon b · May 8, 2015

AMCR said:
Awesome. I am going to print this out and keep with me until it is engrained in my brain. It does bring up one question that I keep forgetting to ask but always err on the side of caution.
Do you need to power down the I1 after exiting travel mode and before you attach the camera? I always do out of fear that sudden power could harm the camera but, it would be great if there was no need for this step. If it is neccessary you might want to add it to the doc.

Yes, you definitely should power down before you attach the camera to the drone. It's been covered in other threads.

For one, you will have a hard time not fighting the gimbal as it immediately calibrates itself. And from what I've heard you could fry your camera/gimbal should any connections get bridged while hot-swapping.

Take the time, have a moment of zen, then fly like a bird!

jon b · May 8, 2015

One more comment...

As I read this, it looks like I should power on the aircraft first. The opposite is the correct sequence.

You mention adjusting the antenna correctly... Might just say "ensure your antenna are aligned vertically" or straight up and down, or something like that.

Nice job!

Cole Slaw · May 8, 2015

jon b said:
One more comment...

As I read this, it looks like I should power on the aircraft first. The opposite is the correct sequence.

You mention adjusting the antenna correctly... Might just say "ensure your antenna are aligned vertically" or straight up and down, or something like that.

Nice job!

Thanks for the feedback I will update it this afternoon and put up Version 1.1

worldsoutro · May 8, 2015

Am i the only one that checks the IMU before calibrating the compass and after. I also check it before every flight

Rob Jaspars · May 8, 2015

Hij Coleslaw, thanks for the checklist! Defenitly will print and use it. However I would add to check the positions of the antennes on the RC.

Cole Slaw · May 8, 2015

Rob Jaspars said:
Hij Coleslaw, thanks for the checklist! Defenitly will print and use it. However I would add to check the positions of the antennes on the RC.

That actually is on the list under the controller section in pre-flight. I did just update the list on the pilot resource page so it should reflect that addition.