Before you can begin to fly the VEX AIR Drone using the VEX AIR Drone Controller, it is essential to understand how to do so safely. In this lesson, you will learn the procedures you must follow to keep yourself and those around you safe while flying the drone.
Watch the video below to learn about:
- How to check the drone to be sure it is safe and ready to fly.
- How to ensure the flight area is prepared for safe flight.
- How to check that the pilot is ready to fly safely.
- How to disengage the Propeller Lock.
>>VIDEO HERE<<
Mission: Safety Check
In this mission, you will complete a pre-flight safety check, disengage the Propeller Lock, then take off and land the drone safely. Follow these steps to complete your mission:
- Ensure your done and controller are ready to go:
- Install a charged battery in your drone.
- Check to be sure your controller is charged.
- Be sure your drone and controller are paired. See this VEX Library article to learn more.
- Perform the pre-flight safety check using the Mission Log. See this article for information.
- Disengage the Propeller Lock.
- Fly the drone to take off and then land.
- Use this Mission Log to document your flight (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf).
Practice this mission multiple times. Make sure you take notes on each flight in your Mission Log.
In this mission, you will complete a pre-flight safety check, disengage the Propeller Lock, then take off and land the drone safely. Follow these steps to complete your mission:
- Ensure your done and controller are ready to go:
- Install a charged battery in your drone.
- Check to be sure your controller is charged.
- Be sure your drone and controller are paired. See this VEX Library article to learn more.
- Perform the pre-flight safety check using the Mission Log. See this article for information.
- Disengage the Propeller Lock.
- Fly the drone to take off and then land.
- Use this Mission Log to document your flight (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf).
Practice this mission multiple times. Make sure you take notes on each flight in your Mission Log.
This mission is intended to help students build a safety routine that should be used each and every time they fly the VEX AIR Drone. As you facilitate students’ completion of their mission, the following VEX Library articles may prove helpful:
Each student should keep their own Mission Log documentation. Be sure that students can access the Mission Log (Google doc / .docx / .pdf) to document their flight practice. The Mission Log helps students track every flight they complete throughout the course. This allows them to see their growth over time and total up their flight hours upon course completion.
- Decide if you will print Mission Logs for students to write on, or use the digital version.
- Establish a saving procedure for students to ensure they know how to complete and save their Mission Logs throughout the course.
Allow time for students to practice this mission multiple times, and log their flight data for each flight. Although this may seem like a simple mission, establishing safety procedures now will help them build safe piloting habits over the entire course.
Real-World Connections
In real-world drone operations, safety starts before the drone ever takes off. Professional drone pilots don’t just turn on a drone and fly—they follow a pre-flight checklist to make sure the drone, controller, and flight area are ready. Pre-flight checks help prevent accidents, protect people nearby, and reduce the chance of crashes caused by mistakes, low battery, loose parts, or unexpected obstacles.
A pre-flight checklist usually includes checking the flight space first. Pilots look for people, pets, and obstacles like trees, poles, walls, and ceilings. They also think about wind, lighting, and whether the area has enough room to take off, land, and safely recover the drone if something goes wrong. Even small drones can become dangerous if they hit something at speed, so pilots always choose a clear area and keep a safe distance from others.
Pilots also inspect the drone itself before flying. For example, they check that the battery is charged and securely attached, the propellers are not damaged, and the drone is assembled correctly. A quick checklist like this can prevent common problems like a drone drifting due to a loose propeller, or losing power and crashing mid-flight because of a low battery. These scenarios can be dangerous not only to the drone itself, but to those on the ground below it.
Pre-flight checklists are especially important for jobs where drones support people in the real world. For example, emergency response teams may use drones to deliver medical supplies or search an area after a storm. Before launching, the pilot must confirm the drone is stable, the route is clear, and the battery is strong enough to complete the mission safely. Similarly, drone pilots who film sports or inspect buildings use checklists to avoid flying too close to people or structures and to prevent the drone from falling or colliding during a flight. Using a pre-flight checklist is a habit that helps pilots build safe routines that make every flight smoother, safer, and more successful.
Check Your Understanding
Before moving on, ensure that you understand the concepts in this lesson by answering the questions here (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf).
Before moving on, ensure that you understand the concepts in this lesson by answering the questions here (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf).
Answers to the Check Your Understanding questions can be found here. (Google Doc / .docx / .pdf)
Discussing the CYU questions as a class provides an opportunity to reiterate and reinforce safety procedures before moving on to the next lesson. Ask questions like:
- What do you think could happen if someone skipped the drone or controller battery check?
- What are two responsibilities the pilot has before beginning to fly the drone?
- How does using a pre-flight checklist help pilots become more confident and consistent flyers over time?
- When would it be appropriate to use the emergency stop? Can you describe an example situation?
Select Return to Units > to move on to the next Unit.
