What to watch out for when flying a drone in hot weather

Whether you’re staying home during the August „vacation“ or heading out on vacation, the temperatures outside are expected to be quite high again. Then it’s a good idea to be aware of the possible impact of warm weather on your drone and yourself. In this article, we’ll answer this frequently asked question with some tips that we hope will be helpful when flying a drone in hot weather.

When flying a drone in hot weather:

1. Check the temperature range of your equipment. For electronics, especially batteries and processors, to function properly, they must not get too cold or too hot. Before flying in hot weather, check the minimum and maximum operating temperatures specified by your drone manufacturer in the manual. To give you an idea: DJI specifies a temperature range of 0° to 40° C for the Mavic Pro and Phantom 4.
2. Do not leave the drone (batteries) in the car when it is in the sun. The temperature in a car in full sun can quickly rise to temperatures well above the outside temperature, which can be harmful to batteries and your drone. Do not place an empty battery that has been heated directly into the charger; first make sure the battery has cooled to room temperature. The drone can withstand high temperatures, but do not overdo it and do not fly a drone that has just been taken out of an overheated car.
3. Don't let devices get too hot while flying. You may have had your smartphone or tablet turn off because it overheated. Of course, it's not helpful if this happens during flight. So make sure your FPV screen is not exposed to full sunlight during flight. And if you're looking for shade under a tree, make sure you have a clear view of the drone.
4. Pay attention to your surroundings. In warm weather, you are more likely to not be the only one out and about. Respect the peace and privacy of others. Avoid flying your drone over people and be aware of pets and children running around when taking off or landing. Also, monitor the airspace around you to avoid being surprised by glider pilots, ultralight aircraft and other recreational airspace users.
5. Take care of yourself. If you are flying on a nice summer day, make sure you are well hydrated and wear something like a cap or hat. Stand with your back to the sun so you don't have to look into the sun while flying. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration, which can lead to reduced reaction time, among other things. Avoid pointing the drone's camera at the sun as well, as it can mess with your eyes if you have photosensitive eyes.
6. Monitor the humidity. Are you going to a tropical destination or to the seaside in Bulgaria? Then the relative humidity is likely to be much higher than you are used to. This can lead to condensation on the lens of your drone or camera, even with blue skies. Take a lint-free cloth and wipe down your drone after a flight.
7. Watch out for dust clouds. Especially if it hasn't rained for a long time, the surface can get quite dusty. Be aware of this when taking off and landing; your drone can cause a lot of dust clouds. This in turn can confuse your drone's visual sensors, and the drone itself can get dusty, if the drone has a camera and gimbal it is common for the gimbal to jam when it gets dusty. Ideally, provide a landing pad that you can place on the ground.
8. Think about fire hazards. Dried grass doesn’t need much to catch fire. A crashed drone battery can catch fire due to a short circuit and before you know it, there’s a forest fire. In the event of a crash, try to get to your device as quickly as possible and make sure there’s no fire hazard. If possible, take the fire extinguisher from your car with you. Always keep the battery of a device that has been in a serious crash and don’t use it again.

We hope that with these short but important tips you will protect both yourself and your device. Best wishes and have a nice August vacation! 🙂