In the first of our 2023 series of informative blogs Atlas thought it would be fitting to demonstrate some of the Main tips for flying drones in winter and the cold weather. The team at Atlas Aviation has a combined 1500h in manned and unmanned aviation and can help and guide customers where required.
Winter is well and truly here, and frosty morning have again become regular. Like all propellor aircraft including drones the cold weather makes them more effective with the denser atmosphere. There is also a temptation to capture beautiful winter aerial pictures. However the temptation can also put your drone at risk.
The cold weather requires utmost attention when caring for you drones but with proper precaution and action, you may be able to record some of the greatest winter videos and images of the year.
Tip: Please remember all drones are different so please read the relevant Aircraft flight Manual in addition to these tips
Key points
1. Battery
2. Camera settings
3. Weather Conditions
Battery
The monitoring of Batteries is key in cold temperatures, Low temperatures during the winter can decrease the lifespan of your drone’s batteries, this is due to less current being produced by a battery used at a low temperature, meaning that batteries run down much faster in winter than at other times of the year.
Ways to mitigate this risk are :
1. Use fully charged batteries
Batteries that in ‘normal’ conditions last 10 minutes could be depleted in the winter so much that they only last 5 minutes, so ensure you have the most flying time by bringing fresh batteries. If you’re planning on flying your drone for an extended amount of time, make sure to bring extra batteries or a way of charging such as a portable charger.
2. Keep your batteries in a warm environment
Your batteries will be affected immediately by the low temperatures, so try to keep your batteries at a more moderate temperature. Wrapping your batteries in a warming bag or an protective insulated bag is common practice and also has the additional benefit of commonly being fire resistant.
3. Don’t max out your flight time
Flying modestly is key to using your drone in the winter. In this different environment, it is best to keep a watchful eye on your battery level and bring the drone back down earlier than normal. In normal conditions for most drones (check the aircraft flight manual) it is advisable leaving 20 percent on the lithium batteries as this also improves their lifespan, for cold weather 30 percent is advisable.
4. Warm-up your drone
One of our more crucial tips is to warm up your drone before flying it out. It’s important to let your drone hover for up to a minute to warm up the batteries to function properly. Another benefit from this tip is that you can see how your drone is reacting to the weather, specifically wind and that it is stable before continuing.
Camera Settings
Captured from above, the winter landscape can be stunning. This comes with the assumption, though, that your drone’s camera settings are tuned to adjust to the surroundings.
The two key points that Atlas advise to improve the quality of your shots includes:
1. Modify the exposure
With snow or ice covering the landscape, your drone’s camera may accidentally underexpose the shot due to reflection. To combat the reflective ground beneath, set your exposure above 0.
2. Change the white balance
White balance is key due to the abundance of white in the frame, the shot may come out looking bluer than intended – adjust the white balance before flying your drone to ensure crisp, accurate images.
Weather Conditions
Again, please check the relevant aircraft/drone flight manual, but most drones have specific cautions or ranges to operate the drone safely, many drones are not waterproof, and condensation can do significant damage to your drone. Furthermore, pay attention to wind speeds – anything above 15 mph may prove difficult to a drone pilot and also contribute to a lower temperature. If this applies to your drone, prior planning is key to make sure you have ideal weather conditions on the day you are planning to fly your drone.
Please contact the Atlas Aviation Specialists on info@atlasaviation.co.uk for information
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