Key takeaways
- Keep the drone in sight and below the legal height limit.
- Stay away from people, roads, airports and crowds.
- Do not fly in strong wind, rain or poor light.
- Land with plenty of battery in reserve.
Keep it in sight
Always keep your drone within visual line of sight, with no screens-only flying beyond what you can see. Rules in most countries require it, and it is the easiest way to spot birds, other aircraft and obstacles the camera view hides. Fly with a friend as a spotter if you can.
Respect height limits
Many countries cap recreational flights at about 120 m (400 ft) above ground level. Lower is usually safer and often gives better footage when you are learning. Check the limit in your location in our rules overview.
Choose your site carefully
- Pick a large, open area with few trees, wires and buildings.
- Stay well away from airports, helipads and emergency scenes.
- Do not fly over crowds, roads or people who have not agreed to it.
- Check airspace restrictions in an official app or website before you go.
- Get permission where land is private or protected, and respect wildlife.
Check the weather
Light drones are pushed around by wind, so a calm day matters, especially for the DJI Neo and Ryze Tello. Avoid rain, fog, snow and very cold weather, which also shortens battery life. Check the wind speed at height, not just at ground level. Do not fly into the sun, and avoid dusk if your drone struggles in low light.
Manage your battery
Take off with a fully charged battery and plan to land with a reserve, around 25–30%. Real flight time is usually less than the rated figure (see flight time and batteries). Never fly a swollen or damaged battery.
Know your return-to-home settings
Wait for a GPS lock and a confirmed home point, then set a return altitude above the tallest nearby obstacle. Learn how to cancel and trigger return manually. See GPS and return-to-home.
Respect privacy
Cameras in the sky can worry people. Do not film people at home, in gardens or in sensitive locations, and follow local privacy and data-protection laws. If someone asks you to stop, land the drone.
If something goes wrong
- Lost signal or GPS: release the sticks, give return-to-home time to work and be ready to fly manually.
- Drone drifting in wind: climb slightly if safe, turn it to face you and fly back into the wind.
- Bird approaches: move away, since it may see the drone as a threat.
- Crash: power off, check for injuries, and do not recharge a damaged battery.
- Incident involving people or property: help safely, and report it to the relevant authority if required.