DJI Phantom 3 Pre-Flight Checklist

Before Departing for Site Check

Aircraft (AC) and Remote Controller (RC) batteries fully charged

Tablet fully charged

Portable Radio for communicating with manned AC fully charged

Ensure SD card has free space and is inserted into the camera

Ensure Firmware is updated on AC and RC(s)

Cache location maps into all DJI Pilot app devices

Check for frequency (FX) used by local manned AC (Skyvector.com)

Check if flight location is in No-Fly Zone (Check here: airmap.io)

Program local FX into portable radio

Check for NOTAMs at desired flight location (FAA.gov/notamSearch)

Check weather

Precipitation less than 5-10%

PWinds under 20kts

Cloud layer above 500' (152M)

1 statute mile visibility

KP index is 5 or less (Check here: UAVforecast.com)

Check Sunrise, Sunset, Moonrise, Moonset

Comprehensive maintenance after 200 flights or 50 flight hours. (Maintenance Manual)

Location On-Site Check

Check flying area free of overhead obstructions

Wires, low flying AC, trees, tall buildings

Antennas that may interfere with compass and GPS reception

Weather meets conditions
Winds under 20 kts (23 MPH or 10 meters per second)

Clouds above 500’ (152M)

Visibility for 1 statute mile

KP index 5 or less

Confirm flight plan with camera operator and/or spotter

Note: Still perform step if by oneself, it adds clarity to decision making.

Physical Aircraft Check

Desired ND filter attached to camera

Camera locked in place

SD card in camera

Motors clear of Foreign Object Debris (FOD)

Note: FOD may cause motor burnout and complete AC inversion on take-off

Check propellers for any melting, misshapen, or cracks

Propellers hand tight

Prop locks firmly attached or

Quick Release plastic base has no cracks or fissures.

Remote Controller Check

QAntennas oriented Properly

Note: The broad side should face the AC and they should not touch each other.

Switch to P-GPS mode

Landing gear switch oriented down

Check battery level of RC for minimum 75%
DJI Pilot App Check

Maximum Flight altitude set

Note: 121 Meters = 400’

Failsafe Mode, Set for 10M Clearance above lowest obstacle in flight plan

Note: 1 Meter = 3.3’

RC Signal Lost set to Return-to-Home

Set Adaptive Landing Gear

Note: Preferred setting is “on”

Check Sensors

Gyroscope between “-1.0 to +1.0”

Acceleration between “-1.0 to +1.0”

Compass MOD between “1400 - 1599”

Check IMU

Image Transmission Channel set

Note: Watch channels for 30 seconds to ensure selected channel is indeed stable

Battery Cells all 4.28V or greater

At least 98% battery

Ensure no greater than .2V between battery cells

Adjust Gimbal Role to make level

Ensure enough Satellites are locked (recommend 16)

Set Camera Orientation mode

Note: Recommend “Follow-mode” for solo and “free-mode” with camera

Turn all devices to airplane mode

Face AC into the wind

Note: This allows AC to float back to operator in case of emergency.

Check heading of Aircraft

Note: Ensure nose heading of red paper airplane is close to nose heading of actual

aircraft.
Start Video recording

Start Propellers using a Combined Stick Command (CSC)

Ensure blue dot representing RC is accurately located on map

Ensure home point is accurately set on map

Please check all boxes

Aircraft LED Status

RC LED Status