Preflight Checklist

Date: _________

Location: 

PIC:

VO:

Please file this completed checklist along with other 

flight documents in the manual.

I. Predeparture Check II. Mission Check III. Return/Landing Check

a. Notify client 30 minutes before arrival to site a. Land aircraft

i. Verify client request

ii. Verify client-issued safety manual 

received. If not, request. i. Physical survey of area for hazards 1.       Lost link – all radios – aircraft will return to starting location

iii. GPS Coordinates: ii. Selection of operation area 2. Battery < 25% - aircraft returns home

iv. Estimated time of mission: iii. Crewmember duties delegation 3.       Loss of GPS – aircraft goes into soft 

landing mode

v. Initial survey of area using Mission 

Control software with satellite imagery, or 

compare to previous missions at the same 

location

iv. Briefing of safety practices and procedures 4. Normal or failsafe landing home

v. Safety barrier set up, including Ground Control 

Station lighting, coning, and signage

ii. The PIC may override AP controls to 

perform a soft landing

i. Notify area ATO of operation vi. Test communications

iii. The PIC may killswitch the aircraft to 

prevent any potential collision with 

obstructions or personnel.

ii. Verify validity of Certificate of Waiver or 

Authorization (COA)

vii. Check weather, including precipitation, wind, 

and temperature b. Set transmitter to safe position

iii. Request Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) no 

more than 72 hours and no less than 48 hours 

before mission

viii. Refueling procedure c. Disarm aircraft

ix. Check batteries for 100% recharged capacity d.      Set arm button – off

x. Mission objective briefing e. Disconnect and remove battery from UAS

1. Airframe xi. Payload installation and operation

2. Motors/mounting xii. Failsafe procedures and operations

a. Copy data from Autopilot to Ground Control 

Station to log flight data. Manually enter flight 

information into flight log of the Manual

3. Motor power leads

b. Copy data from cameras and other sensors 

securely to password protected Ground Control 

Station for analysis at Home Base

4. Autopilot wiring i. Compass

5. Battery condition ii. Accelerometer/Magnetometer a. Safely secure all equipment back into 

Ground Control Station

6. Main radio transmitter connections iii. Radio (Yaw/Pitch/Roll/Throttle) b. Break down all equipment used during 

mission at client’s location

7. Other electrical/mechanical issues iv. Modes c. Clean

8. If maintenance, overhaul, repairs, or 

other alterations are required, changes 

must be logged on the Maintenance 

Records sheet in the Manual of the aircraft.

1. Determine starting location for lost-link 

return

1. Charge UAS batteries 2. Verify battery < 25% soft landing procedure

2. Charge transmitter batteries 3. Verify mission time > 30 minutes landing 

procedure

3. Charge telemetry/ground control 

station 4.       Verify 400’ AGL limit

4. Check portable generator for damage 

and function. Fill fuel tank and reserve 

tank.

5. Verify speed limit

5. Charge communications devices 6. Verify geofence

7. Verify killswitch

i. COA (original)

ii. NOTAM 1. Write mission via Ground Station 

programming

iii. Client Safety Manual 2. Store program in Ground Station memory

iv. USAerobotix Procedural Manual (with all 

required sections, including maintenance log, 

flight log, pilot certification, operation manual, 

etc)

3. Power up Ground Station telemetry (915 

MHz)

v. Transmitter FCC compliance 

documentation

4. When ready, load mission set via telemetry 

to aircraft

vi. Proof of Insurance

vii. Aircraft registration i.      Battery tone – good

viii. Emergency Contact Information ii.      Status light – green

iii.      Set arm button – on

iv.      Arm tone 1 – good

v.      Arm tone 2 – good

vi.      Start motors – idle

i. Manual launch and hover

ii. Yaw check

iii. Pitch check

iv. Roll check

v. Throttle check

f. Set Payload

g. Position VO and PIC for optimal safety

1. Set aircraft to Auto mode © 2014 USAerobotix LLC

2. Unless a fail-safe signal is detected from any 

component set in previous stages (GPS, Autopilot, 

battery monitor, etc.), the way-point mission will 

be executed

iii. Way Point Mission (if applicable)

i. Way Point Mission (if applicable)

IV. Payload

V. Mission Complete

vi. Way Point Mission (if applicable)

d. Arm Aircraft

e. Flight Checks

h. Begin Mission

i. The PIC must maintain Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) at all times

ii. The UAS will not be operated less than 500 feet below or less 

than 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud or when visibility is less 

than 3 statute miles from the PIC.

i. Check for damage or wear1

ii. Power2

d. Necessary documentation

b. Safety Briefing3

c. Autopilot Calibration

v. Fail Safes

a. Receive Mission

b. Contact Air Traffic Organization (ATO)

c. UAS Physical Examination

Notes

1. If damage is detected, please refer to the 

manual on repair, overhaul, maintenance, or 

replacement procedures. Log all changes to 

the maintenance log documentation. Do not 

continue the operation until all necessary 

maintenance is performed.

2. Review safety procedures for battery power 

in the manual.

3. If consenting non-participants are present, 

please give a safety briefing to outline the 

operation safety procedures.

Submit all completed paperwork and this 

completed checklist, along with any payload 

data collected during a mission, to be logged 

into the manual for your particular aircraft.