Flight Preparations and Maintenance Schedule 

for the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+

Overview

The purpose for this document is to describe in detail the flight preparations and routine 

scheduled maintenance involved to ensure proper operation of the DJI Phantom 2 Vision+. 

Although this document is specific to the Phantom 2 Vision+, it may be used as a general guide 

for all unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). 

Flight Preparations

Environment Assessment

- Stay away from obstacles, crowds, pets, trees and bushes, and water. 

- Do not fly over people or moving vehicles.

- Note wind direction and weather conditions (actual and forecast).

- Do not use the aircraft in severe weather conditions.

- Check for any hazards, high buildings, steel structures, construction areas, vehicular 

traffic, or personal property that may affect the accuracy of the onboard compass or 

flight plan.

- Reduce the chance of electromagnetic interference (EMI) by not flying in areas with high 

levels of electromagnetism, including cellular towers, electricity pylons or power lines.

- Verify flight location is away from any airports, air traffic, or restricted air space.

- Do not fly the aircraft within no-fly zones specified by local laws and regulations.

- Determine a takeoff and landing area.

- Do not land or take off on reinforced concrete or locations with steel reinforcements 

underground.

Inspection

- Verify that remote control, battery, range extender, and phone are fully charged.

- Turn motors shafts by spinning them slightly, verifying that they spin smoothly without 

excessive play or binding.

- Check propellers to verify that they are not broken or worn:

- Run finger along leading and trailing ends, checking for any nicks.

- Flex both sets of blades to check for hairline cracks.

- Mount the propellers properly by only hand tightening to their correct motor 

shafts, black to black, silver to silver.

- Verify that the landing gear is secure and not cracked, broken or loose.

- Verify the compass is firmly attached to the landing gear and its cable are in place.

- Inspect battery to verify that it’s not swollen, leaky, or damaged in any way and that the 

battery’s contacts needles and pads are clean.

- Check damping absorbers and anti-drop pins that attach the camera and gimbal to the 

aircraft are in good condition, not broken or worn and are in place and locked.
- Verify that the gimbal is functioning as normal and that camera is secure and moving 

normally.

- Check condition of Gimbal/Camera black ribbon cables for tears or signs of wear.

Preflight Checklist

- Check that the propellers are mounted correctly.

- Check that the gimbal clamp has been removed.

- Check that the camera lens cap has been removed.

- Power on equipment in the following order:

- Power on phone.

- Power on the receiver.

- Power on the range extender.

- Power on the Phantom.

- Place phone in airplane mode, then enable WiFi.

- Launch the DJI VISION app on the phone.

- Connect DJI VISON app on phone with Phantom WiFi network.

- Calibrate the Phantom’s compass.

Takeoff Procedures

1. Place Phantom on flat ground, preferably on a portable landing pad.

2. Verify connection to Phantom with no on screen errors or warnings on the DJI VISION 

app.

3. Check that at least 6 satellites are connected via GPS.

4. Verify the WiFi signal strength indicator and the SD card indicator on the DJI VISION 

app.

5. Check that correct status percentages of the Phantom’s battery and the range extender 

battery are being displayed on the DJI VISION app.

6. Confirm good video output on the DJI VISION app.

7. Verify return to home location to ensure failsafe / return to home mode returns the 

Phantom to the correct location.

8. Ensure the antenna of the remote control is perpendicular to the ground and that the 

range extender is angled properly with the front flat face pointed towards the Phantom.

9. Start the motors by using the Combination Stick Command by pointing both remote 

control sticks to their bottom corner towards the center of the stick.

10. Double check for nearby obstructions and people.

11. Push the throttle up slowly to take off.

12. Hover at 6-8 feet for 30 seconds while watching for any loss of GPS Lock.

a. Watch for any drifting, flying in circles or any other signs of erratic, abnormal, or

unexpected behavior.

13. Check that the Phantom holds position steadily while yawing 360 degrees.

14. Check control response by yawing left to right, pitching forward to back, rolling left to 

right, and throttling up and down.

In Flight Checks

- Check flight parameters at a 30 second interval including:
- Check the battery status the following:

- Phantom

- Range extender

- Transmitter

- Phone

- Check that there are at least 6 GPS satellites connected to the Phantom.

- Watch the rear LEDs on the Phantom for any warning signals.

- The rear LED should be slowly flashing green.

- Review flight status:

- Altitude

- Speed

- Distance to home location

Landing Procedures

1. Hover over a level surface and gently descend.

2. Watch for vortex ring state and be ready to adjust the throttle if necessary.

3. After landing, hold the throttle at its lowest position for 3 seconds until the motors stop.

4. If the camera is recording, stop recording prior to shutting down the Phantom.

5. Shut down the equipment in the following order:

a. Shut down the Phantom.

b. Shut down the remote control.

c. Shut down the range extender.

d. Shut down the DJI VISION app / phone.

Post Flight Checklist

- Remove propellers.

- Attach and secure gimbal clamp.

- Attach camera lens cap.

- Remove battery on Phantom.

Post flight Inspection

- Turn motors shafts by spinning them slightly, verifying that they spin smoothly without 

excessive play or binding.

- Check propellers to verify that they are not broken or worn:

- Dismount the propellers properly by loosening them by hand.

- Run finger along leading and trailing ends, checking for any nicks.

- Flex both sets of blades to check for hairline cracks.

- Verify that the landing gear is secure and not cracked, broken or loose.

- Verify the compass is firmly attached to the landing gear and its cable in place. 

- Inspect battery to verify that it’s not swollen, leaky, or damaged in any way and that the 

battery’s contacts needles and pads are clean.

- Check damping absorbers and anti-drop pins that attached the camera and gimbal to the 

aircraft are in good condition, not broken or worn and are in place and locked.

- Verify that the gimbal is functioning as normal and that camera is secure and moving 

normally.
- Check condition of Gimbal/Camera black ribbon cables for tears or signs of wear.

Maintenance Schedule

Every week or every 10 flights, whichever sooner: 

- Check for damage, wear, and cracks on the Phantom.

- Check the tightness of motor retaining screws and shell retaining screws in case and 

tighten as needed.

- Check that the motors move freely when spun by hand by turning the motors shafts and 

verifying they are move smoothly and without excessive play or binding.

- Check batteries for number of cycles and discharge, per DJI recommendations, if 

required:

- Charge and discharge the battery completely once every 20 charge/discharge 

cycles.

- Charge and discharge the battery once every 3 months to keep it in good 

condition. 

- Purchase a new battery after your current battery has been discharged over 300 

times.

- Completely discharge a battery prior to disposal.

Every month or every 40 flights, whichever sooner:

- Link the Phantom to the Vision Assistant software, check for updates, and update if 

necessary.

- Link the remote control and range extender to the RC Assistant Software, check for 

updates, and update if necessary.

- Recalibrate the remote control sticks & IMU with the Vision Assistant software

- Clean data spring pins and battery contact pads with alcohol and swab or proprietary 

electrical contact cleaner.

- Cycle spring pins several times to check for spring weakness and full unimpeded travel.

Every 6 months

- Remove upper shell and check state of all wiring:

- Verify that the plugs are fully seated.

- Review the condition of all solder joints.

- Review the condition of visible circuit boards and wiring runs.

- Verify that the internals are generally clean with no debris/loose items.

- Remove motors and check the security of E clips and the condition of the bearings.

Bibliography 

Phantom 2 Vision+ User Manual (EN) v1.8

Guide to the Phantom 2 Vision & Vision+ V. Jan-06-2015 – By Fantomas