Does wind affect drones?

Does wind affect drones?

How can windy weather affect piloting your drone?

Windy weather may not be particularly dangerous for humans, but that's definitely not the case for drones. In fact, even conditions that may not seem risky to us can be fatal to our drones.

How dangerous windy weather can be for a drone depends entirely on wind speed, the power and size of the drone's propellers, and also your experience as a drone pilot. As a general rule, it can be assumed that to have a smooth and enjoyable flight, the wind speed should not be greater than the maximum speed of the drone.

One of the biggest challenges for pilots is keeping the drone steady in the air in high winds. Up to a certain wind speed, this can really depend on your experience and how much you have perfected the handling of the machine. However, when the gusts get too strong, even if you have enviable handling abilities, you won't be able to keep your drone in the air.

Another potential danger of piloting in high winds is that your drone will likely drain its batteries much faster than usual. The reason for this is the drag that occurs and that the drone will try to overcome it to stay in the air using more energy. It is possible to direct the drone to fly forward but have it stay in one place due to the drag. It's also possible for the machine to start moving in directions you didn't set. Therefore, if such conditions are present or even likely, you should abort the flight and return the drone to you.

Tips for flying a drone in windy weather

1. Avoid too strong winds

If you are still learning how to fly your drone, do not take flights in winds over 15 kilometers per hour. However, if you have more experience, you can afford to fly up to the generally accepted safe wind speed, which is ⅓ the speed of your drone.

2. Keep an eye on the battery charge

As mentioned, due to the drag that occurs when piloting in windy weather, battery charge drops much faster than usual. Therefore, even if you have charged the batteries to 100% before you take off, keep an eye on how they are being used all the time. That way you can turn the device back on if you notice that it's depleting a lot of power in a short amount of time. We also advise you to always have visual contact to your drone so you can find it if you lose control.

3. Stabilize the drone before shooting with the camera

Windy weather affects more than just energy consumption. The flight itself is much more unstable, vibrations occur, and the drone may wobble. Especially if you plan to capture footage with your drone, you need to get it under control and stabilized before you start filming.

4. During takeoff, stand in the wind's path

Your drone is most sensitive during takeoff, as it hasn't stabilized and gained enough power yet. This is the point at which it is in danger of failing to keep up with the wind speed and crashing before it has even taken off.

In such cases, you can place the drone in such a location that you are in the path of the wind and help the machine take off safely. You can also use the covenant of a building. During this time, be sure to be in a safe position relative to the drone, which means having your back to the wind and facing the device, and being a sufficient distance away.

5. Be prepared for the drone's movements

Especially if you are piloting into the wind, your drone will move much faster and will likely make sudden movements. Furthermore, braking will also not be as easy and smooth as usual. Always keep the machine at a safe distance from you and other objects such as buildings, trees, rocks, etc.

If you hear loud sounds from the propellers and engine, keep calm because this is due to the stronger wind.

6. Do not raise your drone too high

If conditions are medium to high winds, don't risk raising your drone too high. Even if you don't feel that the wind speed is particularly high on the ground, it can be at times dangerous for the drone at altitude.

7. What drone should you use in high winds?

Larger drones are more resistant to wind gusts. In contrast, smaller drones are more maneuverable and more affected by weather conditions.

If you haven't chosen your drone yet, be sure to check out the offerings in our online store. COPTER.BG is the place to find the latest DJI models. Contact our team if you have a query.