"So You Want to Be THAT Pilot: A Hilarious Guide to What NOT to Do"

Welcome, aspiring drone disaster artist! You’ve got a shiny new drone, a sky full of dreams, and absolutely no idea what you’re doing. Perfect. Let’s talk about how to become a cautionary tale faster than you can say, “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

We’ve all had those moments where confidence outweighs competence. You’re not alone—every experienced pilot has at least one cringe-worthy story they’d rather forget. The difference? They learned from it. You, however, are about to learn what not to do the hard way—vicariously through this guide.

1. Want to Make the Evening News? Just Ignore Airspace Rules

The Tempting Mistake

You’ve spotted the perfect shot: your drone majestically soaring over a crowded city square, right next to the national airport. “What could go wrong?” you think. It’s just one tiny drone; surely air traffic control has bigger problems.

The Reality Check

What happens? Oh, you know, just a full-blown airspace violation, a swarm of angry regulators, and potentially grounding flights at the nearest airport. Congratulations! You’ve managed to inconvenience thousands of people and put lives at risk. Bonus points if your drone ends up on the runway.

The Lesson

Flying in controlled airspace without authorization is not just dumb; it’s illegal. EASA requires all drone pilots to respect airspace classifications and obtain necessary permissions before flying in restricted zones (Reg 2019/947 Art. 4).

Pro Tip

Use tools like the EASA Drone Operations Map or apps like Drone Assist to check airspace restrictions before you fly. Trust me, you do not want to explain yourself to airport security while they confiscate your drone.

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2. Nothing Says ‘Professional’ Like Flying Over Crowds

The Tempting Mistake

“Oh, look, a music festival! I bet they’d love some aerial shots of the mosh pit. My drone’s super safe—I saw a YouTube video where someone did this, and it worked out fine.”

The Reality Check

Spoiler alert: It won’t work out fine. One battery malfunction or gust of wind later, your drone is plunging into a sea of people like a mechanical meteor. Injuries, lawsuits, and a lifetime ban from your favorite concert venue await.

The Lesson

Flying over uninvolved people is a big no-no unless you’ve got a certified drone designed to minimize harm in case of failure (Reg 2019/947 Art. 5).

Pro Tip

If you want crowd shots, take them from a safe distance where your drone won’t cause mass panic or require an ambulance. Better yet, use ground-based footage and leave the aerial heroics for another day.

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3. Who Needs Line of Sight Anyway?

The Tempting Mistake

“Out of sight, out of mind, right? My drone has a great camera, so I can just use the screen to fly it. Who needs to actually see the drone?”

The Reality Check

You lose visual contact, fly straight into a tree, and now your drone is stuck 20 meters up with no ladder in sight. You spend the next three hours trying to explain to park rangers why you need to climb the tree while pretending you didn’t violate regulations.

The Lesson

EASA mandates maintaining Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) during operations to ensure you can respond to emergencies and avoid obstacles (Reg 2019/947 Art. 4).

Pro Tip

If your drone disappears from view, stop flying immediately and reposition yourself until you can see it. Trust me, climbing trees isn’t nearly as fun as it looks.

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4. Flying in High Winds Builds Character

The Tempting Mistake

“Pfft, it’s just a little breezy. I’ve got this! My drone is basically a fighter jet—it can handle anything Mother Nature throws at it.”

The Reality Check

Mother Nature throws a lot harder than you think. Your drone gets caught in a gust, flips upside down, and performs a perfect swan dive into the nearest lake. Now you’re $1,000 poorer and Googling “how to dry out a drone.”

The Lesson

Wind conditions can severely impact your drone’s stability and control. Check the weather before flying and avoid operating in unsafe conditions.

Pro Tip

Invest in a wind meter or use weather apps to monitor wind speeds. If it feels like you’re going to get blown over, your drone probably will too.

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5. Because Who Needs a Pre-Flight Checklist?

The Tempting Mistake

“I’ve flown this thing a hundred times. I don’t need to check the battery, the propellers, or the settings. What could possibly go wrong?”

The Reality Check

Turns out you forgot to charge the battery. Your drone takes off, flies 30 meters, and then promptly powers down, nose-diving into your neighbor’s prize rose bush. Good luck explaining that one.

The Lesson

Pre-flight checks are essential to safe operation. Overconfidence leads to carelessness, and carelessness leads to expensive mistakes.

Pro Tip

Create a simple pre-flight checklist:

• ▸
  Battery charged?
• ▸
  Propellers secure?
• ▸
  Firmware updated?
• ▸
  SD card inserted?

It’s not rocket science—just good practice.

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6. What’s the Worst That Could Happen with Auto Mode?

The Tempting Mistake

“Why bother learning manual controls when I can let the drone do all the work? Technology is flawless, right?”

The Reality Check

Auto-follow mode locks onto the wrong person and starts tailing a jogger instead of you. Or worse, it crashes into a tree because it didn’t account for obstacles. Turns out, autopilot isn’t the magical solution you thought it was.

The Lesson

Automation is great, but it’s not foolproof. You’re still the pilot, and you’re responsible for your drone’s actions.

Pro Tip

Learn manual controls and practice using them regularly. When automation fails (and it will), you’ll thank yourself for knowing how to take over.

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7. Battery Level Warnings Are for Quitters

The Tempting Mistake

“Why land at 10% battery when I can push it to 1%? I’ll get more flight time and a cooler shot. Efficiency, baby!”

The Reality Check

Your drone dies mid-air and plummets to the ground like it’s auditioning for the next Fast & Furious movie. Spoiler: drones don’t survive high-speed crashes.

The Lesson

Ignoring battery warnings is asking for disaster. Always land well before your battery gets critically low to avoid losing control.

Pro Tip

Set a return-to-home (RTH) feature on your drone that automatically activates when the battery reaches a safe threshold. Then listen to it.

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Now That You Know What NOT to Do...

Flying a drone is serious business. Yes, it’s fun, but it also comes with responsibilities. Your actions can affect people’s safety, their property, and even your own wallet (hello, fines). By learning from the mistakes of others—and not being that pilot—you can enjoy the skies safely and legally.

Want to keep your license AND your dignity? Then:

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  Know your regulations (Reg 2019/947 Art. 4, 5).
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  Respect airspace and people’s privacy.
• ▸
  Plan your flights carefully.
• ▸
  Always prioritize safety over “epic” shots.

Now go out there, fly responsibly, and let your drone be a source of joy—not a headline. Fly safe, folks!