Check permission and conditions first

Use a CASA-verified drone-safety app and current CASA guidance to assess the location. Look for people, populous areas, emergency activity, airports, helicopter sites and crewed aircraft. Check wind, precipitation, visibility and daylight rather than relying on a forecast checked days earlier.

If the location or conditions are unsuitable, postpone. A checklist should help you stop as well as proceed.

Inspect the system and plan the end of the flight

Follow the aircraft manufacturer’s current instructions for inspecting the airframe, propellers, battery, controller, storage, firmware status and settings. Confirm the home point and relevant return-to-home behaviour before take-off, and ensure you understand any warnings.

Choose a clear take-off and landing area, maintain visual line of sight and decide when you will land. Keep people appropriately separated and never fly over another person.

  • Verify airspace and location with a CASA-verified app.
  • Check current weather and daylight.
  • Inspect aircraft, propellers, batteries and controller.
  • Confirm settings, home point and landing area.
  • Land early when conditions or instructions require it.

Common questions

Is one checklist enough for every drone?

Use this as a general framework and add every relevant step from your aircraft manufacturer’s current instructions and your operation’s requirements.

What is the most important pre-flight decision?

Whether to fly at all. If the location, weather, aircraft or people nearby make the operation unsuitable, do not take off.