20 BIGGEST DRONE MISTAKES beginner Pilots with DJI MAVIC PRO & SPARK

I've put together a list of some of the biggest mistakes I see new pilots making. I hope that you can learn from these and not make them yourself!

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Disclosures: All opinions are my own. Sponsors are acknowledged. Some links in the description are affiliate links that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.

00:00 20 Biggest Drone Mistakes
01:18 Mistake #1: Prep Your Drone For Flight
01:56 Mistake #2: Firmware Issues (1:56)
02:18 Mistake #3: Calibration
02:50 Mistake #4: GPS
03:20 Mistake #5: Flying Indoors
03:46 Mistake #6: It's Just a Toy
04:10 Mistake #7: Not knowing your drone
04:50 Mistake #8: No Spotter
05:22 Mistake #9: Restricted Flights
06:05 Mistake #10: FAA Rules
06:34 Mistake #11: Sensor Issues
07:12 Mistake #12: GPS
07:50 Mistake#13: Weather Problems
08:24 Mistake #14: Flying Near Objects
09:06 Mistake #15: Automation
09:39 Mistake #16: Flying Too Far
10:03 Mistake #17: Low Battery
10:27 Mistake #18: Flying Into Objects
10:39 Mistake #19: Screen Flying
11:02 Mistake #20: Sport Mode

[lilJG]

When I get my drone I'm not even going to fly it the 1st day, I'm taking it out for coffee so I have a chance to get to know it first. Thanks bud great tips ty!

[YxungHermes]

Oh, nobody did this*?...ok!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Not taking gimbal covers and sensor stickers off (1:18)
2. Not updating firmware (1:56)
3. Not calibrating the IMU and Gyro (2:18)
4. Not Letting your GPS lock on (2:50)
5. Flying indoors for the first flight (3:20)
6. Thinking it's just a toy (3:46)
7. Not knowing your drone (4:10)
8. Flying without a spotter (4:50)
9. Flying in restricted areas (5:22)
10. Not knowing the FAA Rules (6:05)
11. Not understanding your drone's sensors (6:34)
12. Turning off your GPS (7:12)
13. Not understanding weather (7:50)
14. Flying into a tree [Near Objects] (8:24)
15. Not understanding how automation works (9:06)
16. Flying too far away (9:39)
17. Flying under 30% battery (10:03)
18. Flying backwards near objects (10:27)
19. Only using the screen to fly (10:39)
20. Not understanding Sport Mode (11:02)

Understand your drone, understand your drone's software

[bmrivest]

Great video! Looking to buy Mavic 2 Pro and just doing my homework. Knew a lot of this stuff but good refresher. I'm a new subscriber!

[thomsmith]

One mistake my son in law almost made was the return to home when he was on his sailboat. It started to land where the boat was when he took off. Luckily he was paying attention and was able to recover. Now he just has the drone hover and take the boat to it.

[ajinkyax]

LIFE SAVER TIP 101: 1. HEAR "Home point recorded" .
2. Lock GPS, fly with Auto Take off (w/ precision ticked)
3. Then FLY UP 30meters. 4. have fun.

[rcacase]

Jeven, thank you, all pure gold. I just bought a Mavic Air and I know it has sensors in the back but the rest is still pure gold for the new pilot. Thank you.

[tombraselton]

Another helpful tip: PRACTICE WITH THE SIMULATOR IN THE DJI GO APP.

I am used to planes, for me, down was up! It broke me of the habit and I tested all of the flight modes. I could switch to map mode and perform all of the POI, locking modes and everything. Really helped with the mind-muscle connection of both controls and I flew much better my first (second really. I crashed it in the house like you mentioned first) time out. It was a breeze and my confidence was elevated.

[johnbetof]

I was gifted a Mavic Air 2, and I want to thank you for sharing your training videos. Your videos have helped me understand my drone, and I now have the knowledge and confidence to safely fly my drone. One thing that I did to my controller was to place small pieces of white first aid tape on each side of the joy stick and label the direction with a fine tipped marker. For a newbie drone pilot having those direction labels have helped me not to get confused when learning to fly. I also labeled the FN button one click = Map/Live View and two clicks = Center Gimbel. I also put a reminder on the controller to put my phone in airplane mode so I don't receive texts or phone calls while flying.

[GregConquest]

Useful tips. Thanks :-) My biggest mistake when first starting (with a cheaper, "training" drone): I figured flying it from the upwind side of the clearing, nearly direct overhead, was the way to go, but when I went up to maximum altitude (50-80 meters), the drone lost the connection, went into *slow descent mode*, yet *still drifted* with the gentle wind crashing some 300 meters away! The drone was going downwind faster than it was coming down in altitude, so I could never re-establish the connection. .... Now, I position myself closer to the center of the clearing and fly the drone 20 - 30 meters *upwind* from me. When flying high and it loses the wireless connection, it starts slowly descending -- right on top of me! When it gets close enough, I just re-establish the connection and continue flying. .... *One complaint* on the cheaper drones (and maybe others): they need a *fast/emergency descent mode*. My drone is only 180 grams, and *even a gentle updraft will counteract the normal descent mode and push the drone upward*. If I could simply pull down on the ascend/descend lever while in descent/landing mode, then it could descend much faster. Release the lever, and it goes back into regular descent mode. This would get the pilot out of many difficult situations due to troublesome winds, swooping birds of prey, (or GPS-position-maintained windy descents for expensive drones). (OT testing: putting a -hyphen/minus sign in front of text serves as a strikeout and then close with another hyphen- at the end (no spaces on either end for hyphens or asterisks))

[adiancona]

Great advice and good content, I'm new to the game and I've made sure to be safe to be sure. Some new key things you've mentioned that has helped further, thanks.

[gunnarthompson]

finally someone who speaks at the same speed I listen; My hat is off to you-You seem to answer my next question right before I think of it. I really appreciate all your efforts in making all these videos -- the way you concisely y and quickly present content I find valuable without trying to entertain me Is perfect.
I heard you mention that you have a school for videographers and creators --that would be my number one choice for both myself and my son

[trennsayer]

Great video Jeven, I've ordered my Mavic but not received it yet. I'm doing some research before it arrives to understand exactly the things you highlight. Thanks for the informative video delivered in a really nice style.

[michaelgause]

Great video you remind me so much of Mark Rober
, I mean this as a compliment because you are very descriptive and detailed in your explanations, very glad I found your channel.

[rolandbrooks]

Top vid my friend. I watched loads of vids first, then got a note book and wrote the hints / tips / starting procedure down before even starting the drone, then 1st flight in a field, took it no more than a few mts off the ground and spent time learning the controller, , so glad I did this rather than unbox/go

[samhasan]

Great mate thank I just got my drone yesterday I decided to learn more before I start flying thanks again

[JaimeVillacis]

OMG! So surprised to see the first aerial shot! That is Quito, my hometown

[jreyez_]

thank you so much. I am getting a spark christmas and it will be very useful for when i start flying.

[bosra]

Thanks for putting this video out. Just bought a drone and it was very helpful to see this video before starting..

[ChaseCharaba]

Awesome tips! I'm buying a Mavic this month (finally). I probably won't even fly it the first day because I want to understand it first. Plus my house is in some zone where I supposedly have to notify the local airport that I'll be operating a drone.

[thomasw]

My school-english is not very good, i come from germany, but i understand you a litle bit.
Your information is verry good thank you very much.