I bought my Phantom 3 Advanced in June 2015, and due to busy work and personal schedules didn’t try my first flight until October 2016. I realized then that I had a bad controller and had to play email tag with DJI for 2 more months before they agreed to replace it. I have only flown my drone once and can’t wait for warming temps this spring to enjoy many more flights here in Michigan. I have a few questions first, not sure if I should ask them in introductions, but here they are.
- I have read online that the drone’s batteries should be fully charged after every flight. Not knowing how long it might be between flights, is it wiser to charge the batteries only before each flight? Since each charge is a cycle on the battery, and I’m supposed to charge before each flight, it seems I am wasting a charging cycle to charge after a flight if not knowing when the next use will be. Can they be stored at whatever percent was left after a flight, and then charged to full right before a flight without damage/stress to the battery?
- Weighing the Pros and Cons of registering my drone with the FFA. With only one flight on my drone I have not yet registered with the FFA, I will only be flying as a hobbyist so I know I don’t need a part 107. My concern with registration is that every time an irresponsible 12 year old does something stupid with his drone in my area, the FFA will look up registered owners (ME) and come knocking at my door demanding answers and drone flight logs. Am I blowing this out of proportion or do others feel the same way? What have you all done with registration and what are the consequences of not registering? I am also assuming when notifying and airport to my planned flight they will ask for the registration number as well as my name correct?
- Thoughts concerning informing airports before drone flights. I have downloaded the 2 apps AIRMAP and B4UFLY. They are both up to date but show different “small” airports or helipads in my area. B4UFLY seems to show every possible farmer who has a remote airstrip (never knew there were that many!) while AIRMAP seems to show fewer in the same area. Which one is right? If they both are for the same purpose why do they not match up? Am I actually supposed to contact every farmer who has an airstrip within 5 miles before I fly, or just strips that have active traffic?