Avoid unpleasant surprises by gathering as much information as possible about the flight environment before you are on site. Ask for blueprints, photos, or descriptions of the flight area. You should be able to answer the following questions:
Is the environment in which the Elios will be operated safe?
Method Statement
The Method Statement (MS) lists all the different steps that will be performed during the inspection. It will also specify all the required equipment to fulfill the mission. The “Method Statement – Template” document offers a template to establish your own. An example of a filled in document can be found here.
This document will be required on most industrial sites, and is used to communicate the scope of your work to the local work coordinators.
Risk Assessment
The Risk Assessment (RA) is a document which breaks down the steps taken and specifying all the risks that can occur during the progress of the mission. It also states the mitigating measures that can be taken to limit the likelihood and/or consequences of a mishap. The “Risk Assessment – Template” document offers a template to establish your own. You can also download an example of a completed document here.
Do you have the proper flight authorization?
If you perform outdoor flights, depending on the area and on the country in which you will conduct your flight, you will need a specific authorization. Make sure that you satisfy all requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority to go ahead with your flight.
Note that in most countries, indoor areas are not in the civil airspace, so drone flights conducted inside are not regulated.
Once the objectives and risks of the inspection are known, you should proceed with the flight planning stage. During visual inspections, all areas of interest must be systematically visited and filmed. A well defined and executed flight plan will help you get the most out of a flight. Flight planning and systematic inspection is covered in a dedicated article.