MEB Drone — Preflight Checklist

📋 1 — Flight information & administration Required ▼

Date

Pilot

Drone type

💨 Max wind: —

🌡 Temp range: —

🌧 Precipitation: —

⛰ Max alt: —

Project / Pursuit

Launch time (planned)

Max altitude (AGL ft)

Mission purpose

Flight environment (select all that apply)

🌤 Outdoor 🏢 Indoor

Section statusIncomplete

🗂 2 — Mission type selection Required ▼

Select all mission types to be conducted at this operation site. Applicable subsections will appear below.

Section statusIncomplete

📜 3 — Regulatory & authorization Required ▼

Pilot holds valid FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate and it is current

Aircraft is registered with the FAA and registration is current

Airspace authorization obtained (LAANC, FAA DroneZone, or applicable waiver) if operating in controlled airspace

NOTAMs reviewed — no active NOTAMs or TFRs affecting the operating area

Site is not within restricted, prohibited, or sensitive airspace without proper authorization

Property access and landowner permission obtained (if applicable)

Operating during daylight hours, or night waiver is current and active anti-collision lighting is installed

Section verdictIncomplete

👤 4 — Pilot readiness (IMSAFE) Required ▼

Illness — No illness or symptoms that could impair performance

Medication — Not taking any medication with impairing side effects

Stress — No psychological stress affecting concentration or judgment

Alcohol — No alcohol consumed in the past 8 hours; BAC below legal limit

Fatigue — Adequately rested; not excessively fatigued

Emotion — No emotional disturbances that could impair safe judgment

Section verdictIncomplete

🌤 5 — Weather assessment Required ▼

📱

Before leaving the office, open UAV Forecast and confirm conditions at the flight location are within limits for your aircraft. Complete this section on-site at the launch location — not in the parking lot or en route.

Conditions

Wind speed

Wind gusts

Temperature

Visibility

Cloud ceiling

Wind speed is within aircraft manufacturer's rated limit

Visibility at or above 3 statute miles (FAA Part 107 minimum)

Cloud ceiling clears planned altitude by at least 500 ft (FAA Part 107)

No active precipitation in the operating area

No lightning or active thunderstorm cell within 10 miles (MEB standard)

Temperature is within aircraft operating range

UAV Forecast checked at the office before departure and confirmed again here at the launch location

Section verdictIncomplete

📍 6 — Site assessment Required ▼

Launch and landing zone identified — firm, level surface, clear of debris

Emergency / abort landing zone identified

Overhead hazards assessed (power lines, antenna towers, trees, structures)

RF / GPS interference sources assessed (proximity to towers or large metallic structures)

Operating area is clear of uninvolved persons within applicable safe distance

Visual line of sight (VLOS) can be maintained throughout the entire planned flight path

Section verdictIncomplete

🚁 7 — Aircraft inspection Required ▼

Airframe visually inspected — no cracks, fractures, or structural damage

All arms and landing gear secure and undamaged

All propellers inspected — no chips, cracks, or warping; properly seated and tightened

Motors clear of debris; rotate freely and smoothly by hand

All wiring and connectors secure; no exposed or damaged wiring visible

Gimbal and camera mount secure; gimbal lock removed if applicable

SD card / memory inserted and confirmed sufficient capacity

Aircraft is externally marked with FAA registration number in a location visible without tools or disassembly

All flight batteries at or above minimum planned charge level; no swelling, damage, or abnormal heat detected

Aircraft firmware is current or on a version approved by the program administrator

Section verdictIncomplete

🎮 8 — Ground control station & controller Required ▼

Remote controller charged above minimum operating level

Controller firmware and app version current

Controller linked and communicating with aircraft

Return-to-Home altitude set appropriately for site obstacles

Home point confirmed / set at launch location

GPS satellite count at or above minimum threshold (typically ≥ 8 satellites) before launch

Compass and IMU calibration current; no warnings or error flags present in GCS

Section verdictIncomplete

✋ 9A — Manual / visual piloting Mission-specific ▼

Flight mode confirmed as intended (manual / attitude / sport as applicable)

Mode switches confirmed in correct positions before power-up

Stick calibration verified — no drift observed at center

Maximum planned operating radius does not exceed 5,000 ft from pilot position

Spotter / visual observer briefed and in position (if used)

Section verdictIncomplete

📍 9B — Automated waypoint mission Mission-specific ▼

Planning software

Mission file / waypoint route loaded and verified in GCS

All waypoints visually reviewed against site map — no conflicts with obstacles or restricted areas

Altitude for each waypoint verified and appropriate for site terrain and obstacles

Flight speed settings reviewed and appropriate for the mission objective

Action triggers at each waypoint confirmed (photo capture, hover, gimbal angle, etc.)

Mission does not exceed aircraft's rated range or battery endurance (with minimum 20% safety reserve)

Failsafe / lost-link behavior confirmed (RTH, hover, or land) and appropriate for site conditions

Pilot is prepared and able to take manual override at any point during the automated mission

Section verdictIncomplete

🗺 9C — Automated scanning / mapping Mission-specific ▼

Mapping software

Accuracy method(s) for this mission

Survey area polygon drawn and confirmed in mission planning software

Overlap and sidelap settings configured per project requirements

Camera settings (ISO, shutter speed, white balance) reviewed for current lighting conditions

Estimated flight time plus safety reserve does not exceed battery capacity

Processing software / cloud storage confirmed ready to receive and process data post-flight

Section verdictIncomplete

🔍 9D — Inspection / close-range operations Mission-specific ▼

Asset type

Structure or asset confirmed accessible and site hazards identified

Minimum safe operating distance from structure determined and briefed to crew

Obstacle avoidance sensors enabled and confirmed functional

Inspection shot list / documentation plan confirmed prior to flight

Wind conditions are acceptable for precise low-speed maneuvering in close proximity to structures

Site contact notified and site access confirmed (if applicable)

Section verdictIncomplete

🌡 9E — Thermal / sensor payload operations Mission-specific ▼

Sensor type

Sensor / payload mounted securely and powered on

Sensor calibration verified as current

Recording format and output settings confirmed in sensor application

Section verdictIncomplete

✅ 10 — Final launch authorization Required ▼

Hover test completed (1–2 m AGL) — aircraft is stable and controls respond normally

Video downlink and telemetry confirmed in GCS prior to mission start

All bystanders cleared from launch zone and aware not to approach during flight

⚠️

In-flight abort triggers: land immediately if (1) sustained winds exceed your platform's rated limit for 1 continuous minute, or (2) two separate wind warnings are received from the piloting software or onboard sensors during the same flight. Choose the nearest safe landing zone, secure equipment, notify the DPA, and complete an incident report before leaving the site.

All go/no-go items in all sections above are marked Go

Pilot self-certification: I have completed this checklist honestly and am confident this flight is safe to conduct

Overall launch determination Incomplete

Pilot signature

Signed at