Ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with regulations for commercial drone operations. Maintaining drones properly reduces the risk of accidents, ensures consistent performance, and complies with legal requirements. These requirements should be outlined and detailed in your SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures).
The new automated maintenance schedules in Air Control enables easier compliance and tracking the various requirements across your program.
Regular maintenance checks prevent mechanical failures, which could lead to loss of control or crashes, thereby protecting property, people, and other aircraft. Adherence to maintenance schedules and records is often a requirement for regulatory compliance, especially important for obtaining and maintaining waivers like BVLOS.
Logging maintenance in Air Control just got even easier. You can record all inspections, repairs, updates, along with any issues found or resolved. Keep records of all this work documented and easily accessible for reports and audits.
Even for basic operations, Part 107 outlines some maintenance responsibilities. For BVLOS, the FAA might require:
Proof of regular maintenance and operational checks.
Specific documentation about how maintenance enhances safety for BVLOS operations.
Possibly more detailed reporting or data logging to ensure traceability in case of incidents.
Set up a schedule to get started:
Select the start time and frequency:
Select desired components
Specify aircraft the schedule applies to
Add the Schedule
Don't forget to add the pilot, admins, maintenance coordinator, etc., to the alert
Review Recommendations
Clicking "Log Maintenance Event" on the Recommendation will automatically populate a new maintenance event to update the aircraft.
Rest easy knowing you're maintenance is now being tracked across the board!
There are many different aspects to a healthy maintenance program. Here are some other considerations for your program. Regular maintenance tasks may include:
Pre-Flight Checks:
Visual inspection for damage or wear on propellers, frame, and camera/gimbal.
Battery checks for charge level, physical condition, and storage life.
Firmware updates to ensure software reliability.
Post-Flight Inspections:
Check for any anomalies observed during flight.
Clean drone components from environmental contaminants.
Scheduled Maintenance:
Weekly/Monthly:
Detailed inspection of motors, ESCs, and control surfaces.
Calibration of compass, IMU, and other sensors.
Quarterly/Semi-Annual:
Replace or service parts with high wear like propellers, bearings, and seals.
Full system diagnostics including GPS and telemetry systems.
Don't forget about Training and Personnel:
Ensure all personnel involved in the operation and maintenance of sUAS are adequately trained. Continuous learning about new updates, regulations, and best practices in drone maintenance.
A comprehensive drone maintenance program is critical for commercial sUAS users not only for safety but also to meet or exceed regulatory requirements, especially when seeking waivers for operations like BVLOS. Such programs ensure that drones are in optimal condition, reducing risks and enhancing operational efficiency.