The flight safety of drones is extremely vulnerable to external environmental interference, such as strong magnetic areas, weather and environmental reasons, etc. Here, we will explain, how does wind affect drone flight?
The impact of strong winds on drone flight?
Most drones are marked with a wind rating. Such as Autel EVO Nano+ 5-level wind resistance, EVO Lite+ 7-level wind resistance, EVO II series 8-level wind resistance. The wind resistance level of the drone determines the flight applicability of the drone.
In strong winds, the drone may face problems such as difficulty in taking off, wobbling, being blown away by the wind, time and space of the drone, and faster battery drain.
Staying out of the way of strong winds is one of the safest ways we can keep our drones flying safely.
What is the wind resistance rating of drones?
When buying a drone, drone novices should pay attention to this indicator: the wind resistance rating of the drone.
The wind resistance rating of the drone can help us better understand the driving performance of the drone in the wind, and can safely and stably drive, hover and shoot at a certain wind speed.
When flying a drone in windy conditions, please check the wind speed and the wind resistance rating of your drone in advance, and do not let the drone face the wind resistance limit. For example, don’t let a level 6 wind resistance drone show up in a force 7 wind, you might lose your drone.
Beaufort Scale And Flying A Drone In The Wind
Each level on the scale corresponds to a specific wind speed range and its impact on the environment.
By matching drone wind resistance levels to these Beaufort categories, pilots can easily determine how well their drones can handle various wind conditions.
| Level | Speed (mph) | Description | Drone Behaviour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0-1 | Calm | Perfect conditions for any drone, even those with low wind resistance. |
| 1 | 1-3 | Light Air | Most drones should be able to handle these conditions without problems. |
| 2 | 4-7 | Light Breeze | Some smaller, lightweight drones might start to struggle, while others remain stable. |
| 3 | 8-12 | Gentle Breeze | The limit for many consumer drones. Pilots should exercise caution, particularly with lightweight or less powerful drones. |
| 4 | 13-18 | Moderate Breeze | Only drones with high wind resistance should be flown. Control and stability might start to be affected. |
| 5 | 19-24 | Fresh Breeze | Drones with very high wind resistance may still fly, but expect decreased control and possible rapid battery drain. |
| 6 | 25-31 | Strong Breeze | Most consumer drones should not be flown. Only professional-grade drones with extremely high wind resistance can handle these conditions. |
| 7 | 32-38 | Near Gale | Flying a drone is generally not recommended. Risk of losing control is high. |
| 8 | 39-46 | Gale | No drone flight should be attempted under these conditions. |
| 9 | 47-54 | Severe Gale | Flying a drone is dangerous and could result in the loss or destruction of the drone. |
| 10 | 55-63 | Storm | No drone flight should be attempted under these conditions. |
| 11 | 64-72 | Violent Storm | No drone flight should be attempted under these conditions. |
| 12 | 72-83 | Hurricane | No drone flight should be attempted under these conditions. |
What wind speed should I fly my drone?
As a general rule, drones can safely fly in winds up to two-thirds of their maximum speed, so it's crucial to understand your drone's capabilities and monitor wind conditions before flying.
Can you fly a drone in 15mph wind?
When driving a drone in windy conditions, the effect of wind speed on the drone should not be underestimated.
When a drone has a wind rating of 5, driving a drone in 15 mph wind conditions will reduce the drone's battery power by about 15 percent for every mile it advances, and the drone can lose up to one-third of its battery power quickly if it is driven in headwind conditions.
Therefore, it is prudent to fly your drone in windy conditions.
How do I fly drones on a windy day?
Preparing to Fly a Drone
Knowing and monitoring current wind speed and direction is important. In addition, a reasonable flight plan and flight parameter settings can help deal with the impact of wind and ensure that the drone can maintain a stable and safe flight in the wind.
Keep spare batteries
Flying against the wind can significantly reduce the drone's battery life, which in turn can make flight times unpredictable and dangerous. Stick to flying up to two-thirds of the drone's listed flight time in high winds to avoid the drone stopping mid-flight and crashing unexpectedly.
Short flight
Strong winds can seriously affect your drone's flight patterns - you could lose your drone! So keep the drone within your line of sight when flying in strong winds as you cannot rely on the drone GPS in high winds.
Don't fly over people
In strong winds, the drone's mechanisms tend to overreact. When encountering a gust, the drone accelerates, but when the gust suddenly slows down, the drone cannot immediately recalibrate its speed. Therefore, it is very important to keep your drone at a certain distance from nearby objects or people - this can be a dangerous situation!
