Update: What you need to know when flying your drone in the mountains

Flying your drone high in the mountains is no easy task. If you go really high up, like what was done by Bartek Bargiel in the rescue of Rick Allen, you may even have to de-restrict your drone through a hack. At high altitudes, the air has a lower density, which makes it more difficult for your drone to fly. Lower temperatures also diminish your battery’s performance. This French video (English subtitled) explains in great detail what’s involved when flying your drone in the mountains.

Updated on 10/22/2018 with the video Part 2.

Mavic 2 Pro was the most stable drone

The video about flying your drone in the mountains was posted on the YouTube channel Paladrone and is the first part in two-episodes series of flying your drone at high altitudes in the mountains. The video is somewhat long at 17 minutes but provides some really valuable insights. The information from the video not only applies to drone-flying in France but in any mountainous area around the world.

Flying your drone in the mountains

Paladrone tests the Parrot Anafi, DJI Mavic Air, and DJI Mavic 2 Pro in various test scenarios to see how the drones deal with the lower temperatures, less dense air and thermal winds. Some key takeaways for flying your drone in the mountains are:

• Even though you are high up in the mountains and away from people, that does not mean that you can fly everywhere. There are many parks with restrictions both in France and here in the US.
• Be careful not to lose your drone, because the rough terrain may make it impossible to retrieve it.
• Don’t disturb the local fauna.
• For every 2,000m (or 6,000 feet) you go up in altitude, you lose about 10% of your battery power.
• Use your body heat to keep your batteries warm. Put them in your pockets.
• Be careful for sudden weather changes bot for your drone as well as yourself.
• Winds rise on the sun-lit side of the mountain and fall on the side that is in the shade.
• From the three tested drones, the Mavic 2 Pro was the most stable and dealt best with the changing wind patterns.

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