How becoming an Expert from an Amateur : drone pilot advancement strategy

1. Learning theoretical knowledge 

As a beginner in the field of UAV, it is crucial to learn theoretical knowledge systematically. First of all, understand the structure of the UAV, make clear the functions of each component such as the fuselage, propeller, motor, flight control system, etc., and master the flight principle of the UAV, including the interaction between lift, gravity, thrust and drag. In addition, familiarize yourself with aviation meteorological knowledge and know how different weather conditions such as wind, rain and fog affect flight. At the same time, memorize the laws and regulations related to drone flights, such as no-fly zones, flight declaration procedures, and height restrictions, to ensure that each flight is legal and compliant.

2. The use of the simulator to enhance the operating feel
When accumulated a certain amount of theoretical knowledge, with the help of flight simulators to practice, is an efficient way to start the practical journey. Flight simulators can simulate a variety of complex flight scenarios, so that you can familiarize yourself with the operation of the drone in the virtual environment, feel the feel of the control, and enhance the ability to control the attitude of the drone. Repeatedly practicing basic operations such as takeoff, landing, hovering, route flight, etc., to exercise the reaction speed and avoid accidents caused by operating errors in the actual flight.

3. Real aircraft practice step by step
After mastering the operation skills on the simulator, you can enter the real aircraft practice stage. Start with a simple entry-level drone, and choose a site that is open, free of obstacles, and sparsely populated, such as an empty square or the countryside. Follow the pre-takeoff inspection steps to double-check the drone's parameters and equipment status. Conduct simple takeoff, landing and hovering exercises first, and gradually increase the flight difficulty as the operation proficiency improves, and practice turning and route flying. In the process of practicing, we constantly summarize our experience and think about how to better cope with various emergencies, such as strong wind interference, signal loss, and so on.

4. Apply for a certificate and get an “admission ticket”
In China, to engage in commercial drone flights, it is essential to get a corresponding certificate. Currently, the mainstream certificate is the drone pilot license issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which is applicable to commercial flight scenarios. It usually includes a theory test and a practical test. It is recommended to choose a formal training institution for systematic study and prepare for the exam under the guidance of a professional teacher to improve the exam passing rate.

5. Accumulate experience in practice
Theory and simulation exercises are important, but real growth comes from practice. Actively participate in various drone projects, such as aerial photography, mapping, inspection, etc. Different projects have different skill requirements and knowledge reserves for drone flyers. Through practice, you can not only further improve your flying skills, but also learn to reasonably select UAV equipment and formulate flight plans according to different mission requirements, accumulate rich project experience, and understand the development dynamics of the industry and market demand. In addition, communicating and cooperating with other flyers and sharing flight experience and skills can also broaden your horizons and rapidly improve your own abilities.