Why a written checklist
Experienced pilots don't skip checks because they're careless — they skip them because they're confident. Every aviation incident report says the same thing, so we made confidence irrelevant: no Skyvane aircraft leaves the ground until each item below is confirmed out loud, pilot to observer, on every flight.
Airspace and authorization
- Airspace class verified for the exact launch point and altitude band.
- Authorization or waiver in hand where controlled airspace requires it — screenshots don't count, approvals do.
- Temporary flight restrictions and NOTAMs checked within one hour of launch.
- Property permission and privacy review complete for the flight area.
Weather minimums
- Visibility and cloud clearance within Part 107 minimums, with margin — minimums are floors, not targets.
- Sustained winds and gusts within the aircraft's demonstrated limits, measured on site, not from an app alone.
- Go/no-go weather decision owned by the pilot in command, final and unappealable.
Crew and aircraft
- Roles assigned: pilot in command, visual observer, and client liaison where applicable.
- Battery cycle counts, firmware status, and control-link checks logged.
- Return-to-home point set and verified, obstacle review briefed.
- Flight logs, maintenance records, and insurance current and on file.
Steal this checklist
Whether you hire us or fly yourself, run every commercial flight against a written list — and make the list harder to skip than to follow. Ours lives on a laminated card in every flight case. If you'd rather skip the paperwork entirely, that's what we're for.