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Proctor: “Take off and climb to 3 meters.”rPIC: “Taking off and climbing to 3 meters.”Proctor: “Take a picture of the landing pad, then adjust the gimbal to capture bucket 1A.”rPIC: “Landing pad and bucket 1A.”
AT 209 - Flight Lab 1 - NIST OTL Flight (DJI Mavic 2 Pro)
Flight log:
Date
Drone Type
Aircraft Ident.
Takeoff
Landing
Rotor time
Remote Pilot in Command
Visual Observer
Total Time
9/4/2025
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
SATT F
Purdue Turf Farm
Purdue Turf Farm
2
0.5
1.5
2
There are no rows in this table
Preflight:
We used a DJI Mavic 2 Pro registered under UAS Dispatch for this mission. The aircraft’s serial number was 1581F163CH92R0A3VDJ0 and its registration number was FA3K93AEKM. I worked alongside Clayton Brown, Isabella Avedician, and Kenzie Florkiewicz during the operation. Since the mission took place at the Purdue Turf Farm, we were required to obtain LAANC authorization before flying. Kenzie secured the LAANC clearance ahead of time while we were still at COMP 101, which allowed us to begin the mission immediately upon arrival at the Turf Farm. On the drive to the site, we reviewed the weather conditions. Although wind gusts were reaching up to 15 mph, we decided to proceed with the flight after consulting the drone’s manual, which indicates a wind resistance capability of 18–24 mph. Unfortunately we were unable to take a picture of the weather data.
Test Procedure:
To successfully conduct this lab, we arranged three groups of buckets, each group spaced 10 feet apart, with the first group positioned 10 feet from the drone’s takeoff point. Each group consisted of five buckets, with four angled outward. The numbering system for the buckets is shown in the reference image below.
Once the buckets were properly placed and oriented, we began the flight lab. The order of Remote Pilot in Command (rPIC) was Clayton, Isabella, Venky, and Kenzie, while the order of Proctors was Kenzie, Venky, Clayton, and Isabella. During each flight, the remaining two participants served as Visual Observers (VOs). The Proctor’s role was to stand next to the rPIC and provide instructions for the flight and camera operations. The rPIC’s role was to read back each instruction to confirm understanding before carrying it out. A typical exchange went as follows:
To ensure the safety of the operation, we assigned multiple Visual Observers (VOs) during each flight. This was especially important since there were approximately four drones operating simultaneously at the Turf Farm, requiring increased situational awareness to avoid conflicts. Several other potential hazards were identified at the site, including: Trees surrounding parts of the flight area, which could obstruct flight paths. Bird activity, which posed a risk of midair conflict with the drones. Vehicles, such as cars and vans traveling near the Turf Farm, that introduced additional ground hazards. Another important precaution we took was replacing the battery each time a new Remote Pilot in Command (rPIC) began their flight. This proactive measure minimized the risk of encountering low-battery emergencies, ensuring that each rPIC had a full charge to safely complete their portion of the mission without triggering contingency procedures.
Score sheet:
I went third in my group and had Clayton as my proctor. We did not score ourselves yet; however, we did get scores for the landings. We did not have time to grade the actual pictures. I was able to get a 4/4 on the landing portion with 3 incredible landings.
Photos:
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