Safety & rules

A family flight-safety agreement

SkyYouth · 7 min read

Rules explained once get forgotten. Written down, signed and stuck on the wall, they change the relationship — the child stops being managed and starts keeping a promise.

The four non-negotiables

• Never fly over people, and never launch when someone is close.
• Never fly beyond your own line of sight.
• Never fly near airports, restricted zones, or anywhere flying is prohibited.
• Never push on. Bad weather, bad mood or a bad feeling means don't fly.

The agreement (copy and print)

I promise:

1. Before every flight I will do the checks myself: props, battery, surroundings.
2. I will only fly in the places we agreed, and I will tell an adult first.
3. When someone comes close, I will land first.
4. I will not use a swollen battery or a damaged prop.
5. If I lose control, I will land rather than chase the aircraft.
6. An adult will be with me every time I fly.

My parents promise:

1. Not to rush me, and not to compare me with anyone else.
2. To do the pre-flight checks with me.
3. To say one thing I did well after each session.
4. To help me get the guards and spares I need.

Signed: child ______ parent ______ date ______

Pre-flight check (six items)

1. Props: no nicks or bends, firmly fitted.
2. Prop guards: properly seated.
3. Battery: enough charge, no swelling.
4. Airframe: no cracks in the arms, no loose screws.
5. Space: nothing overhead, nobody nearby.
6. Controller: battery, switches, flight mode.

Battery rules

• Charge with an adult present, never overnight, away from anything flammable.
• Never use a mismatched charger.
• Store and carry batteries separately, away from metal objects.
• Swollen, hot or smelly batteries are retired immediately.

If something goes wrong: three steps

1. Land — if you still have control, land. Don't chase it.
2. Disconnect — power down and remove the battery.
3. Tell an adult — explain what happened and work out the cause together.

How to use it

Print it and keep it where the drone lives, or inside the case lid. Read it together every three months and add a line whenever you learn something new — an agreement that gets amended is followed more willingly than one that never changes.

Check your local registration and airspace requirements before flying; these vary between countries and change over time.

General information only - not enrolment, buying or admissions advice. Check current rules with your local aviation authority and official sources.