Drone exam · Air safety

The default return to home height is lower than nearby trees and a power line corridor. The pilot expects to fly manually and does not plan to use return to home. Why should the setting still be changed before takeoff?

Answer

The return to home height should be set to clear known obstacles, or the mission plan should avoid relying on automatic return at that site. The setting matters because return to home may activate during low battery, lost link, or workload.

Explanation

Automation is often used when the pilot already has a problem. If the default path is unsafe, the aircraft can fly itself into a hazard at the worst time. Pre flight setup prevents a predictable emergency.