Drone exam · Operational procedures

A multirotor flies the outbound leg with a strong tailwind and reaches the far end using less energy than expected. Why should the pilot resist the temptation to extend the route?

Answer

The return leg may require substantially more power against the headwind. Compare remaining energy with the worst likely return demand and keep the planned reserve.

Explanation

Low outbound consumption can be misleading when the wind reverses its effect on the trip home. Energy planning has to cover the demanding leg, not just the average.