Best practices for flying in high altitude with Wingtra LIDAR

Wingtra GEN II with LIDAR payload can fly at a maximum altitude of 3500 meters above sea level (ASL).

When flying with the LIDAR payload, it is mandatory to use high-altitude propellers from 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) ASL to ensure efficient and safe flight operations.

When using other Wingtra payloads, please consider high-altitude propellers for altitudes between 1,500 and 2,500m (5,000 and 8,000ft) ASL, as explained in the article Flying at High Altitudes.

The flight time of a drone decreases at higher altitudes due to reduced air density, increased power consumption, and lower battery efficiency caused by colder temperatures and stronger winds. 

Use these datapoints as a rough guideline:

Disclaimer: These flight times exclude takeoff and landing (around 2-3 minutes) and are flown at 90 m AGL, with 30% side overlap at around 2 m/s wind using the Wingtra Ultracharge+.

Tips for better performance in high-altitude environments

1. Keep the transition height as low as possible while ensuring it remains at a safe level to conserve battery life. Please note that power consumption during vertical takeoff is the highest. The faster the drone transitions to forward flight, the more energy-efficient it is.
2. Try to fly in conservative wind conditions (around 2 m/s - 5 m/s), up to a limit of 8 m/s of wind.
3. Use high-altitude propellers above 1500m / 5000ft: they improve the drone’s performance in thinner air, allowing for more efficient flight and stability at greater heights. They also enhance battery life and overall flight time by reducing the strain on the drone’s motors. Please consider them essential for flight when operating above 1500m / 5000 ft above sea level.
4. Ensure the batteries are fully charged before flight.
5. Understand the estimated flight times and adjust flight plans accordingly.
6. Monitor and prepare for wind conditions, which can vary significantly at higher altitudes.
7. Try to start the survey mission as far away from the takeoff point as possible.
8. Consider using Wingtra Ultracharge+ for maximum flight time.