What weather conditions permit and allow me to fly?

Two limits apply side by side: what the law requires and what your equipment can withstand. The stricter of the two applies.

What the law requires

You must be able to see the drone with the naked eye at all times and recognize its flight attitude. In fog, mist, heavy rain or snowfall, this quickly becomes impossible – in that case, the flight is not permitted, regardless of what the drone can technically handle. For more information, see Visual line of sight.

Night flights are permitted in the open category, but the drone must be equipped with a green flashing light.

Wind

The manufacturer’s specified maximum wind speed is decisive – and it applies to the drone, not to your location. Near the ground, you often measure significantly less wind than at an altitude of 100 m, while turbulence develops around building edges, above roofs or in ravines that does not appear in the weather report. A practical rule of thumb: plan with a safety margin below the manufacturer’s limit, and remember that a tailwind on the outward journey becomes a headwind on the return journey – with corresponding battery consumption.

Rain and moisture

Most drones are not protected against water. Only some Enterprise models have an IP rating; if none is specified in the data sheet, rain is off limits. Fog and high humidity also put stress on the electronics, and condensation forms particularly when moving from cold to warm conditions.

Temperature

The operating temperature range is stated in the manual. Cold noticeably reduces usable battery capacity – see Winter operation for more information. Heat, in turn, places a strain on motors and batteries, especially with a heavy payload and little wind.

Thunderstorms

Not a limit, but a criterion for terminating the flight. When a thunderstorm is approaching, the drone and team must return to the ground – gust fronts arrive faster than the rain and are the classic cause of total losses.

Our Pre-Flight Check explains what you should specifically check before take-off.