Creating a Pilot Mission

1.1 Drone Operations Center – Mission Types Overview

Before you start:
In AirHub, there are two main mission types that define how your operation will be executed:

Pilot Mission: A mission planned in the Drone Operations Centre but flown manually by a pilot in the field using the Ground Control app.

Ground Station Mission: A fully automated mission that is pre-planned in detail and executed autonomously by a compatible Ground Station, such as a DJI Dock.

The mission editor will adapt depending on the type of mission you create. This article focuses on Pilot Missions, explaining how to plan and prepare them effectively.

1.2 Creating a New Pilot Mission

1. From the main sidebar, click the + Create Mission button.

2. In the dialog that appears, select Create Pilot Mission.

3. You will be redirected to the mission editor. Your new mission will now appear in Draft status.

From this point, you can start defining the operational details of your flight.

1.3 Setting Up the Flight Plan

The Info tab of the mission editor contains all the key sections needed to configure your mission. Each section allows you to define essential operational data for the upcoming flight.

Flight Information Section

Provide the core mission details:
• Name: A clear and descriptive title for the operation.
• Date: The planned date and time for the mission.
• Maximum Altitude: The highest intended altitude of the flight.
• Line of Sight: Specify whether the operation will be Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) or Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS).
• Tags: Add mission tags for easier searching and organisation.

Team Section

Note: This section only appears in organisational workspaces. In a personal workspace, you are automatically assigned to all roles.

Assigning roles ensures that each team member’s responsibilities are clearly defined:
• Pilot: The person in control of the drone.
• Payload Operator (optional): The person responsible for managing the payload.
• Observer (optional): A visual observer assisting the pilot during the mission.

Equipment Section

Assigning equipment helps with accurate resource tracking and compliance documentation:
• Drone: Select the aircraft that will be used.
• Batteries: Choose the specific batteries assigned to this flight.
• Equipment: Assign additional items such as payloads, safety equipment, or accessories.

Checklists Section

Attach operational checklists to ensure consistent procedures are followed throughout the mission lifecycle.
You can assign up to three checklists:
• Pre-flight Checklist – To be completed before take-off.
• In-flight Checklist – For mid-mission procedures and monitoring.
• Post-flight Checklist – To finalise and log flight details after landing.

Pilots will complete these checklists directly in the Ground Control app.

Documents Section

Upload any documents relevant to the mission. These files will be accessible to the pilot and crew in the field.
Examples include:
• Landowner permission forms.
• Operational or regulatory authorisations.
• Risk assessments or safety documentation.

Notes Section

Add any instructions, operational notes, or important reminders for the flight crew.
This section is ideal for including mission-specific considerations such as communication channels, local conditions, or procedural reminders.

1.4 Next Steps

After entering all basic mission details, the next step is to define the operational area for your flight.
You can do this by drawing and configuring Flyzones, which represent the geographical boundaries of your mission.

Learn more in the next article: Defining Flight Geography with Flyzones.