FIELD LESSON
Briefing
One checklist is not enough
Office planning, site arrival, aircraft setup, launch decision, and post-flight handover each need different checks. A single giant checklist is easy to ignore.
No-go triggers are kindness
Write thresholds before the client is watching: wind, rain, battery health, people, access, sun, airspace uncertainty, equipment errors, and unclear authority. This protects the pilot from negotiation pressure.
Checklist ownership
If more than one person is involved, assign who confirms weather, who confirms site access, who checks aircraft, who briefed the client, and who owns the final launch decision.