How important is it to always keep the drone within sight during flight?

[AdminForo]

How important is it to always keep the drone within sight during flight: Keeping the DJI Mavic 4 Pro within the pilot's field of vision, a practice known as VLOS (Visual Line of Sight), is a fundamental safety rule adopted by most aviation authorities worldwide. Flying with a direct line of sight allows the operator to detect potential obstacles, changes in the drone's direction, and unexpected events such as the presence of birds, interference, or stability issues. Unlike monitoring exclusively through the drone's camera, VLOS provides a panoramic, real-time view of the entire environment.

Operating outside of visual line of sight significantly increases the risk of accidents. Although the Mavic 4 Pro features anti-collision sensors and GPS-assisted navigation, these systems do not replace human perception, especially in urban or natural environments or in areas with multiple obstacles. During flights beyond the line of sight, signal latency, weather conditions, or technical failures can cause the drone to lose control without the pilot realizing it in time to correct the course.

Furthermore, VLOS compliance is a legal requirement in many countries, for both recreational and commercial operators. Flying outside this limit without authorization can result in fines or administrative penalties. Even on assisted or scheduled flights, such as those operated with Waypoints or ActiveTrack, the pilot must be able to intervene manually if something goes wrong, and to do so requires visual contact with the equipment at all times.

On the other hand, keeping the drone visible also helps maintain spatial orientation. Although the DJI Mavic 4 Pro has a precise app interface and advanced telemetry, direct direction and position sensing facilitates more intuitive maneuvers, especially in emergency situations. This practice strengthens flight safety, improves the user experience, and contributes to the responsible and professional use of the drone in any scenario.