Introduction
Many public safety agencies rely on their DJI Matrice 300 RTK to augment their operational capabilities. From Hazmat accidents to active shooter incidents, the aircraft provides a greater degree of situational awareness for effective decision-making. To minimize the risk of a vital tool like the Matrice failing during a mission, operators should consider developing a regular maintenance plan.
Inspection and Maintenance Checklist
This article will serve as a brief overview of the process. We suggest that users refer to DJI’s dedicated maintenance manual for issues beyond what is discussed in this blog.
Inspection
DJI provides three separate inspection checklists for when the aircraft is powered off, powered on, and in flight. When powered off, operators should check for any signs of damage to the frame and especially propellers. Motors should move freely with propellers mounted on the appropriate motors. Battery ports will need to be regularly checked and cleaned, if necessary. The camera gimbal should be free to move along all three axes. Auxiliary lights need to function properly, and sensor ports should be free of obstructions.
Before the aircraft is powered on, batteries need to be properly installed and fully charged. The pilot should ensure flight parameters are appropriate for the mission including RTH altitude, height limits, and distance limits. The aircraft needs to be connected by at least 7 satellites, indicated on the flight controller with its compass calibrated properly.
While in flight, check for drift while hovering and appropriate responsiveness to controller input. Set sample distance and height limits and see if the aircraft adheres to them. Take time to test the RTH function with the aircraft more than 65 feet (20m) away from the home point.
As we have stated before, this is not a comprehensive description of the inspection procedure. However, it does provide an overview of what to expect when planning an inspection checklist. An awareness of all aircraft components is crucial for safe operations.
Maintenance
In addition to detailed inspections, DJI outlines a general maintenance plan based on aircraft usage.
- Basic Maintenance: 200 hours of flight time or 6 months
- updates, calibrations, deep cleaning
- Factory service recommended
- Routine Maintenance: 400 hours of flight time or 12 months
- Updates/calibration, deep cleaning, component replacement
- Factory service required
- Deep Maintenance: 600 hours of flight time or 18 months
- Updates/calibration, deep cleaning, component replacement, core replacement
- Factory service required
Decon
Because the Matrice is often used to respond to HazMat calls, these operators must consider another layer of maintenance – decontamination. While aircraft like the Matrice reduce the need to send in first responders to a HazMat site, they do so at expense of becoming contaminated.
Disposal of the aircraft is incredibly impractical and not much of an option. Fortunately, FLYMOTION offers a solution. Known as the Drone Decon Kit (DDK), this decontamination solution utilizes non-corrosive Dahlgren Decon products safe to use on sensitive aircraft like the Matrice. Dahlgren’s solution can be used with a variety of sprayers and rapidly breaks down long chemical chains of the contaminants. Also included in the kit is a containment mat that collects chemical residue for proper disposal.
Keep in mind that not all aircraft can be decontaminated with the Drone Decon Kit. The Matrice 300 RTK has an IP45 rating, allowing it to be sprayed down without any damage to the aircraft systems and internal components. Other models like the Mavic series do not have this IP rating which is something to consider when deciding what aircraft is best for Hazmat operations.
The Take-Away
Having a reliable solution means, in part, maintaining operational readiness. We encourage you to refer to the official DJI manual for details regarding inspection and maintenance procedures. Curious about any of the products mentioned in this article? Have any questions about maintenance? Contact FLYMOTION through our website.
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