Fly Tools
Action Confirmation
Safety-critical actions (takeoff, land, RTL, etc.) require confirmation before they are executed. When you trigger one of these actions, a confirmation button appears with chevrons on its left side. To confirm, click and hold the button until the action is accepted. This prevents accidental activation of critical commands.
Pre Flight Checklist
An automated preflight checklist can be used to run through standard checks that the vehicle is configured correctly and it is safe to fly.
To view the checklist, first enable it by navigating to Application Settings > General > Fly View and selecting the Use preflight checklist checkbox. The checklist is then available on the Pre-Flight Checklist tab of the main status dropdown (click the status text at the left of the toolbar). The dropdown opens on this tab until the checklist has passed.
Once you have performed each test, select it on the UI to mark it as complete.
All checklist sections are shown at once. A section is locked (marked (locked)) until every section above it has passed, but its items still show their current state, so problems detected automatically — such as muted audio or too few GPS satellites — are visible from the start. Items are colored by state: red for a failed check that must be fixed, orange for a check that still needs confirming, and green for a passed check. The tab shows Passed once every check has passed, otherwise In Progress.
Custom builds can add pre-vehicle checks, which can be completed before a vehicle is connected. While disconnected, the checklist tab shows only these checks. They keep their progress when a vehicle connects or disconnects, and the vehicle checks stay locked until they have passed. Pre-vehicle checks, and the vehicle checks with them, are reset after each flight.
WARNING
Pre-vehicle checks are designed for a single connected vehicle. With multiple vehicles connected, a flight is only noticed while its vehicle is the active vehicle, so switching vehicles during a flight can leave the pre-vehicle checks passed for the next flight.
Takeoff
TIP
If you are starting a mission for a multicopter, QGroundControl will automatically perform the takeoff step.
To takeoff (when landed):
- Press the Takeoff button in the Fly Tools (this will toggle to a Land button after taking off).
- Optionally set the takeoff altitude in the right-side vertical slider.
- You can slide up/down to change the altitude
- You can also click on the specified altitude (10 ft in example) and then type in a specific altitude.
- Confirm the action.
Land
You can land at the current position at any time while flying:
- Press the Land button in the Fly Tools (this will toggle to a Takeoff button when landed).
- Confirm the action.
RTL/Return
Return to a "safe point" at any time while flying:
- Press the RTL button in the Fly Tools.
- Confirm the action.
INFO
Vehicles commonly return to the "home" (takeoff) location and land. This behaviour depends on the vehicle type and configuration. For example, rally points or mission landings may be used as alternative return targets.
Change Altitude
You can change altitude while flying, except when in a mission:
- Press the Actions button on the Fly Tools
- Select the Change Altitude button
- Select the new altitude from the vertical slider
- Confirm the action