Planning is one of the most crucial steps in any drone flight—especially when it comes to safety, legality, and getting the shots you want. Whether you’re filming a cinematic landscape, surveying a property, or capturing a travel vlog, using tools like Google Earth and airspace management apps can help you scout your location, check restrictions, and fly with confidence.
This guide will walk you through how to use Google Earth and popular airspace apps like B4UFLY, Aloft (formerly Kittyhawk), and DroneLink to plan an efficient, legal, and creative drone flight.
Why Pre-Flight Planning Is Essential
Before you take off, here’s what proper planning helps you avoid:
- Flying in restricted or controlled airspace
- Running into unexpected terrain or obstacles
- Losing signal due to environmental interference
- Wasting battery on poorly composed or inefficient flights
- Facing fines or legal issues from unauthorized operations
Pre-planning ensures that your drone flight is safe, productive, and well-executed.
Step 1: Use Google Earth to Scout the Area
Google Earth is one of the best tools for visualizing terrain, plotting camera angles, and identifying obstacles before you arrive on-site.
What You Can Do with Google Earth:
- Identify interesting landmarks and shot opportunities
- Simulate flight paths in 3D mode
- Analyze elevation changes and terrain
- Mark waypoints and points of interest (POIs)
- Visualize sunrise/sunset lighting using the time slider
How to Use It:
- Search for your location in Google Earth (web or desktop app).
- Switch to 3D view and use the mouse or trackpad to rotate around your subject.
- Use the Ruler tool to estimate distances and plan flight paths.
- Use Placemarks or Paths to mark where you’ll launch, fly, and land.
- Note possible obstacles like trees, buildings, or utility poles.
Pro tip: Use the desktop version of Google Earth Pro for more features and flight simulation tools.
Step 2: Check Airspace with FAA Apps and Airspace Tools
Once you’ve chosen your flying location, check if it’s legal and safe to fly. This is where airspace awareness apps come in.
Recommended Apps:
1. B4UFLY (FAA App)
- Provides real-time airspace advisories
- Alerts you if you’re in controlled, restricted, or prohibited zones
- Helps recreational pilots fly responsibly
2. Aloft (formerly Kittyhawk)
- Used for LAANC authorizations (to fly in controlled airspace)
- Gives detailed weather, NOTAMs, TFRs, and advisories
- Tracks and logs flight data
- Great for Part 107 pilots
3. DroneLink / Litchi / DJI Fly (Advanced Planning)
- These apps let you pre-program automated flight paths
- Import KML/KMZ files from Google Earth
- Define altitude, camera angle, speed, and more
Step 3: Assess Weather and Environment
Even with legal clearance, poor weather can ruin your flight or damage your drone. Always double-check:
- Wind speed (below 15mph is usually ideal)
- Visibility (no fog or heavy haze)
- Precipitation (avoid rain, snow, or extreme humidity)
- Sun angle if shooting cinematic footage
You can use Aloft, UAV Forecast, or Windy for this.
Step 4: Prepare a Flight Plan
Based on your research, prepare a simple plan including:
- Launch and landing locations
- Altitude range
- Waypoints or POIs
- Estimated flight time based on battery life
- Emergency return point
- Communication plan if in a group
If flying commercially under Part 107, include this in your pre-flight checklist and logs.
Step 5: Use KML Files to Import Flight Paths
You can use Google Earth to create KML or KMZ files that can be imported into apps like:
- DJI Pilot or DJI Fly (via 3rd-party tools)
- Litchi Mission Hub
- DroneDeploy
- DroneLink
This allows you to pre-set altitude, camera direction, speed, and waypoint timing—perfect for repeatable missions or precise cinematic shots.
Final Checklist Before You Fly
- Check local regulations and get LAANC approval if needed
- Fully charge your drone batteries and controller
- Have your FAA registration and Part 107 license (if applicable)
- Set your camera with proper resolution, frame rate, and ND filters
- Keep visual line of sight and follow safety rules
Final Thoughts
Proper flight planning doesn’t take long—but it makes all the difference. Using Google Earth for location scouting and airspace apps for legal clearance lets you fly safely, creatively, and efficiently. The best drone pilots aren’t just skilled flyers—they’re smart planners. Before your next flight, take the time to map it out, check your airspace, and visualize your shots. Your footage—and your drone—will thank you.