What are the most common challenges in UAV operation and maintenance?

UAV regulatory compliance is a crucial aspect of operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) safely and legally. While regulations vary by country, there are some common challenges that operators often face: Navigating and understanding airspace regulations, including restrictions on where UAVs can and cannot fly, is a common challenge. Regulations often impose operational limitations on UAVs, such as altitude restrictions, line-of-sight requirements, and restrictions on flying near people or over populated areas etc.

In my country which I won't mention but it's in West Africa, to register as a drone pilot costs almost $4000+ and honestly speaking only a handful of photographers/cinematographers can afford that in my country (not to project or anything). Most of the commercial drones used for photography/cinematography cost between $1000+ - $5000+ so I don't see why the registration fees should be so high.

Talking about large scale UAVs (not small recreational drones), the operational landscape is still a challenge. Some solutions I see being developed nowadays are AI navigation based and not remotely operated. In terms of international laws and the risks to general aviation, navigating over restricted airspace is a significant obstacle, as each country has its own set of rules and ATCs are not prepared to handle this. Safe coexistence with manned aircraft, especially near airports or in busy air corridors, is crucial. There's an urgent need for discussing new global regulations and to develop sophisticated autonomous collision avoidance technologies for UAVs, to ensure safe operations.

I can't stress the safety measures one has to look out for as a drone pilot. I bought my first drone 'dji phantom 3 pro' in 2017 and less than a month of purchasing it I totalled it. I went on top of a mountain where they have these network masts, and immediately I had flown up, a mist if clouds covered the drone, I couldn't see anything on the screen, I was scared I would crash into the masts so I moved far away.. we located the crashed drone in a tree several miles away. Every drone pilot must ensure they learn all the safety measures, apply them when flying and also gain years of experience before flying in certain conditions. I also flew my phantom 3 indoors once back in 2017. Let's just leave that for another day.

Keep track on drone’s flight time. Manufacturer has a standard amount of lifetime (flight minute/cycle) for the whole unit or parts. With the flight time being tracked, we can make a maintenance schedule or other decision making related to operation that based on data. Tracking through a flight log is the easiest way to keep track on the flight time. However it needs consistency and integrity of the operators. Might as well enforce by a written SOP and routine supervision.

In my experience your training has to go beyond the initial General VLOS Certificate (GVC) for UAV operations. This is crucial because the GVC provides only a foundational understanding of UAV operations. Advanced training is needed to handle complex scenarios, maintain safety in diverse environments, and adapt to evolving technologies and regulations. Continuous learning ensures operators are skilled in emergency procedures, risk management, and decision-making, vital for ensuring operational efficiency and safety in varied and potentially challenging conditions.

Insurance: Some regions mandate liability insurance for UAV operators. Complying with insurance requirements and ensuring adequate coverage can be a challenge for drone operators.