A large share of drone incidents happen during landing. It is where relief at having finished the course, impatience about a low battery, and the peculiar airflow found close to the ground all overlap. Landing well affects more than your practical exam score - it directly affects how long your aircraft lasts.
Why the aircraft gets unsettled near the ground
As you descend, the air pushed down by the propellers hits the surface and bounces back. That reflected flow supports the aircraft and increases lift, a phenomenon known as ground effect. It is why a descending drone suddenly stops sinking, or slides from side to side, in the last metre or so.
The surface changes how strong this is. Hard flat ground such as concrete or asphalt produces a pronounced effect; grass or soil is much weaker. On a slope the reflected air is deflected to one side and pushes the aircraft sideways.
There is a second hazard: descending into your own downwash. Come down vertically and quickly and the propellers begin re-ingesting the air they have just pushed down, lift becomes unstable, and the aircraft sinks abruptly or rocks. The fix is simple - reduce the vertical descent rate and add a little horizontal movement.
A constant descent rate is the key
Good landings happen at a steady speed. Diving down and then braking hard just above the ground loads the aircraft and amplifies any wobble. Coming down at one consistent rate from start to finish is far more stable.
- Stabilise first: establish position above the landing point and let the aircraft settle completely. Start the descent while it is moving and it will be worse the lower it gets.
- Small throttle: hold a small reduction rather than making one large cut.
- Correct horizontally: if you have drifted off the pad, stop the descent, reposition level, then resume. Trying to move and descend at the same time spoils both.
- Pass through the last band: hesitating inside ground effect makes the aircraft wander. Keep the rate constant and touch down.
The landing is not over at touchdown
Wheels or skids on the ground is not the end. Raise the throttle abruptly at that moment, or make a large stick input, and the aircraft can tip onto one side and strike the ground with a propeller. Most tip-over accidents happen in the seconds right after touchdown.
Once you confirm contact, hold the throttle fully down and wait for the motors to stop completely. Then follow the shutdown procedure for stopping the motors and cutting power. Walking towards the aircraft too early is dangerous as well - make it a habit to see the propellers stopped before you approach.
The practical exam assesses this closing procedure too. It is surprisingly common to fly well and lose points on the tidy-up. Assessed items differ by class and by notice, so confirm them with the Korea Transportation Safety Authority (한국교통안전공단, TS).
Hard landings leave damage you cannot see
One heavy touchdown rarely shows an immediate problem. But the shock leaves micro-damage in the landing gear, motor shafts, frame joints and propeller roots. Accumulated, that eventually shows up as growing vibration in flight or a component failing outright.
Check the surface in advance as well. Landing on gravel or sand throws debris into the motors, and wet grass introduces moisture. Choose a flat clean area, or carry a folding landing pad, and your aircraft will last considerably longer.
Light Beyond Drones runs practical courses at our Daejeon centre with dedicated repetition on the landing phase alone. If landings are the part that always feels shaky, we start by correcting your descent rate and where you look. Send us a message and we will work out how much practice you need.
References
Certification and exam details are based on the public sources below. Rules change, so check the latest official notice before you apply.
