DroneControl release brings flight planning and risk assessment, shared live operations markers and 3D flight logs

Our latest release adds UK flight planning and risk assessment, expands TAK connectivity and makes it easier to share operational information between pilots and command teams. It also connects flight plans with flight logs, giving teams a clearer record of what was planned and what happened during the operation.

Flight planning and risk assessment is live

Teams can now prepare, review and approve flight plans directly in DroneControl, with UK air and ground risk information available within the planning workflow.

The interactive planning map lets you draw your flight area, define a contingency area and explore nearby hazards. As you move around the map, relevant air and ground hazards are displayed, with further details available by clicking on them.

A five-step planning wizard brings together:

• Flight information.

• Personnel and drones.

• Risks and advisories.

• Deliverables.

• Supporting files.

Once a plan is ready, you can submit it for review and share it with your team.

UK air and ground risk coverage is the first rollout. We adding further coverage guided by customer requirements - get in contact today to request your country!

Manage the full flight planning process

Flight planning continues beyond drawing an area on a map. Teams need to coordinate personnel, review the proposed operation and keep track of changes.

The new list and map views give you an overview of your plans, with status filters to help you find the operations that need attention. A dedicated review page brings the details together, while administrators can approve plans or revoke approval when circumstances change.

The workflow supports replanning and resubmission, marking operations as in progress or completed, and cancelling plans when required. You can also copy an existing plan for repeat operations, share it with your team or delete plans that are no longer needed.

Together, these tools give pilots and managers a shared process for preparing and reviewing operations.

Connect flight plans to flight records

You can now link a flight plan to a flight log, keeping the intended operation and the recorded flight together.

The flight log overview displays the planned area, with a dedicated flight plan tab providing access to the plan and its review details. This makes it easier to compare the planned operating area with the recorded flight during a debrief or reporting review.

We have also introduced a 3D flight log map, providing another way to examine the flight path. Updated map controls let you show or hide the flight plan, risks and advisories, flight media and the 3D view, so you can focus on the information relevant to your review.

Keep planning information current

Behind the planning tools, automated updates keep the supported hazard datasets refreshed.

UK AIP, Flight Restriction Zone and obstacle datasets are refreshed on a 28-day cycle, while NOTAM data is retrieved three times a day. These updates support the planning workflow; operators remain responsible for checking current conditions and applicable requirements before flight.

Share markers between the pilot and the command team

This release expands marker, pin and Cursor on Target (CoT) interoperability across the DroneControl Flight App, Remote Viewer and TAK.

Users can drop and share categorised markers between these systems, helping pilots and command teams work from a common operational picture. A point identified by a viewer can be shared with the pilot, while markers from TAK can be brought into the Flight App.

Whether the team is identifying a search location, highlighting a hazard or sharing a point of interest, the information can be placed on the map and made available across the operation.

Faster TAK connections and support for multiple servers

TAK Quick Connect simplifies connecting the DroneControl Flight App to a TAK server. Multiple-server connectivity also supports operations involving more than one TAK environment.

The Flight App connects directly to the configured TAK servers, allowing pilots to bring TAK information into their flight workflow.

For teams coordinating across organisations or operational networks, these additions provide more flexibility in how DroneControl fits into their existing TAK setup.

Less administration and faster reporting

Alongside the operational features, this release includes improvements to everyday fleet and team management:

• Open-ended licences: create licences without an expiry date and display them correctly throughout the portal and reports.

• Aviation Authority ID: view and edit this information directly in the drone overview.

• Clearer team administration: a refreshed team member list focuses licence information on expiring or expired credentials.

• Report and profile corrections: administrators can edit team members’ pre-flight and post-flight reports and update their profile pictures.

• More efficient reporting: reports generate faster with less processing, with improved handling of archived hardware, archived team members and open-ended licences.

Try the latest release

Log in to the DroneControl portal to explore flight planning and risk assessment, link a plan to a flight log and review your operations in 3D. In the Flight App, try TAK Quick Connect and the expanded marker-sharing capabilities.

If you would like a walkthrough, get in touch and we will arrange a demonstration for your team. We would also welcome your feedback, particularly as you start using the new UK planning workflow in day-to-day operations.