Key Rules & Fouls to Know

Drone racing has clear rules to keep competition fair and safe. Breaking them carries real consequences!

Core rules every pilot must follow:

• Complete every gate and flag in the prescribed order and direction
• A gate only counts when the aircraft breaches the front plane of the opening
• Pilots may not receive outside flight assistance during a race

Common fouls and violations:

• Missed gate / wrong line — the lap doesn't count until the obstacle is correctly cleared
• Cutting the course — skipping any gate or flag voids the entire lap
• False start — leaving before the start signal can void your run
• Frequency or equipment violations — flying on an unassigned video frequency or using non-compliant hardware results in disqualification
• Unsafe flying — flying toward crowds, judges, or outside designated airspace leads to penalty or removal

Crashes:

• Crashed pilots may sometimes continue or be reset to a checkpoint, depending on event rules
• Otherwise, a crash results in a DNF (Did Not Finish) for that heat

Serious or repeated infractions can lead to removal from the entire event. Flying clean and safe always pays off!