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!