Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the wind forecast?
Open-Meteo aggregates ECMWF, GFS, and ICON model output — comparable to most professional flight services. Wind speed is at 10 m AGL (standard meteorology reference). At higher altitudes the actual wind is usually higher.
Why does Kp matter for drone surveying?
High Kp (≥5) means geomagnetic storm — the ionosphere is disturbed, GNSS RTK fixes become unstable, magnetic compass headings drift. PPK post-processing is more resilient. For high-precision surveying, plan flights when Kp ≤ 3.
Why declination?
Drones use the geomagnetic compass for heading reference. Declination changes by location and time. Most flight apps need calibration to local declination before takeoff — incorrect declination causes drift in autonomous waypoint missions.
Does this replace ICAO/EASA/FAA pre-flight checks?
No. This dashboard is a planning aid for environmental conditions only. Always check NOTAMs, your national CAA restrictions, and TFRs (temporary flight restrictions) on the day of the flight using official sources.