The start of a new year is the right time to set concrete, testable goals that make you a safer and more competent pilot. Below are practical resolutions for both certificated remote pilots and recreational flyers, focused on compliance, currency, risk management, and a few engineering-minded habits that pay dividends in the field.

1) Reaffirm your currency and schedule recurrent training Make a calendar entry for your Part 107 recurrency. The FAA requires remote pilots to complete recurrent aeronautical knowledge training every 24 calendar months to maintain the privileges of a Remote Pilot Certificate. Completing the FAA recurrent course early gives you a buffer and restarts your 24 month clock from the date you complete the training. If you fly commercially, keep a printed or digital copy of your recurrent completion certificate with your other credentials.

2) Check Remote ID and registration on every aircraft Remote ID is now part of the operating baseline for most small UAS. Make it a habit to verify Remote ID capability before each flight. If an aircraft lacks built-in Remote ID, fit an FAA-approved broadcast module or reserve those airframes for FRIA operations only. Also confirm each aircraft you operate is registered correctly at FAADroneZone when registration is required. Knowing which of your airframes broadcast correctly and which are registered will prevent on-site compliance surprises.

3) Recreational pilots: take and carry TRUST If you fly under the Exception for Limited Recreational Operations, take the FAA Recreational UAS Safety Test, commonly called TRUST, and keep your completion certificate with you when you fly. TRUST is free and designed to ensure recreational flyers understand basic rules and safe practices. Treat that certificate like a license to fly responsibly.

4) Build a preflight checklist that actually gets used A checklist that lives on paper or as a phone template is worthless unless you use it every time. Include these items: registration and Remote ID verification, battery state of charge and health, prop and frame inspection, firmware and geofence updates, payload security, compass and IMU status, and a spot check of the control link RSSI. Run the checklist aloud for the first few weeks until it becomes muscle memory. Small problems caught on the ground prevent big problems in the air.

5) Practiced emergency procedures and scenario training Schedule quarterly practice sessions that focus on single-issue failures: lost link, return-to-home failure, compass upset, and motor loss. Run those drills on a simulator or with a low-cost trainer airframe first. The goal is to build calm, procedural responses so you do not improvise under stress.

6) Battery lifecycle management and data logging Batteries are the most common maintenance liability for electric UAS. Resolve to log charge cycles, storage conditions, and temperature exposures for each pack. Retire cells that show capacity fade or internal resistance increases beyond manufacturer thresholds. Use a simple spreadsheet or a hobbyist battery app so you can make data-driven retire/repair choices instead of guessing.

7) Update and validate software and firmware procedures Treat firmware updates like maintenance events. Before you update a flight controller or autopilot firmware, read the release notes and, if possible, test the update on a bench unit or inexpensive trainer. Have a rollback plan and keep known-good copies of older firmware when the vendor permits it.

8) Strengthen your risk assessment and briefing routine Create a short written or app-based risk brief you run before every operation. Include area hazards, nearby airports, NOTAMs and temporary flight restrictions where relevant, crew roles, contingency landing options, and public privacy considerations. If you operate with clients or a crew, run a two minute briefing so expectations and responsibilities are explicit.

9) Invest in continuing education beyond the FAA minimums The FAA courses give you legal currency. Add an industry course or a focused workshop every 12 months on topics such as operations over people, extended visual line of sight, or night operations if those are in your mission set. Technical deep dives on airspace, weather analysis, and human factors are especially useful for pilots moving into complex commercial operations.

10) Record keeping, insurance, and incident readiness Start the year by compiling an operation binder or encrypted digital folder with registrations, pilot certificates, insurance policies, aircraft maintenance logs, and completed recurrent and TRUST certificates. If an incident occurs, having records at hand both expedites resolution and demonstrates professional operating practices.

11) Practice privacy-aware data collection If your missions collect imagery or sensor data, add a simple privacy checklist: minimize collection to what you need, anonymize or blur faces and license plates when possible, and communicate your data retention policy to clients. Respecting privacy reduces legal risk and builds community trust.

12) Join a local CBO or peer group for shared learning Local community based organizations and clubs are valuable for practice fields, tips on FRIA sites, and mentoring. They are also a resource if you need operational help or want to run coordinated training sessions.

Why these resolutions matter The regulatory baseline for UAS operations in the United States has matured to include Remote ID, registration, and formalized recurrent knowledge requirements. Complying is the first step. The difference between a hobbyist and a professional operator is discipline. Treat safety procedures, maintenance logs, and recurrent training as non negotiable parts of your operating system. The result is fewer preventable mishaps, lower long term costs, and better outcomes for clients and community members.

A short checklist to start today

  • Confirm Remote ID and registration for the aircraft you plan to fly.
  • Verify your Part 107 recurrency status or take TRUST if you fly recreationally.
  • Run a complete preflight checklist including battery health and firmware version.
  • Schedule a quarterly emergency procedure drill.

If you adopt even half of these resolutions, you will be in better compliance, have fewer field failures, and be better prepared for more complex operations. Make one small systems improvement this month and another next month. Over a year the compound effect will be a markedly safer and more professional practice.