A remote pilot's favorite battery is 18 months old with 220 charge cycles. The drone's controller now reports only 22 minutes of flight time from full charge, compared to 28 minutes when the battery was new. A planned survey mission requires 24 minutes of total flight time including return. What is the correct decision?

Question

Accepted Answer

Do not use this battery for the mission; plan a different battery or split the mission, and retire the degraded battery from missions with no margin. A 22-minute capacity does not safely cover a 24-minute mission. LiPo battery capacity degrades non-linearly, and the final 10 percent of a battery's life can degrade quickly under load. The PIC is responsible for determining the aircraft is fit for the mission, which includes matching battery capacity to planned flight time with a real margin (typically 20 to 30 percent).

Answer

Use the battery and plan a short intermediate landing midway if the warning activates

Answer

Use the battery; manufacturer flight-time ratings include a safety margin the pilot can rely on