A remote pilot is hired for a winter construction progress shoot in northern Wisconsin. Temperature is 18°F with 75% relative humidity, no precipitation, and light winds. The batteries have been in the vehicle overnight. What pre-flight decisions are most important?
Why →LiPo batteries deliver significantly reduced voltage and capacity when cold-soaked, often triggering low-voltage alarms mid-flight even on a full charge. Manufacturers typically specify a warmed operating temperature. In conditions near freezing with high humidity, ice can accrete on rotor blades and airframe surfaces even without visible precipitation, degrading lift. Part 107 has no temperature prohibition; the decisions are performance and safety judgments, not regulatory ones.
The trap →The option citing a 0°F rating overstates battery capability; rated lower limits are often not the same as useful delivered capacity. The option to cancel because operating below 32°F is prohibited invents a regulatory rule that does not exist in Part 107.
Field note →Hand warmers in an insulated battery pouch are the cheapest cold-weather fix in the business. Warm batteries to around 60 to 70°F before inserting them, and plan for 30 to 40 percent shorter flight times than the spec sheet states.