Guides
Practical, weather-only guides for drone pilots.
The Beaufort scale for drone pilots
The full Beaufort wind scale 0–12 in m/s, km/h, mph and knots, what each force means for a small drone, and how maker "Level 5" wind claims map to it.
Drone wind limits by class
Typical maker wind ratings for mini, mid-size and heavier drones, why a rating is a ceiling and not a target, and how Altiwind's 60% and 80% defaults work.
Flying drones in cold weather
How cold cuts drone battery capacity and voltage, how to keep packs warm, typical maker temperature ranges, icing in fog, and Altiwind's 5 °C warning.
Fog, rain and humidity
How moisture affects drone electronics, what IP ratings mean, fog and mist visibility, dew point spread as a fog hint, and condensation on cold gear.
Gusts vs sustained wind
Sustained wind is an average over minutes, a gust is a peak of a few seconds. Learn why gusts decide a drone flight and how Altiwind estimates gusts aloft.
How wind changes with height
Why the wind at 120 m is usually stronger than the 10 m forecast, how friction, terrain and calm nights shape the profile, with worked numbers for drones.
Kp index myths and facts
What the Kp index measures, how geomagnetic storms affect drone GPS, why "never fly above Kp 5" is overstated at mid latitudes, and why latitude matters.
Reading METAR for drone pilots
Decode METAR wind, gusts, visibility, cloud, temperature, dew point and CAVOK with worked examples, plus how Altiwind uses METARs for its verified badge.
Weather models explained
Global and regional weather models compared (ECMWF IFS, GFS, ICON, ICON-D2, UKV, AROME, HRRR), what resolution means and why Altiwind picks one per area.
Winter and summer flying windows
When the wind is usually lightest, how summer thermals and winter fronts change the day, and how to find a flying window in Altiwind's hourly timeline.