Kollane is our outdoor field in Tallinn. Nobody runs it for us: there is no marshal on duty and no janitor. What keeps it working is a short code of five rules that every pilot follows, and that every new pilot gets told on their first day.
are the same.
On purpose.
The first and the last rule are the same. That's on purpose: it's the rule that makes the other four work.
Rule 01: Don't be an asshole
Nobody knows everything, and this hobby is hard. So help each other. Lend a tool when someone needs one, take a look at someone's OSD when their drone behaves strangely, and share what you know. When you're stuck, ask: nobody at the field minds. And if you see someone who looks lost, or who is fighting a setting on their laptop, go over, say hi and sit down with them. Nobody here flies alone.
Rule 02: Know your channel
This is the rule with the most detail, because it is the one that can hurt someone. Your video signal doesn't stay in your goggles: it reaches every pair of goggles on the field. If two pilots are on the same channel, or too close to each other, one of them loses their picture, often at full speed.
Kollane has its own channel plan for up to eight pilots at once: L6 (5547 MHz), L7 (5584), R1 (5658), R2 (5695), F2 (5760), F4 (5800), R7 (5880) and R8 (5917). The gaps between them are uneven on purpose. Evenly spaced channels mix with each other in the air and make ghost signals on other channels (this is called intermodulation, or IMD), so an uneven plan keeps the picture cleaner for everyone. Don't change the list.
DJI air units start up on the public channel 5860 MHz, so that channel is never given out at Kollane. Flying at another field? Their plan may be different. Ask the local marshal before you plug in.
Never given out.
Power on means you're on the air
The core of the rule is simple: know, confirm and own your channel before the battery goes in. A video transmitter (VTX) starts sending the moment it gets power. That means checking your channel by plugging in and looking at the OSD is itself the mistake: by the time you see the wrong channel, you have already been on it.
Don't count on pit mode to make a bench check safe either. Pit mode drops the output to about 0.1 mW, which reaches about a metre. That protects the pilots in the air from a drone that has crashed and is lying on the ground. It does not protect the pilot sitting next to you in the pits.
Interference gives no warning. The stronger signal simply wins and the weaker feed is gone, instantly. And DJI goggles transmit too, so DJI pilots keep at least 5 m away from everyone else.
Changing channel at the field
Sometimes you have to change channel at the field. Never do it while anyone is flying. Four steps:
1. Wait until everyone has landed and disarmed. 2. Ask the field for a hold, and wait until someone answers. 3. Change the channel, confirm it in the OSD, and power down. 4. Call "clear!" so the others can fly again.
Modern radio links can change the VTX band, channel and power straight from your radio while the drone is disarmed (ExpressLRS VTX Admin, TBS Agent). That is handy, but the same courtesy applies: ask for a hold first. And there is no "quick hover" exception. An unchecked channel is unsafe even for a short flight on your own.
Rule 03: If somebody has lost something, go help
A drone in the long grass, a battery that flew off in a crash, a radio strap. If someone is walking the edge of the field looking down, walk with them, even if you didn't see it fall. More people searching find it faster, and a long search with friends is a much better day than a long search alone.
Rule 04: Take your garbage with you
Leave the field cleaner than you found it. Zip ties, prop fragments, dead batteries, snapped antennas, food wrappers, bottles, foam, tape and lost screws all go home with you. Bring a small bag, and pick up other people's rubbish too. There is no janitor at Kollane, and whatever stays on the field washes into the stream or ends up in an animal.
Rule 05: Don't be an asshole
The first rule, once more. If you see someone break a rule, tell them, quietly and kindly. Staying silent doesn't help them or anyone else. Pick up after yourself and after others, say sorry when you make a mistake, and don't be a bad sport when you lose. And never come to the field drunk or tipsy: spinning props and people share the same space.
Own your channel. Look after each other.
Read
- The Field Code (kollane.netlify.app)
the original Kollane field code, rule by rule. - Oscar Liang: VTX control (SmartAudio and Tramp)
how to change channel and power from the OSD or the radio. - Betaflight: VTX CLI settings
VTX tables, bands and power levels.
For trainers: the 10-minute plan
| Time | Slide | Talking points |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00 | Title | Ask: "Who has flown at Kollane?" Hands up. "Nobody runs the field for us. No marshal, no janitor. So who keeps it working?" We do, with five rules. |
| 0:40 | Fig. 1 | Read the five out loud. Point out that the first and the last are the same, on purpose: it is the rule that makes the other four work. |
| 1:30 | Fig. 2 | Nobody knows everything, and the hobby is hard. Lend a tool, look at someone's OSD, share what you know, and ask when you're stuck. See someone who looks lost or is fighting a setting? Go over and sit down with them. |
| 2:30 | Fig. 3 | The Kollane channel plan: L6, L7, R1, R2, F2, F4, R7, R8. Eight pilots at once. The gaps are uneven on purpose: evenly spaced channels mix into ghost signals on other channels (intermodulation, IMD). Don't change the list. DJI air units start up on 5860 MHz, so that channel is never given out. At another field, ask the local marshal for their plan. |
| 4:00 | Fig. 4 | The core rule: know, confirm and own your channel before the battery goes in. A VTX transmits the moment it gets power, so checking your channel by plugging in is itself the mistake. Pit mode (about 0.1 mW, about a metre) protects pilots in the air from a drone lying on the ground; it does not protect the pilot sitting next to you. Interference gives no warning: the stronger signal wins and the weaker feed is gone. DJI goggles transmit too, so DJI pilots stand at least 5 m from everyone. |
| 5:40 | Fig. 5 | Changing channel: wait until everyone has landed and disarmed, ask for a hold and wait for an answer, change, confirm in the OSD and power down, then call "clear!". Changing from the radio (ELRS VTX Admin, TBS Agent) is fine while disarmed, with the same courtesy. No "quick hover" exception, not even alone. |
| 7:00 | Fig. 6 | Somebody lost a drone, a battery, a radio strap? Go help, even if you didn't see it fall. More eyes find it faster, and a long search is much better with friends. |
| 7:50 | Fig. 7 | Leave the field cleaner than you found it. Zip ties, prop bits, dead batteries, snapped antennas, wrappers, bottles, foam, tape, screws. Bring a small bag, pick up other people's too. No janitor, and rubbish ends up in the stream and in animals. |
| 8:50 | Fig. 8 | The first rule once more. Someone breaks a rule? Tell them, quietly and kindly; don't stay silent. Made a mistake? Say sorry. Lost a race? Don't be a bad sport. And never fly drunk or tipsy: spinning props and people share the field. |
| 9:30 | Remember | "Own your channel. Look after each other." Ask: "Which rule did you see broken last time, and what did you do?" |
Demo: Practise the channel change out loud. One pilot is "flying", two are in the pits. The pilot who needs a new channel calls for a hold, waits for the "ok", mimes the change and the OSD check, powers down, and calls "clear!". Then swap roles.