If you ran a preflight check today and your score looks different from what you expected, here is why.
We updated the safety score model to version 2.0. The most significant change: wind thresholds are now specific to your aircraft class, not a single number applied to every drone.
Why one wind threshold was wrong for everyone
The original score penalized any wind over 15 mph the same way regardless of what you were flying. A DJI Mini 3 pilot and a DJI Matrice 350 pilot at the same location in the same conditions got the same score.
That was wrong. The Mini 3 has a rated maximum wind resistance of 10.7 m/s (~24 mph). The Matrice 350 is rated to 15 m/s (~33 mph). At 25 mph sustained wind, the Mini 3 is operating above its rated limit. The Matrice 350 has significant margin left. These are not equivalent risk situations and the score should not treat them as if they are.
What changed
Wind thresholds by aircraft class:
When you select your drone weight class in the preflight check, the score now uses thresholds calibrated to that class:
| Class | Example | High wind threshold | Danger threshold | |-------|---------|-------------------|-----------------| | Mini/Nano (<250g) | DJI Mini 3/4 Pro | 20 mph | 23 mph | | Standard (250g-2kg) | DJI Mavic 3, Air 3 | 23 mph | 28 mph | | Heavy/Pro (>2kg) | Matrice 350, Skydio X10 | 28 mph | 34 mph |
Thresholds are based on published manufacturer wind resistance specifications. The Automated Advisor also now refers to your specific aircraft class in its wind assessment -- "approaching the safe limit for Mini/Nano class aircraft" rather than a generic warning.
Precipitation now scored from 15%:
A 20% precipitation probability is not trivial for a drone operation. It affects battery performance, introduces moisture risk for electronics, and can reduce visibility. Previously the score only started penalizing at 30% and above. Now:
- 15-29%: -3 (elevated risk)
- 30-49%: -7
- 50-69%: -12
- 70%+: -15 (near-certain precipitation)
Compounding risk factor:
When multiple risk categories are simultaneously elevated -- controlled airspace plus high winds plus night flight, for example -- total risk is greater than the sum of individual factors. This is standard accident causation analysis (Reason's Swiss Cheese Model). The score now adds a -4 or -8 compounding factor when two or three categories simultaneously carry elevated penalties.
Population density proxy:
Operations over populated areas carry higher ground risk in the event of an uncontrolled landing. The score now adds a small ground-risk proxy based on nearby zone types -- urban area (-5), suburban/park area (-2) -- informed by the SORA (Specific Operations Risk Assessment) framework used in international UAS safety standards.
What this means for your score
If you fly a mini drone in areas with moderate wind, your score may be somewhat lower than before. That is the correct direction -- the old model was under-reporting risk for light aircraft in those conditions.
If you fly a heavy professional aircraft, your score in moderate wind conditions may be higher than before, because the old model was applying thresholds designed for lighter aircraft.
The score is not a flight authorization. It never was. It is a conditions indicator that tells you which factors are flagged and how severely. The aircraft-aware update makes the flags more specific to your actual flight situation.
Full methodology
The complete scoring methodology -- including all thresholds, their empirical basis, regulatory references, and limitations -- is published at code/assets/uas-skycheck-scoring-methodology.md in the repository for anyone who wants to review or cite it.
UAS SkyCheck, a subsidiary of SudoKodes LLC