If you’re a drone pilot, you know how important it is to keep your drone visible, especially if you’re flying it in low light conditions. A visible drone can prevent accidents, not just with other aircraft but also with people and property on the ground. That’s why it’s important to invest in a reliable and high-quality anti-collision LED light for your drone.

In this blog post, we’ll be reviewing the Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light from VIFLY, a popular and highly-rated option for drone pilots. We’ll discuss its features, its benefits, and its drawbacks to help you make an informed decision before purchasing it.

Why Do Drones Need LED Lights

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires drones to have lights in order to increase their visibility and prevent collisions with other aircraft, people, and property on the ground. Drones can be difficult to see, especially in low light conditions, and without lights, they pose a serious safety risk. By requiring drones to have lights, the FAA is ensuring that drone pilots are taking the necessary steps to keep their drones visible and safe while flying. Additionally, having lights on drones can help law enforcement and first responders identify and locate the drone in case of an emergency.

How Far Do Drone Lights Need To Be Visible

The FAA requires all drones that are flown for commercial purposes to have anti-collision lights. According to FAA regulations, drones must have a flashing strobe light that is visible from at least 3 statute miles away during night operations. The light must be placed in a position that allows it to be visible from all directions, and it must be operated in a manner that does not interfere with the visibility or safety of other aircraft. Additionally, the FAA recommends that drones have navigation lights, which can be green or red, to help indicate the drone’s direction of travel. These lights are required to be turned on during civil twilight, which is defined as the period between sunset and full darkness, and during periods of low visibility.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107/subpart-B/section-107.29

Features

The Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light is a compact and lightweight light that is designed to attach easily to any drone. It comes with a 2 pieces of velcro to help you mount it, but we recommend you use a zip tie instead to ensure it does not fall off mid-flight.

The light is also equipped with a 160 mAh battery that provides up to 4 hours of continuous use. It can be charged via the provided USB-C cable, and it takes 90 minutes to charge fully.

One of the standout features of the Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light is its brightness and color options. The Strobe is equipped with 5 3-watt High Intensity LEDs that can provide visibility of your drone for up to 3 miles out. This makes it easily visible from a distance, even in low light conditions and nighttime operations.

The light also has several flashing modes and 3 colors to choose from. The light modes include solid, flash, and strobe mode. These different modes allow you to customize the light’s flashing pattern to suit your needs. The Strobe comes with5 LEDs: 3 white, 1 red, 1 green. Each color can be used with the previously mentioned modes: strobe, slow flash, and solid.

Benefits

One of the main benefits of the Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light is its ease of use. The light is designed to be attached quickly and easily to your drone, and it can be turned on and off with a single button press. This means that you can focus on flying your drone, rather than worrying about setting up the light. It’s super easy to charge as well, and once you get it mounted to your drone you can always just plug the USB-C cable into it and not worry about having all kinds of adapters or dongles to power it up.

Another benefit of the Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light is its durability. The light is made from high-quality materials that are designed to withstand the rigors of drone flying. It only weighs 6 grams, so you won’t have to worry about it taking away precious minutes of flight time due to a heavy weight.

The Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light is also highly portable. Its small size and lightweight design make it easy to transport, which is great if you’re traveling with your drone. You can easily pack it in your drone case or even in your pocket. The Strobe is a perfect companion for any professional drone pilot who needs to meet the FAA’s strict light regulations for anti collision lights on aircraft operating in regulated airspace.

Finally, the Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light is an affordable option for drone pilots. Compared to other anti-collision lights on the market, the Vifly light is relatively inexpensive. This makes it a great option for beginner drone pilots who are looking for a high-quality anti-collision light without breaking the bank. Getting into FPV is expensive, you don’t have to worry about making a crazy investment with the Strobe from VIFLY, but you will get an amazing bang for your buck.

Drawbacks

While the Vifly Strobe Anti-Collision LED Light has many benefits, it’s not perfect. One of the main drawbacks of the light is its battery life. While the light can provide up to 4 hours of continuous use, this might not be enough for longer drone flights. If you’re planning on flying your drone for more than 4 hours, you might need to invest in additional lights or bring along a backup battery. Fortunately, if you have 2 you can swap them out and charge one while the other is in the air. Since they charge in less time than what they can be activated, it is easy to swap them out.