AGL (Above Ground Level)
Altitude measured from the ground directly below the drone, not from the takeoff point or sea level. The FAA's 400-foot altitude limit for drones is measured in AGL. If you take off from a hilltop and fly over a valley, your AGL increases even though you haven't climbed. Most drone telemetry displays show altitude relative to the takeoff point, which is not the same as AGL over varying terrain.
ATTI Mode (Attitude Mode)
A flight mode where the drone maintains its altitude and orientation using the barometer and IMU, but does not use GPS for position hold. The drone will drift with the wind. ATTI mode activates automatically when GPS signal is lost, which is why practicing in ATTI mode is recommended before flying in areas with GPS interference (near buildings, bridges, or mountains).
ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast)
A surveillance technology used by manned aircraft to broadcast their position, altitude, and velocity. Some advanced drones and ground stations include ADS-B receivers so pilots can see nearby manned aircraft on their controller screen. ADS-B is not required on consumer drones, but it is part of the broader airspace awareness system that Remote ID complements.
Autonomous Flight
Any drone operation where the aircraft follows a pre-programmed flight path without continuous manual input. Waypoint missions, orbit modes, and automated mapping flights are all forms of autonomous flight. Under current FAA rules, a pilot must still maintain visual line of sight and be able to take manual control at any time during autonomous operations.
B4UFLY
The FAA's official mobile app for checking airspace restrictions before flying a drone. It shows airspace classes, controlled airspace around airports, national parks, military zones, and active TFRs on a color-coded map. Free on iOS and Android. See our where can you fly a drone guide for a full walkthrough.
Barometer
A sensor inside the drone that measures atmospheric pressure to estimate altitude. Barometric altitude hold keeps the drone at a consistent height without GPS. Accuracy is typically within 1-2 meters but can drift with temperature and pressure changes. Most drones use barometer data as the primary altitude reference for hover stability.
Betaflight
An open-source flight controller firmware used primarily in FPV racing and freestyle drones. Betaflight runs on FC boards and handles PID tuning, motor mixing, and sensor processing. It is the most popular firmware in the custom FPV community, with alternatives including INAV (for GPS-equipped builds) and ArduPilot (for autonomous operations).
Bind-and-Fly (BNF)
A drone sold fully assembled and ready to fly, but without a transmitter (controller). The pilot binds the aircraft to their own compatible transmitter. BNF is common in the FPV hobby where pilots have a preferred transmitter they use across multiple drones.
Brushless Motor
An electric motor that uses electronic commutation instead of physical brushes to spin the rotor. Brushless motors are more efficient, more powerful, longer-lasting, and quieter than brushed motors. Every consumer drone above the toy category uses brushless motors. Motor size is described by a four-digit number (e.g., 2207) where the first two digits are the stator diameter in mm and the last two are the stator height. See our propeller guide for how motors and props work together.
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight)
Flying a drone beyond what the pilot can see with unaided eyes. BVLOS operations currently require an FAA waiver or a visual observer chain. The FAA is developing a final rule to allow routine BVLOS flight for qualified operators, which would unlock commercial delivery and long-range inspection operations.
CBO (Community-Based Organization)
An organization recognized by the FAA that establishes safety guidelines for recreational drone flying. Recreational pilots who fly under CBO guidelines at designated fields have certain regulatory protections. The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) is the most well-known CBO in the US.
Class B/C/D/E/G Airspace
The FAA divides US airspace into lettered classes. Class B surrounds the busiest airports. Class C covers medium airports. Class D covers smaller towered airports. Class E is controlled airspace at various altitudes. Class G is uncontrolled. Drones need LAANC authorization for B, C, D, and surface-level E. Class G below 400 feet is where most recreational flying happens. See our no-fly zones guide for full details.
Cinematic Mode (CineSmooth)
A flight mode on DJI and other consumer drones that limits maximum speed, reduces control sensitivity, and smooths out stick inputs for buttery footage. Cine mode typically cuts top speed by 50% or more and adds a gradual acceleration and deceleration curve. Useful for real estate, travel, and any shot where jerky movement would ruin the take.
Compass Calibration
The process of recalibrating the drone's magnetometer to account for local magnetic variation. Required when flying in a new location with different magnetic characteristics, or after the drone detects compass interference. The procedure involves rotating the drone in specific patterns. See our calibration guide for step-by-step instructions.
Course Lock
A flight mode where pushing the control stick forward always moves the drone in one fixed compass direction, regardless of which way the drone's nose is pointing. Useful for filming parallel tracking shots along a road or shoreline. Different from the default mode where forward means the direction the drone faces.
Crosswind
Wind blowing perpendicular to the drone's direction of travel. Crosswinds cause drift that the flight controller must compensate for, reducing effective battery life and maximum range. Most consumer drones handle crosswinds up to 10-12 m/s. See our flying in wind guide for wind speed limits by drone model.
D-Log / D-Cinelike
Flat color profiles available on DJI drones that capture more dynamic range by reducing contrast and saturation in-camera. D-Log M is the current DJI standard, while D-Cinelike is a lighter version with less flexibility but easier grading. These profiles preserve highlight and shadow detail for post-production color grading. Not recommended for pilots who do not plan to edit their footage.


