How to Safely Land and Retrieve AQUA on Water

Overview

AQUA is designed for water environments like kayaks, SUPs, and boats. This article explains how to set up automatic water landing using Return-to-Home (RTH) and how to safely retrieve your AQUA after flight.

Step 1: Set RTH Mode to "Land"

Before flying over water, make sure your RTH mode is set to "Land" in the AQUA app.

• This is the default setting, so you don't need to change it before every flight unless you've switched to "Hover" mode before.
• To check or change: Open the app → RTH settings → Select "Land"

Step 2: Use Lighthouse RTH for Water Landing

Once you're ready to bring AQUA back:

1. Press the RTH button on your Lighthouse
2. AQUA will fly back to a position near you and hover at a safe distance
3. Remain as still as possible (especially on a kayak or SUP)
4. After 15 seconds of no operation, AQUA will automatically land on the water

💡 For kayak and SUP users, we recommend using Lighthouse RTH as the primary way to bring AQUA back.

Step 3: Safely Retrieve AQUA After Landing

Important: The propellers are sharp while spinning. Do not grab AQUA by the frame or propellers when the motors are running.

Safest method (recommended):

• Let AQUA land completely on a flat surface (ground or water)
• Wait for the propellers to stop spinning entirely
• Then pick it up

If you need to catch it mid-air:

• Carefully reach from above and hold the battery area on both sides
• Quickly flip the drone over to stop the motors

🎥 Video reference:
Watch this tutorial for the correct retrieval motion (starting at 3:16):
https://youtu.be/NQ9SqKMweCk?t=196

Additional Safety Notes

• Always be aware of your surroundings, especially in windy or choppy water conditions
• Keep your hands away from the propellers until they have completely stopped
• If you need to cancel an automatic landing, you can tap the direction buttons to regain control

FAQ: Why does AQUA sometimes land automatically after takeoff, even without command？

Primary Reason: 

The user is operating indoors or in a non-open area where the RTK signal is weak and has used the Lighthouse to takeoff.

Operational Logic：When RTK is inactive, if you initiate takeoff using the Lighthouse, AQUA will ascend to the preset altitude and wait for the RTK signal to engage; if the signal does not engage within the timeout period, the drone will automatically land. Therefore, please ensure the RTK signal is active before using the Lighthouse for takeoff.

Note: If takeoff fails, AQUA will not start recording video to avoid generating excessive unusable footage.

Recommended Solutions

If you must fly in an environment with a weak RTK signal (such as an indoor pool or for indoor hovering shots), it is recommended to:
- Avoid using the Lighthouse for takeoff.
- Use manual hand-launch takeoff: press the takeoff button on the drone's battery.
- If "Target Lock" is selected, the drone can use visual recognition to track and film the Tracker.

Need further assistance? Contact us at support@hoverair.com.