How to Safely Land and Retrieve AQUA on Water – HOVERAir

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:

Press the RTH button on your Lighthouse
AQUA will fly back to a position near you and hover at a safe distance
Remain as still as possible (especially on a kayak or SUP)
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

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