so anyway i finally went to one of those local club meetups last sunday after talking about going for like six months. honestly wasnt sure what to expect. everyone was super chill but theres just so much going on at once, people launching and landing everywhere, someone calling out their altitude, radios going off. i almost clipped someones fpv quad on takeoff cause i didnt realize he was coming in hot from behind a treeline. nobody got mad but i felt pretty stupid. does it get easier once you know the unwritten rules or is there like actual etiquette i shouldve read up on beforehand

it absolutely gets easier, the first couple times are just sensory overload. most clubs have a spotter system or at least someone whos kind of the de facto air boss for the session who people check in with before launching. if yours doesnt, just ask whoever looks most experienced before you put anything in the air. they wont bite, pilots love talking about this stuff

honestly the near miss thing happens to everyone at least once. fpv guys especially can come outta nowhere if youre not used to watching for them. i just verbally call out now before i launch, like literally just say "launching" loud enough for people nearby. feels dumb at first but everyone does it once they get comfortable