testMode.py

# Import mavutil
from pymavlink import mavutil

# Create the connection
master = mavutil.mavlink_connection('udpin:0.0.0.0:14550')
# Wait a heartbeat before sending commands
master.wait_heartbeat()

# Choose a mode
mode = 'STABILIZE'

# Check if mode is available
if mode not in master.mode_mapping():
    print('Unknown mode : {}'.format(mode))
    print('Try:', list(master.mode_mapping().keys()))
    exit(1)

# Arm
# master.arducopter_arm() or:
master.mav.command_long_send(
    master.target_system,
    master.target_component,
    mavutil.mavlink.MAV_CMD_COMPONENT_ARM_DISARM,
    0,
    1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)

# Get mode ID
mode_id = master.mode_mapping()[mode]
# Set new mode
# master.mav.command_long_send(
#    master.target_system, master.target_component,
#    mavutil.mavlink.MAV_CMD_DO_SET_MODE, 0,
#    0, mode_id, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) or:
# master.set_mode(mode_id) or:
master.mav.set_mode_send(
    master.target_system,
    mavutil.mavlink.MAV_MODE_FLAG_CUSTOM_MODE_ENABLED,
    mode_id)