Any drone/RPA operators on here?

[jayhawk]

I know I know. I hate them buzzing around me too. This is not for that, and not for hunting purposes.

But there’s a big demand for them nowadays for anything from cinema to building inspections to families wanting sky shots of them tubing down a river on vacation.

I’m interested in getting into this as a side business and seeing where it goes from there.

I’m familiar with FAA requirements and commercial drone licenses. But wanted to reach out and see if anyone flies drones recreationally or for work that could help shed some further light onto getting involved in this. Thanks in advance!

 

[gbflyer]

I have a couple of the cheap recreational Chinese drones. They were fun at first but it’s kinda run its course for me. They are fairly dummy proof these days, easy to operate. One of mine did a crazy Ivan full speed into the water for some reason, probably having to do with the fact that it is cheap and I may or may not have hacked the speed controller. Changed the blades, dried it out, and it was good to go.

 

[SloppyJ]

I have a part 107 license. I do some stuff for work. What do you need help with? I've never seen a huge market for anything on the side but I've never really looked that hard either.

 

[MNGrouser]

Just be certain you have permission from anyone you're filming. I was on a fishing trip on the river a few years back. A drone started hovering over a couple of our boats. (There were 5-6 boats in the group.) A guy in the next boat double checked.

"No one in our group has a drone?"

"Nope."

He cast his jig and minnow at the drone. First shot missed. Second cast got the fishing line tangled up in the prop and sent the drone crashing into the Rainy River never to be seen again.

Unfortunately the teenage son of one of our group members brought a buddy who brought a drone. The drone WAS with our group...but not anymore.

 

[JeffP_Or]

Add to your list: news stations, land surveyors, developers, and realtors. Though most news outlet have theirs on staff already.

As for my thoughts on them - I dream of sending a load of #3 steel waterfowl after one in my yard; I live int eh city so it won't happen but sounds fun!

 

[jayhawk]

Add to your list: news stations, land surveyors, developers, and realtors. Though most news outlet have theirs on staff already.

As for my thoughts on them - I dream of sending a load of #3 steel waterfowl after one in my yard; I live int eh city so it won't happen but sounds fun!

Honestly I’ve felt the same way. There’s a place for them in commercial application for sure, but Billy bob flying one next to my house is just creepy

 

[Fullfan]

I have two drones, one is used for flying shark baits from the beach, other is for video and pics. I do not have a license, and don't think the secret police are coming to get me.

 

[Wapiti1]

I fly for work doing inspections, construction survey and crop studies. What kind of info are you looking for? Cost to get into that line of work is not awful, but not cheap up front. Can be very lucrative if you get good at a specialty like industrial inspection. Depending on where you live, a thermal drone can make some cash finding lost deer if legal.

Jeremy

 

[northernalpine]

Add to your list: news stations, land surveyors, developers, and realtors. Though most news outlet have theirs on staff already.

Also: full-time photographers (especially wedding photographers), event planners, entertainment venues (local outdoor concert venues are an easy sell), disaster relief/emergency response agencies, search & rescue organizations, landscaping companies, golf courses, training camps, BSA/GSA facilities, and educational institutions.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Just be certain you have permission from anyone you're filming. I was on a fishing trip on the river a few years back. A drone started hovering over a couple of our boats. (There were 5-6 boats in the group.) A guy in the next boat double checked.

"No one in our group has a drone?"

"Nope."

He cast his jig and minnow at the drone. First shot missed. Second cast got the fishing line tangled up in the prop and sent the drone crashing into the Rainy River never to be seen again.

Unfortunately the teenage son of one of our group members brought a buddy who brought a drone. The drone WAS with our group...but not anymore.

Lol while you don't want to be filmed (I get it) you don't need permission...you were on public land. And even if you were on private (depending on location) it's legal to film from airspace.

But back on topic. Most part 107 use the drone as an additional duty/add on. For example, a real estate photographer will offer drone photos in addition to interior photos.

 

[Random Dude Guy]

Land/Construction Surveyor here. I fly quite often for work (building inspections, construction/site photogrammetry, LiDAR, and NDVI vegetation work). I also have my FAA 137 and 44807 (and State items) to do Agriculture Spraying as a side hustle. I see you haven't returned to the thread, but if you have any questions on anything, feel free to reach out.

 

[weekender7]

Part 107 licensed pilot, they are amazing technology and in the right hands a very useful tool. I have a thermal drone and use it for game recovery, pet and livestock location. Had a neighbor with 6 young cows out been looking all day for. It was 8:30 pm when I learned about it. Took less than 5 minutes to find his cows for him.

 

[TaperPin]

Hopefully the little basturd that thought it was hilarious to hover 10’ over my head while hiking up a big hill, has matured past his evil ways. . . and got drunk last weekend and knocked up an ugly raging bitch from the dive bar and has to deal with her the next 18 years and 9 months. *chuckle*

 

[Random Dude Guy]

Part 107 licensed pilot, they are amazing technology and in the right hands a very useful tool. I have a thermal drone and use it for game recovery, pet and livestock location. Had a neighbor with 6 young cows out been looking all day for. It was 8:30 pm when I learned about it. Took less than 5 minutes to find his cows for him.

Thermal for game recovery has gotten quite popular. Still illegal in my state, last I heard, but thinking it will be changed once we oust the devil reincarnate (Michigan - Whitmer)..

 

[weekender7]

As long as it is only used for location of the carcass, I see no problem with ethics. Like most things, it could easily be abused, just like your rifle, flashlight, vehicle (truck, boat, atv, snowmobile). In my state, it is fine for recovery, illegal for hunting as it should be.

 

[xpert66]

I needed my part 107 certification to use my drone during roof inspections for my business. I always comply by rules and regulations so I took the test and paid my fee. They have removed the yearly or every 2 years to pay the fee so it's god for life now. I know many realtors using it for overhead scenic shots in their listings are not licensed.

 

[Murdy88]

As long as it is only used for location of the carcass, I see no problem with ethics. Like most things, it could easily be abused, just like your rifle, flashlight, vehicle (truck, boat, atv, snowmobile). In my state, it is fine for recovery, illegal for hunting as it should be.

I haven’t really looked into it but, with getting into thermal hunting, I’ve been wondering what permitting or not guys on YouTube fly thermal for pigs are doing? This could be a side hustle so not a complete derail

 

[Murdy88]

My experience with drones whether surveying or film/photography is the part 107 and flying portion is not really the work or main expense. The data processing and editing is the real time and money suck that requires the most experience. My company spends over $15k a year on software to process data from our survey flights and I haven’t done any cinematography professionally but I’ve needed around with it and usually spend many hours on a 2 minute video…

 

[xaceofspades999x]

I have a part 107 license and use drones professionally for work for surveying, maintenance assistance, photography, time lapse, parking lot studies, campus security and a few other things but it is difficult to get this as a side hustle as the market for these efforts is not quite there yet from my experience.

 

[Grizzly550]

I am located in Wisconsin and have a couple hundred acres of hunting land. I use mine for off season mapping of my property. Winter time can show good deer trails and bedding areas in the snow along with prime funnel and stand locations. I have done it for a few friends and then uploaded videos on you tube so we can see year to year changes.