To drone...
The common understanding of what a 'drone' is, is a flying thing controlled by a person with a remote control device linked to it. What is primarily meant by using the word drone is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). There are drones for underwater, drones that can flip burgers, count inventory and automate people to think and do things.
At MyProDroner, we are focused on the UAV industry and market. MyProDroner.com was created and developed by Mr. Woods in effort to launch a privately owned UAV business. There are several corporate operations out there offering drone srevices virtually anywhere and everywhere. If there is a zip code, they may promise to capture your aerial needs. Usually, these corporates hire local drone operators at a fraction of the cost you pay the organization to facilitate the commercial needs. In my experience, that can get a qualified drone operator down to near minimum wage fees which is not why they educated at cost, invested in professional equipment and have committed to being a Professional Droner.
Click to open huge version of photo of 7-Mile Bridge - Key WestYour Pro Droner, My Pro Droner. Reach out today for a free quote for MyProDroner.com Certified UAV Pilots to perform your desired missions.
Let us consider a few questions about droning.
What does a drone do?
Drones are robots, animated by human-designed automation. A drone can be designed to manage a patty of meat on a flat griddle and flip it successfully at the right time and temperature for human pleasure and consumption. Or, a drone can raise vertically above the ground, legally up to 400ft AGL and capture photographs and video, provide remote spot lights, read thermal images of surroundings, deliver items, and provide security above ground. UAV drones are widely popular for hobbyists and professionals, alike.
How much do drones cost?
From $50 to $10,000 or more depending on the quality and features. Most high-end consumer drones for hobby can be purchased for under $300 - $400, and there are entry-level professional drones with fantastic GPS features, brilliant cameras battery life around 30 minutes in the $800 - $1,200 range. Today, DJI has been a leader in great features and low cost, but due to some credible threats of information gathering the United States and other countries are moving to ban DJI from government and public use. A quality drone today with Remote ID and not made by a company that may render the device inoperable in some conditions will usually be above the $5,000 mark.
What is the best drone brand?
To determine 'best', you must consider your interests. Are you an experienced photographer or do you have desire to be a professional photographer? Cinematographer? Do you have Survey experience? Are you familiar with utility towers and infrastructure? Do you have construction or roofing experience? Do you love to travel to exotic places and share the experience on your social medial profiles? At the time of this writing, DJI is a power-packed brand with drones for various purposes and at affordable prices. But, with the legal matters that will most likely bar DJI drones from doing many missions, consider Parrot, or Skydio as they are not expected to be banned and do provide amazing features.
What drone to buy for beginners?
This is a tough question because the cheapest drones with highest quality features are DJI, a company that is most likely being taken out of service in some countries such as the USA. Otherwise, these drones are great beginner drones with cutting edge technology bordering on professional needs. That said, consider if you are positioned to take risk of only being able to use the drone for recreation, or if never intending on working for government or public organizations.
Are beginner drones capable of commercial operations?
Short answer, yes. It all depends on the client expectations. If a client (required to be commercial, do business with) is comfortable with DJI, and as long as it qualifies for all the other regulations such as Remote ID, a DJI or other brand with qualifying gear can do the job. It will not be long before a commercial or professional pilot is looking at the $5,000+ range drones.
A few basic Internet searches and you will find many recreational and hobby drones for a few hundred dollars or less claiming to provide all features needed to be a great drone operator. Actually, that is not the case. Drone operation is a profession, not a hobby. There is the FAA Part 107 knowledge exam needed to pass to be certified to fly any mission for any fee or compensation. Until you are flying for compensation in any kind, you are flying recreational, just for the fun of flying. To fly for compensation, you need to study for and successfully complete the exam mentioned.
Insurance is a qualifying hurdle at this point in order to fly and lower the risks of damage during a mission. Expect the unknown, in any business, and secure quality, qualifying insurance for your drone business. Or, just fly for fun and no compensation.