Photography Drone Story: I recently took a class for a commercial drone license, the instructor related a humorous story, which I will tell it here. He was with group of motorcyclists...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

I recently took a class for a commercial drone license, the instructor related a humorous story, which I will tell it here.

He was with group of motorcyclists riding Harleys up to Mount Rushmore. They were taking a leisurely ride up the winding Mountain Road and one of the Riders had a drone following them. What great footage!

Anyway, the road goes through tunnels. As they entered the first tunnel, the drone flying above them, and behind them, smacked into the mountain. No more drone. Oops.

The other riders had a good time ribbing the guy who owned the drone.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

For what it is worth, the newest DJI drones have sensors to prevent that. Depending on user settings, the drone would stop, try to fly over or try to go around the object. My Mini 2 had none and I ran it into a couple things. My newer Mini 3 Pro has forward and rear sensors, but no side sensors. The newest DJI, the Air 3 has sensors with a 360 degree view.

What course? You pass the test? What drone do you have? What are you planning to do or want to do with your drone?

JD750 Loc: SoCal

bsprague wrote:

For what it is worth, the newest DJI drones have sensors to prevent that. Depending on user settings, the drone would stop, try to fly over or try to go around the object. My Mini 2 had none and I ran it into a couple things. My newer Mini 3 Pro has forward and rear sensors, but no side sensors. The newest DJI, the Air 3 has sensors with a 360 degree view.

What course? You pass the test? What drone do you have? What are you planning to do or want to do with your drone?

obviously it was an older drone.

I haven’t taken the test yet. This was a course in preparing for the test. One thing I learned is since I have a private pilots license for single engine fixed wing, I actually don’t need a drone license. A commercial drone license is a pilots license with a type drone, and I can easily get that added to the license I have.

I want to look for opportunities to do some aerial photography and I think the future there is drones. Also, if I do something for somebody and charge for it, I need to have a commercial license.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

There is a shorter route to getting the Remote Pilot Certificate if you already have an airplane Pilot Certificate. The catch is that you have to be "current", meaning both a biannual biennial flight review and maybe even medical. Between the cost of the flight and flight instructor, it is cheaper to take the written for the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. Oddly, it is not added to your existing certificate. It is an entirely new and separate card like the FAA does with Flight Instructor.

I've not tried to charge for drone work. But the 107 Certificate is required if you do anything for anyone regardless of billing for it. I do occasional videos for a few friends and organizations so I took an online course and took the test.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

bsprague wrote:

There is a shorter route to getting the Remote Pilot Certificate if you already have an airplane Pilot Certificate. The catch is that you have to be "current", meaning both a biannual biennial flight review and maybe even medical. Between the cost of the flight and flight instructor, it is cheaper to take the written for the Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

Yes I know about needing to be current.

bsprague wrote:

Oddly, it is not added to your existing certificate. It is an entirely new and separate card like the FAA does with Flight Instructor.

That is interesting. So yes perhaps cheaper to take the test, since I am not current. I got away from flying years ago when I was rasing a family, and changed careers and moved, we could barely afford to eat. Not exactly but flying is $$ and I didn't have the extra $. But getting current now I would re-review flight school, and some hours of dual, but it would mean I could fly as PIC again, and it's long been on my bucket list get a glider rating. ;)

bsprague wrote:

I've not tried to charge for drone work. But the 107 Certificate is required if you do anything for anyone regardless of billing for it. I do occasional videos for a few friends and organizations so I took an online course and took the test.

Yes, agree, getting the cert increases one's knowledge, and how is that a bad thing?

lindmike

bsprague wrote:

For what it is worth, the newest DJI drones have sensors to prevent that. Depending on user settings, the drone would stop, try to fly over or try to go around the object. My Mini 2 had none and I ran it into a couple things. My newer Mini 3 Pro has forward and rear sensors, but no side sensors. The newest DJI, the Air 3 has sensors with a 360 degree view.

What course? You pass the test? What drone do you have? What are you planning to do or want to do with your drone?

Is the instruction and test available on line

JD750 Loc: SoCal

lindmike wrote:

Is the instruction and test available on line

You can find instruction materials on-line. The test must be taken in-person, test fee is $175.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

bsprague wrote:

For what it is worth, the newest DJI drones have sensors to prevent that. Depending on user settings, the drone would stop, try to fly over or try to go around the object. My Mini 2 had none and I ran it into a couple things. My newer Mini 3 Pro has forward and rear sensors, but no side sensors. The newest DJI, the Air 3 has sensors with a 360 degree view.

I have a DJI Mini2. The DJI autonomous flight technology is amazing! However, one other thing I learned yesterday, if you want to do any aerial work related to the government, you cannot use DJI hardware. This will likely extend to public work as well.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

lindmike wrote:

Is the instruction and test available on line

The FAA provides a strictly recreation exclusion called "44809". It requires you to have an FAA "TRUST" certificate that is free and online. You can run your drone for selfish recreational fun. If you do anything for anyone else, paid or not, the FAA says you have to take the "Part 107" test that costs $175.

An efficient way to prepare for the test is to take an online course. A great example is the one offered by "Pilot Institute". It is thorough and guarantied that you will pass. I think the current price is $150.

I've been an airplane pilot for decades but not current. I took the course and passed the test with a 92%.

lindmike

Thank you

JD750 Loc: SoCal

bsprague wrote:

The FAA provides a strictly recreation exclusion called "44809". It requires you to have an FAA "TRUST" certificate that is free and online. You can run your drone for selfish recreational fun.

And the recreational drone weight limit is less that 0.55 lbs (250 grams).

bsprague wrote:

An efficient way to prepare for the test is to take an online course. A great example is the one offered by "Pilot Institute". It is thorough and guarantied that you will pass. I think the current price is $150.

I've been an airplane pilot for decades but not current. I took the course and passed the test with a 92%.

Good job on the test!!

But be mindful, people who are not pilots will not be familiar with the charts and weather reports, which seemed easy for you. I think that courses that instill the knowledge, rather than just teaching how to pass the test, is a better thing, don't you?

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

JD750 wrote:

I have a DJI Mini2. The DJI autonomous flight technology is amazing! However, one other thing I learned yesterday, if you want to do any aerial work related to the government, you cannot use DJI hardware. This will likely extend to public work as well.

That is not entirely true. It depends on local laws. Florida bans all public agencies from buying drones from China. The federal government has a list that federal agencies can buy from. I think it varies about what contractors can use.

Since 80% of the world's capable and affordable drones that work well come from DJI, there would be little little drone work getting done!

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

JD750 wrote:

I have a DJI Mini2. .

The Mini 2 takes amazing photos and video clips!

JD750 Loc: SoCal

bsprague wrote:

That is not entirely true.

What is not true?

bsprague wrote:

It depends on local laws. Florida bans all public agencies from buying drones from China. The federal government has a list that federal agencies can buy from. I think it varies about what contractors can use.

Federal government agencies and contractors are banned from using DJI. <--- period.
Public agencies (State, city, etc) will usually follow the Fed's lead.

Yes the DJI tech is fantastic. It's a shame we have entered a cold-war with China. I personally think both our countries would be better off without that. Let's not go there lest this thread be banished to the attic.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

"What is not true?"

The part that I think might not be entirely true is where you wrote, " if you want to do any aerial work related to the government, you cannot use DJI hardware."

There are big parts of the US government, like the DoD, where it is true. In Florida it might be true. But all the other States, Counties, Fire Departments and Police departments may be different. I don't think National Parks under the Department of Interior have a ban. A recent story had a DJI thermal drone find a lost person at Mt. Rainier National Park.

Bidding on a government contract would require doing extra homework. Since I don't try to get drone business, I don't have to do that!