olemikey wrote:
Cool, good job and congrats. I need to take the 107, but have not decided on my path with drones. I got into them for drone racing with my son, but have started to do some DIY camera platform stuff, so I'm thinking about a DJI sometime in the future, and the license.
First, it's more than possible to pass the test without taking any of the paid classes. I honestly did it by just going to the 3dr website and using their training material. It's pretty much all you need, except maybe some youtube stuff on airspace.
I get jobs from realtors that take about 10 minutes time, for roughly $75. The commercial drone work which requires flying in restricted airspace, and dealing with getting permissions, but it also pays between $150-300, and normally takes about the same amount of time. Can't make a living doing it, because there isn't that much work out there, but I make enough to pay for the insurance, and more toys.
Not sure about all areas, but absolutely no one here has ever asked what kind of drone I use, and I've done fine with just the Phantom 3 standard, which are VERY affordable now.
I also offer it with my wedding photography packages, but literally every single wedding I've booked it for has been the worst weather, and fortunately, that's in my contract that it has to be "safe" to fly. No rain, high winds, or spaces where I can fly without being over people or near power wires.
There are a LOT more rules to follow when you are flying commercially, but they are all really common sense, and should be followed by everyone. If you want to fly personally and do things like fly after dark or out of line of sight, you can do it, without breaking any laws, you just can't sell the photos, or do them for commercial reasons.
The initial test is kind of ridiculous on what they want you to know, but it also seems to weed out the people who don't have enough smarts, or common sense to fly in places that could cause damage or injury.
Anyway, good luck. I do suggest you think about it, and give it a shot. It's one hobby that didn't become "a job" after I started doing it for money. Think about it, I get paid to fly the quad, how awesome!!!