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23 September 2024
By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/henry-duquette" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Henry Duquette</a>
Ever since I can remember I was a go-getter, from becoming an Eagle Scout to winning the Science Fair in Junior High School for building a computer back in 1960. I was then approached by a man who handed me his business card and asked me&nbsp; to contact him after High School. International Business Machines I thought. What is this company and will they go anywhere? For those who are wondering, yes I threw the card away.
After serving in the military, I travelled the country for a few years, ending up doing a three-month wildness hiking trip in northwest Canada. It taught me many things, most importantly who I was and how to overcome any obstacles that got in my way. From that point on in my life I was never afraid to try something new.
While attending college in the late '70s I found the joys of film photography, flying, nature, landscape, infra-red photos, and developing my own photos in my own dark room.
After watching the movie&nbsp;starring James Stewart as Charles Lindbergh in&nbsp;&ldquo;The Spirit of St. Louis&rdquo; there was a commercial of a local airport in Rhode Island to learn to fly a plane, the first lesson was $10. The very next day I was sitting in the left seat of a Cherokee 150 plane. I was hooked for life and received my Private Pilot&rsquo;s License and flew from 1977 to 1983, booking over 250 hours of flight time.
I started to realize that I needed to make money to continue to enjoy my passions and to support a family.&nbsp; This is where I realized that I had a talent in starting a business and making it successful. My early days of wilderness traveling, overcoming obstacles, and never being afraid to try something new came into play. I am a person that does not have in my vocabulary, &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t do that, or it&rsquo;s too hard, or any negative thoughts to prevent me from attaining my goals in life.&rdquo; What does come to mind naturally when I have an idea is&nbsp;always, &ldquo;I can do that&rdquo; so with that attitude my direction in life was set.&nbsp;
My first business in the early '80s was in Computer Security. This was a time when micro-computers were in its infancy, and I wanted to jump on the band wagon. My idea took off, and within a year I had major national accounts under my belt. Businesses like Brown University, Hughs Aircraft, New England Telephone, JPL, etc. were buying my wares. After several years I sold the business at a very good profit. This allowed me to dive into another passion of mine, fishing. I had an idea to develop a laminated Nautical Chart that showed where the best fishing spots were but adding and using the local names of those areas. I also showed loading ramps, fuel docks, restaurants to travel to by boat and added other bits of information that a boater or fisherman would need while on the water. I called my business, Captain Segull's Sport Fishing Charts. I had charts from Maine to Florida and sold these charts for over the next twelve or so years before I sold the business in 2001. I am proud to say that Captain Segull Charts are still in existence today and are still going strong. Check them out, and if there is something you are interested in, just let them know that Henry the original Captain Segull sent you.
About the same time I was selling Captain Segull Charts, my beautiful wife, Roberta, had a hobby making beaded jewelry. She wanted to buy some expensive Dichroic Glass beads.&nbsp; I told her that I would invest in a studio and make her inventory, but I was not at all interested in making women&rsquo;s jewelry. Long story short, she fell out of bead making due to her career taking off and I pursued doing 38 Art Shows a year traveling from Maine to Florida and out to Pittsburg, PA for 16 years. I currently have been awarded over 17 First, and Second Place Ribbons and a $600 cash prize with a Honorably Best of Show Award during my Art Show history. These were fun and very profitable years, but the travel got to us. I am still blowing glass to the present day under the name of Forever in Glass LLC, but the work comes to me now from all over the United States, Canada &amp; New Zealand. I work out of our house in Maine during the Fall &amp; Winter and in our summer home in Swansea, Massachusetts. Even after 24 years of blowing glass, I still enjoy it, and its still going strong.
Being self-employed since 1980 allows me to still travel the world with my wife, and pursue other interests that gets me out of the studio. I started to fly drones in 2019 to take photos of our travels. My first was a DJI Mavic 2 Pro flying recreational. This led to re-igniting my passion for flying. I enrolled in an online ground school called&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://mzeroa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0">MZEROA.COM</a>. I highly recommend this school as they will guarantee a successful experience. The instructor teaches everything you need to know and is done in a way that gives you the confidence that you need to pass the test. In 2020, I re-certified my Private Pilot&rsquo;s License in a High Performance / Complex C-182 plane. In the same year I enrolled again in the&nbsp;<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://mzeroa.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1">MZEROA.COM</a>&nbsp;unmanned ground school for attaining my PART 107 sUAS License and started to fly drones commercially.
After investing over $30,000 in a drone, I specialize in roof inspections, mapping, insurance inspections, construction, real estate, solar etc.
My current drone inventory is,&nbsp;
Top of the line DJI M350 RTK drone, with a P1 / 35mm, and a H20T Thermal Camera Payload, an Emlid RS3 RTK Base Station, 3 pairs of batteries, a quick charging Case, an in-field gas generator to charge batteries on the go, DBTU 1300 digital solar power meter for solar inspections, all my PPE Equipment. Renewed Part 107 license, and a OSHA 10 Card. Nikon D850 DSLR Camera with a variety of lenses from 14mm to 600mm, and a DJI Osmo 6 iPhone stabilizer.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/kCkkzv6n8oU85jzVwteceo5BdvT8IPDZTPwJHOHE.png" alt="" width="314" height="259" />
DJI Matrice M350 RTK with a P1/35mm and a H20T payload.
I also continued my drone training by attending the ITC sUAS Level 1 Thermographer Certification, which I highly recommend. They also guarantee passing the course, or you can retake the course for free.
I am very familiar in getting a LAANC or a COA from the FAA. Skywatch $1,000,000 liability insurance renewed on a monthly basis, and of course my old fashion strong work ethic. The software that I currently use is the DJI Pilot 2 app, and I own a perpetual UgCS Pro license. I am familiar with DroneDeploy (but I do not have an account.)&nbsp;
I am willing to travel 150 miles radius for a mission any day of the week on a contractual basis and possible couple of over-night deployments.
I come with the following skills: An Old-fashion Strong Work Ethic &bull; Communication Skills &bull; Problem Solving &bull; Personal Integrity &bull; People Management &bull; Computer/Technical Skills &bull; And definitely, Going the Distance.

Pilot Story: Henry Duquette

12 August 2024
By <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/brent-bernhart" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brent Bernhart</a>
I live in the small town of Fredericksburg, Ohio with my wife and two kids. I am relatively new to the droning community, but I am passionate about drones and eager to learn all that I can about them. I am open to all opportunities that may be thrown at me with hopes of succeeding in this new adventure and building a business to be passed down to my children.
After I met my wife, I realized I needed to put some focus on finding a career so I could be able to support a family. In 2007, I enlisted in the Ohio Army National Guard. In 2008, I was shipped off to basic training at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. After basic training, I was assigned to Fort Knox in Kentucky to complete schooling for Bradley Tank Mechanics. I served 6 years and was stationed out of Ravenna Ohio.
In those six years, I got married and had my daughter, but I still did not know what I wanted to do with my life. I worked odd jobs just to be able to support my family until one day my wife suggested law enforcement as a career. We prayed about it and I was able to enroll into the Kent State Police Academy and successfully completed the Ohio Peace Officer Training in the spring of 2013. I became a certified Law Enforcement Officer that summer after passing the Ohio Peace Officer Commission exam.
I began my law enforcement career at the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. For eight years, I was assigned to the corrections division where during my time, was promoted to Sergeant of the Corrections Division. During that time serving in Wayne County, my son was born. In 2017, I received the Deputy of the Year Award, in which I was chosen by my peers. In 2020, I transferred to the Holmes County Sheriff's Office where I am currently assigned to patrol duties, as well as, being a School Resource Officer during the school year. I aim to develop positive relationships with students and staff. I believe the importance of having positive role models in the lives of our youth, and then changing the perspectives of how people view police. Being a school resource officer is a rewarding experience and I take pride in my accomplishments.
Although I find it rewarding, law enforcement has changed over the years and I needed to find ways to take care of my mental health from long days on the job. Shortly after I got married, I became fascinated with flying model airplanes. My father in law built and flew his own planes and he quickly showed me the ropes. I caught on quickly with using the controls and began flying nightly in a makeshift airstrip in my backyard. Although I had a few crashes, my father in law would always fix the planes up and we would be back at it the next day attempting the same tricks we crashed on the previous night. He still has a few planes that have yet to see flight time, and I still can&rsquo;t convince him to let me fly them. There is something about those WWII replicas of the P51 Mustang and the F4U Corsair that has his heart.
I first took interest in drones when a close friend, who is an airplane pilot, had mentioned to me about getting my drone pilot license and starting a business. I started researching drones and was able to purchase an Autel Robotics EVO drone. After fiddling around with it for several days, I fell in love with flying. I knew with time and patience I could develop a new career path. After several years, I felt that it was time to hunker down and obtain my part 107 drone license. I ensued countless hours of studying for my part 107 exam. I studied from websites, such as, Drone Launch Academy and Pilot Institute. I took hundreds of practice tests and as soon as I felt comfortable and with the blessing of my family, I scheduled a time to take the official exam. I felt relief and a sense of excitment as soon as I heard that I was successful and passed! I am still currently working with an Autel Robotics EVO drone, which has video and photo capabilities but am eager to upgrade once I get established. Since obtaining my part 107, I have logged over 30 hours of flight time. With my in-laws dairy farm in my backyard, most of my flight time has been capturing the endless fieldwork that a farmer endures. I feel privileged to capture this essence and hope that one day everyone sees the hard work that is put in on a daily basis. &nbsp;With each flight that I take, I have gained so much knowledge. I look forward to flying every day and enjoy learning something new while I am in the air.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/QmpBozeP2BXPqtVYc0gIDPXedthdqNqyKT2vwtjI.png" alt="" width="671" height="430" />
Aside from flying my drone, I enjoy camping and fishing with my family, as well as, just enjoying the great outdoors. I love to take our small boat out on a family pond to spend one on one time with each of my kids, or my wife.&nbsp; We all enjoy that time together whether we hook a fish or not. There is something special about immersing yourself in nature, navigating through trails with a map, or just soaking up the sun on a lake.&nbsp; A person learns things about themselves that they could never learn otherwise.&nbsp; As a small rural farming community, Fredericksburg is a great place to immerse yourself with Ohio history and Amish culture. Being able raise my kids in a small town, along with, teaching them the value and importance of the land is rewarding in itself. Both my kids are heavily involved in sports, I enjoy going to their games and practices and watching them learn new things.&nbsp; It is always a joy watching them succeed in the things that they do. My son has already taken an interest in flying so I hope to teach him all the tricks and trades of flying drones.
I am also an amateur radio (ham radio) enthusiast. Ever since I was a little kid, I enjoyed walkie-talkies.&nbsp; I found out about Ham radios, as a child, while at a friends house.&nbsp; He had a ham radio and I enjoyed listening to the banter that came through from all around the world. I have always been intrigued with ham radios, but I didn&rsquo;t become licensed until 2022. I enjoy connecting with other radio enthusiasts all over the world.
My mission is to serve others, contribute to society, grow my expertise and learn new skills. I am reliable, dependable and willing to do what it takes to get the job done. I look forward to continuing to grow as a pilot and drone photographer.&nbsp; Flying drones is now a passion of mine with hopes of turning this hobby into a career. I want to inspire others to follow their dreams and aspirations and continue to work towards achieving the goals that I have set for myself.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/a11eQlQjSSaELSskRgaGUEGEeFyCISBAcLGQ6raQ.jpg" alt="" width="706" height="397" />

Pilot Story: Brent Bernhart

05 July 2024
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/Tm78pkqn8fpnLD2wXsSARigwReUxnkbRm5LK0oDd.jpg" alt="" width="102" height="110" />
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/joel-manfred" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Joel Manfred</a>
I started out in Spokane, WA, attending our local community college's Airframe and Powerplant course with the goal of becoming an aircraft mechanic while flying RC planes on the side as a hobby. The passion for flying ran in my family, and I always had the bug to become a pilot. After 9/11, I decided to join the U.S. Army through their Warrant Officer Flight Training program, launching my pilot career flying the incredible UH-60 Blackhawk. I served for 11 years as a UH-60 Blackhawk certified Flight Instructor, spending most of my time overseas from Europe to Central America and multiple deployments to the Middle East for the global war on terrorism.
In 2012, I married my beautiful wife and we decided to start a family. Quickly realizing the military wasn't the best place to raise our children and with the arrival of our first child, it was time to transition to a more family-friendly environment, so I moved on to a civilian helicopter air ambulance service. This job provided structure and more time off, making it an excellent transition to civilian life and offering the time with my family. However, after six years, I was experiencing burnout and began searching for a new career path. We had always wanted to venture into entrepreneurship and business ownership but never really knew what we wanted to do.
My interest in drones grew while working at an EMS base on a drone testing range for military and civilian organizations. I talked with drone pilots and crew, which led to a job offer from a big drone operator. Although corporate work wasn't appealing, it sparked an interest I hadn&rsquo;t considered. Along with a fellow Instructor pilot, we took the FAA online training course to get certified in drone operations and signed each other off on our FAA Part 107 Certifications.
I found a company that offered a complete drone business setup, including a website, drone, training, and would become a drone job aggregator for a percent of the business they sent. Despite the company's eventual closure, I received most of what I paid for, including a Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone, an in-person training course that spawned my love of mapping and the domain <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.DroneSolutionsLLC.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.DroneSolutionsLLC.com</a>. This turn of events forced me to quickly learn the ins and outs of the drone business and take responsibility for its future.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/k85x774hWMU9H08v4plwa1Lb22mMXRMIa0nuTu2v.jpg" alt="" width="677" height="450" />
This led me to dig into business ownership and I began taking entrepreneurship classes and small business training through my local college. They offered free business coaching and were a great source of information for business management and sales.
<h5>Our First Jobs</h5>
Once the backbone of Drone Solutions LLC. was built, we moved to North Idaho to pursue the business full-time. I was particularly interested in drone mapping, having always enjoyed map and compass navigation and was very interested in where it was going digitally. As most small drone companies do, I started with real estate work and secured a contract providing monthly construction update videos for a large construction company in town. Although my initial focus was mapping, the need for presentable videos pushed me to learn video production and editing, taking classes in Adobe Premiere and video production.
While producing those videos and thinking that might be what I end up doing a local surveyor contacted me through another FPV drone service provider, seeking orthomosaic and topography maps for his project clients. This collaboration taught me a lot about surveying and GIS work. The first project went well. However, I realized quickly the need for better equipment and skills, I invested in a Phantom 4 Pro V2.0, Emlid GPS units, ground control points, a generator, and an upgraded PC. I took a Pix4D workshop and practiced mapping constantly, eventually achieving a quality and repeatable deliverable.
With a solid product, we designed a sales plan and began building relationships with survey and engineering firms in my area, expanding our clientele and services throughout the Northwest U.S.
<h5>Currently</h5>
Since our inception, we've continually improved our systems and deliverables through better equipment, education, and processing techniques. I now fly the Mavic 3 Enterprise RTK and Multispectral, with an off-grid battery charging station and a modified truck for on-the-go charging, storage, and 5G upload capabilities.
Our projects primarily involve mapping and 3D modeling for survey topography and orthomosaic. Alot of our work has been way out in the mountains of North Idaho, Washington and Montana. As the farther you get out the handier drones get in gathering the data to save the surveyors&rsquo; knees, time and improving their margins in the rural areas. We also have been conducting cell phone tower inspections, golf course mapping, construction site mapping, and occasionally video and photo shoots.
Recently we have partnered with <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="http://www.Thread.one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.Thread.one</a>, offering a solution for managing and organizing the vast amounts of data drones can gather. This partnership addresses the bottleneck of data management, processing, and work order distribution in the drone industry as they can gather more information than most shops can handle for the inspection and vegetation management of distribution lines, transmission lines, wind and solar farms.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/zPiJMjarx6ufm9NI4PVBCcUfdQQxrHPvDvPf52Cm.jpg" alt="" width="469" height="562" />
<h5>Into the Future</h5>
This is always a difficult subject as drones are so versatile and capable in so many sectors however as we grow and look to add employees, we have been focused on maintaining and building long-term relationships in infrastructure inspection, forestry/fire management, and renewable energy sectors. We're also considering adding LiDAR and fixed-wing drones to our fleet to cover larger areas in Topo, and for inspection of infrastructure projects. I would love to start teaching more as that is a gift I have been given and love teaching aeronautics, aerodynamics, airspace, weather and drone technology.
<h5>In Our Off Time</h5>
Most of my off time is spent with my incredible family. My wife Tammy helps manage Drone Solutions LLC and homeschools our three children, aged 3, 6, and 9. When I have the time, I enjoy woodworking and building timber frame structures. Our off-grid drone charging system has also become a fun electrical engineering project that I enjoy working on with my children.
We live in one of the best outdoor areas in the world, with large, deep lakes for summer activities and plenty of skiing opportunities nearby for the winter months. We're developing a 5-acre property near our current home into a family farm, complete with an orchard, woods, a great shooting range, and a sledding hill that rips. Our family loves hiking, swimming in mountain lakes, picking huckleberries, and, when possible, going on multi-day mountain hikes and a bit of hunting.
I teach aeronautics whenever I get the chance at homeschool co-ops and still love chatting with local pilots and visiting with crew at the local airport. My son enjoys looking at aircraft and getting comfortable with aviation, which has been an incredible part of my life and has made me the man I am. I aspire to bring more aviation culture into the drone world, as much of it seems to get lost outside the airport environment.
We love attending church whenever we can and supporting Jesus&rsquo; mission as a family.

Pilot's Story: Joel Manfred

24 June 2024
<a href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/solomon-sharp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Solomon Sharp</a>
The sound of boots crunching on gravel reverberates through the darkness as I step out of the car. On this moonless night, the only sound signifying any activity was the soft chirp of crickets. The wind was still, the leaves of the trees silent. I hastily turned to grab my camera and tripod from the backseat, before jogging towards the railroad crossing. The gravel under my feet crunched loudly, yet lacking an echo. Soon, the sound blended into the rustling of leaves as I stepped across the tracks into a field of tall, moist grass that completely swallowed my legs. 
As I stopped and angled my camera out towards a calculated section of darkness, I heard it. A shrill, yet musical tone in the distance. A faint light began to appear in the patch of night&mdash;first on the camera, and then in my eyes as they adjusted to the darkness. I heard the sound again. A whistle, much louder now. The lights of the crossing suddenly ignited, flashing bright red. Its loud, almost static ringing broke the silence of the immediate area. Now, a distinct, fast-paced chugging could be heard as the train got closer. The forest around me began to flash as the rotating headlight on the locomotive scanned the landscape. The locomotive whistled once more as the train thundered by. The red crossing lights reflected against the glossy black paint of the boiler before the locomotive rolled back into the darkness ahead.&nbsp;
It is moments like these that got me into photography and videography. 
Capturing the essence of life. The colors, the movements, the sounds of the world, and putting them together in a creative way that does justice to the feeling of actually being there. Although my lifelong interests in nature, railroads, history, aviation and animals fuel the passion behind my skills, I invested much time and energy into telling stories through my work. In fact, storytelling through the visual arts is what allows me to share these lifelong interests of mine, and show them in a way that I can represent them best.
 As a result, I am a Part 107 Commercial drone pilot, a professional photographer and videographer, a copywriter, video editor, animator and artist. In my work, I have a great understanding of framing and a steady hand. More important than my skills, however, is my approach to the work. I treat each scene, each shot, each character, each edit with a high level of artistry and cinematics. These values and skills are important when taking difficult shots, such as tracking a pod of dolphins in the open ocean, or racing in front of a moving train while avoiding obstacles, all while maintaining optimal framing and precise camera movement. I always look forward to developing these skills every day as I continue to fly drones.&nbsp;&nbsp;
My introduction into photography started with my father. 
For as long as I can remember, my dad and I have been passionate railfans. It started with his father (my grandfather), where he and my dad would photograph historical trains that were restored to their original splendor. They made sure to catch as many as they could that went on excursions through his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. 
However, they had never photographed or seen any of the unique trains that were found all over the country. That changed with me. I caught the railfan bug early, and my dad and I bonded over seeing historic trains all over the country. From the rocky mountains of Colorado, to the deserts of Arizona, to the plains of Texas and the rolling hills of Pennsylvania, we got the opportunity to explore the beauty of North America while doing what we loved. I wanted to save these special memories forever, and show their beauty in the same way I not only saw, but felt them. And to me, that is the essence of photography and videography.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/IK4FCSqDua8LBvkwezxBbw4L0ex70M6VdaNa8iyg.png" alt="" width="691" height="520" />
In addition to trains, I also found myself catching the aviation bug. After piloting for the first time when I was 13, I knew I wanted to become a pilot. This kicked off my journey in aviation&mdash;a path I am still pursuing to this day. 
I founded and led an Aviation Club in high school, and organized events and activities that eventually led to my members getting to fly planes themselves. Now, I am studying for my Bachelors Degree in Aeronautical Science at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Here, I recently obtained my private pilot&rsquo;s license for fixed-wing aircraft. Ever since my first flight, I was blown away by the unique perspective of seeing the world you live in from the air. Landmarks I recognized such as streets, schools, and offices, could be seen all at once. 
Why couldn&rsquo;t I explore a perspective like this in photography?
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/RbfQmsvMiadvnIa9SCFKFNEEw4K7IUeTmVESypAe.png" alt="" width="317" height="351" />
Soon, I began dabbling in recreational drone photography with my first &ldquo;serious&rdquo; aircraft&mdash;the DJI Mavic 2. Some of my first aerial footage was captured during a train trip my dad and I went on. I quickly realized this newfound capability not only changed my world of railfanning, but of photography as a whole, as I could now explore a new angle of something I loved. 
As my skills developed, I knew I wanted to take it to the next level. I studied hard and eventually earned my Part 107 Commercial drone license. I also upgraded to the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, confident that I wanted to advance into the professional world of photography careers. For a few years now, I have been practicing with many types of videography and aerial techniques for the perfect shot. Cityscapes, Nature, and of course, trains, have all been a part of my aerial portfolio alone. 
My experiences out in the world have enriched my life and my perspective on the earth, full of its wonder and culture. But they also have engaged my creative spirit and fueled my artistic skills. Wherever I go, I see shots. I envision the framing, the motion, and how I would compose it into something grand. I want to save those moments through the arts, and continue to hone my skills. I would do so whether for recreation or profession. I have learned that there I can facilitate the vision for a client, showcase their amazing products, or tell their compelling story. Now, I want to share my skills, showing others a world of unique compositions, settings, and environmental conditions that I know I can showcase in a creative space.
Do you need someone who is reliable and dependable? I&rsquo;ve built a reputation on it. Do you need someone with a versatile skill set? Not only can I provide artistic and professional drone and video services, I can take care of editing, music selection, writing, creative concept consultation, and much more. Need a safe driver to get to location? That&rsquo;s me! 
In short, do you need a professional, reliable, eclectic, and highly passionate person to work with you on your next projects? Look no further. I would love to work with you. I&rsquo;m incredibly excited to bring this wonderful world of aerial photography to your life and/or business, and I look forward to meeting many people who are looking to expand their horizons, as I expand mine!
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbgRWNWf7pQ?si=UW0OHhAbzza6wAZf" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Pilot's Story: Solomon Sharp

19 June 2024
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rxFWJclqTnoHiBhpvBBW9FJNflbKGoXDnbuqnNSQ.png" alt="" width="182" height="155" />
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/claudio-e-aymat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Claudio E Aymat</a>
Life doesn&rsquo;t always allow you to take the exact path you originally wanted, but coming full circle,I believe my detoured journey has made it possible for me to be well rounded and do something that I enjoy and makes me happy. I believe that&rsquo;s very important. I take high resolution aerial photography and videography as well as perform high end editing and graphic design. I take pride in my work as I have a blast doing it. It&rsquo;s something I couldn&rsquo;t have imagined while growing up since drones weren&rsquo;t a thing in the '90s. Back then, I thought I was either going to be a cartoonist, actor, or film maker! I would have had to think with a futuristic mentality to imagine being a drone photographer and videographer. I have worked in nightclubs, cell phone companies, winery marketing, and sales industries but none of them gave me the feeling of freedom, joy, and cutting edge artistic creativity like embarking into the droning industry.
Prior to being a drone pilot, I was a national on-site trainer for a tech repair franchising company. I loved my job because I could help new business owners fulfill their business dreams and help their employees be the best version of themselves and succeed. Even though I loved my job, I often wished I was in the franchisee's place and owned my own business again. I started getting ideas and urges as I gave instruction, mentorship, and guidance that I could have my own successful business.&nbsp; I eventually saw my being at work as an opportunity to learn everything I needed to start that unidentified future venture. Just having that mindset allowed me to think differently and more creatively while helping my franchisees start and operate successfully.&nbsp; I could feel that my time was coming, and I felt that I had the tools, resources, and experience to succeed. I stopped seeing it as on-site training for a specific tech repair franchise but instead converted my teachings, guidance and mentorship into a general concept that could be applied to many companies and industries. This new way of thinking gave me a broader view of possibilities that could be available to someone with my skills and mindset.&nbsp; It was quite a five year journey as an on-site trainer, but I knew I was outgrowing my position and needed to spread my wings into the higher altitude of business opportunities.
I started wracking my brain with the haunting question of &ldquo;What new business should I start?&rdquo; 
At&nbsp; least, I already knew that it had to be something I loved and wouldn&rsquo;t mind doing everyday. My wife and I thought about it alot and came up with ideas like AC repair, or garage door installations, even buying some kind of a franchise was on the table. I would crunch the numbers and research the industries but none of them gave me genuine joy. So I revisited an idea I had years back, the idea of flying drones and getting paid to do so. By this point in time I&rsquo;ve been messing around and flying drones recreationally for 5+ years and loved doing so. I didn&rsquo;t own the best drones, not even good drones, but I loved the freedom of flying and capturing photos and videos from such unique and liberating perspectives. I felt like I could be onto something there. With the encouragement of my wife, I started doing a deep dive into the droning industry and putting together a comprehensive business plan to see if what I love doing recreationally can be something I can do professionally and make a good living.&nbsp; The numbers checked out and the time was right.
After a lot of thinking and research, I decided to pull the trigger on becoming a professional drone pilot. I knew it was a great idea because I loved flying drones but I have loved all things remote control related since I was around 10 years old. It also made sense to pursue this because I have been around photography and videography most of my life since my father was in both industries until retiring a few years ago. I even started a production company 15+ years ago in an attempt to work together with my father as my photographer. We worked closely together to make creatively-inspired photo productions for high-end clients and with every photoshoot we did and edited I grew closer to the craft.&nbsp; All of my previous professional experiences have prepared me mentally for this new endeavor. From owning and operating a tattoo shop / art studio to owning a production company, the list of lessons learned is too long to note but has inspired business instinct.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/ssVtwOEKwBi99Ej6hRm8anfDgeXTJvmEMbARCnab.png" alt="" width="681" height="515" />
The beauty of creativity is the perpetual creative motion that follows it. Once the creative spark is ignited, the spreading web of possibilities is jump started. In my case, it&rsquo;s art. Shooting and editing aerial photos and videos allows me to use a level of creativity that I can&rsquo;t just contain and restrict to basic drone job projects. It stimulates my ambition to venture off path but still aligned with the creation of art. I have had the opportunity to start a clothing line once again inspired by aerial art. I also take aerial photos specifically for wall canvas art.&nbsp; I&rsquo;m even working on graphic design projects to be utilized for marketing and advertising for businesses. I believe in practicing creativity in everything I do, It keeps me focused and stress free. The ability to think on your feet, solve problems, and present solutions is something I truly enjoy.
I have a three year plan. 
I&rsquo;m currently in year one and am establishing a solid portfolio. Prioritizing quality connections in the community, staying Informed with trends, and constantly growing the company.&nbsp; In year two and three I would like to move into the 3D modeling and thermal imagery spaces. They are lucrative opportunities but require more technical and tactical approaches. Just like anything, I&rsquo;ll do the research, take some courses if needed, and dive in head first.&nbsp; This move will open up more opportunities in different&nbsp; industries expanding the array of services we provide.
Some of the industries that I have my eyes on are construction, commercial real estate, and utilities. From collecting thermal data to solve problems to creating 3D images to report to investors.
I would also still be able to take aerial photos and videos for marketing and advertisements. All things that allow me to be my own boss and truly pave my own path.&nbsp;After many years trudging the trenches of corporate America, I am leaping back into the freedom of possibilities of entrepreneurship.
Looking to share my love of creating art, my passion for offering a fresh perspective, and my abilities in drone photography, photographic art, business applications, consulting and support. Want to grow your market presence? Give the world a bird&rsquo;s eye view!
<a href="https://www.planetaryviewdronegroup.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Planetary View Drone Group</a> was established to build a bridge between art, marketing, creativity, and commercial branding to enable multiple markets and industries exposure to a higher view of possibilities.
&ldquo;The sky is not your limit. Your limit is your vision.&rdquo;
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MeULKa6lx_Q?si=X-imcnsz5M7NxDzF" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Pilot's Story: Claudio E Aymat

18 June 2024
<a href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/travis-tuddle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Travis Tuddle</a>
It all started when I was a kid, watching the 1980s hit television show Airwolf with my dad. It was then that I developed a love for helicopters.
As a kid, I would run around the house with whatever handheld helicopter my mom would buy me, pretending to be the high-powered, multi-skilled aircraft I'd seen on television. By my teenage years, I moved on to gas or electric-powered helicopters, as these units could actually fly. As much as I loved these units, my involvement with them was minimal, due to the high cost of both purchasing and repairing them.&nbsp; Fast forward to 2012, and I saw a quadcopter at a Brookstone store called AR Drone or Augmented Reality Drone. The purpose of the drone was to use augmented reality to play games through the camera lens. Kind of like a real-life Asteroids game, the idea was cool, but I never really saw the release of any games. That made me take the drone to a local park one day to see what this thing was capable of doing outside.&nbsp; I pushed upward using the joystick on my tablet, reaching about 150 feet. Looking at my tablet, I could see downtown Sacramento, as well as so many other things. From this moment on, I was hooked.
I would move on to buy multiple no-named cheaper drones before buying the eHang Ghost Drone, then moving on to purchase my first DJI Drone, the Mavic 2 Zoom Pro.&nbsp; In 2019, I learned that some people had been using drones for business purposes, and I became very interested. I also learned this required a license, Part 107. From there, I began a new journey, becoming a certified drone pilot.
While this can be a profitable business, it means so much more to me. I get so much enjoyment from flying drones and look forward to doing this as long as I can.&nbsp; As I delved deeper into the world of drones, I discovered an entire community of enthusiasts and professionals. Forums, social media groups, and local meetups became my new hangouts. The camaraderie among drone pilots is incredible. Sharing tips, troubleshooting issues, and celebrating each other's successes brought a new level of enjoyment to the hobby.&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/n4OWwSCE8mF7hKPFkiGMH7ubHuPxk9UGmqL70RRz.jpg" alt="" width="681" height="383" /> One of the first significant milestones in my drone journey was mastering aerial photography. Capturing stunning landscapes and cityscapes from unique angles was exhilarating. I remember the first time I took my Mavic 2 Zoom Pro to a nearby beach at sunrise. The golden hues reflecting off the water and the tranquil morning atmosphere made for breathtaking shots. The sense of achievement from those pictures was unlike anything I had felt before.&nbsp; With my growing portfolio of aerial photographs, I began to think about the commercial potential of my hobby. Real estate agents, event planners, and even local government agencies were increasingly using drone footage for various purposes. I realized there was an opportunity to turn my passion into a side business. The thought of getting paid to do something I loved was incredibly motivating.&nbsp; Getting my Part 107 certification was the next step.
The process involved studying aviation regulations, weather patterns, and airspace classifications. It was challenging, but the sense of accomplishment when I passed the exam was worth every hour of study. With my certification in hand, it was time to put in the work required to accomplish my goal.&nbsp; Flying different types of drones has definitely given me an advantage getting into the industry. Flying everything from the Zoom 2, to the DJI Avata, to the mini 4 pro has helped me to see that every drone has its place in the industry. And without a doubt I love having a hand in all aspects.&nbsp; As my interest grew, I invested more time into my craft. The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom became my go to drone for recreational flight. Its superior camera and stability allowed for even higher-quality footage. I also explored new sofware for drones, such as video and photo editing tools and increased my gear in the process. The versatility of drones amazed me, and I enjoyed the variety in my hobby.&nbsp; But it wasn&rsquo;t just about business.
Drones also became a tool for exploration and creativity. I have a group of friends that I stay in touch with that also have a passion for drones. From mountain ranges to abandoned industrial sites, we sought out interesting places to fly and photograph. These adventures were not only fun but also helped me improve my flying skills and expand my creative vision.&nbsp; One particularly memorable occasion was when I was flying in Monterey with my brother. He was his mini while I flew my Mavic 2 Zoom. While photographing a rock a distance from land, a flock of birds decided they didn't like what I was doing. My guess is they had a nest somewhere on the rock. Either way, about seven birds started to come after my drone. I was concerned about hurting them and crashing my drone. This was my chance, I used some of those Airwolf style maneuvers I saw on TV and evaded any direct interaction with eager creatures of flight.&nbsp; Safety and responsible flying became increasingly important as I took on more projects and ventured into new locations. Understanding and respecting airspace regulations, maintaining line-of-sight, and ensuring the safety of people on the ground were paramount. I attended trainings to stay updated on best practices and emerging technologies in the drone industry.&nbsp; In 2020, during the global pandemic, drones played an unexpected but crucial role in various areas. They were used for delivering medical supplies, disinfecting public spaces, and monitoring social distancing in crowded areas. Seeing how drones could contribute to public health and safety was inspiring.&nbsp; As the world began to recover, the demand for drone services continued to grow. Sharing my knowledge and passion with others was deeply fulfilling. Seeing they're&nbsp; excitement as others took their first flights and captured their first aerial photos reminded me of my own journey and reignited my enthusiasm.&nbsp; In more recent times I just started to learn about drones used for agricultural purposes, they have drones such as the DJI Agris that are used to fertilize crops. This is a field that has definitely captured my interest and I hole one day to explore.&nbsp; Reflecting on my journey from a kid fascinated by helicopters to a professional drone pilot and entrepreneur, I realized how far I had come. The challenges, the learning, and the adventures had all been worth it. Drones had transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined. They had become more than just a hobby or a business; they were a source of joy, creativity, and connection.&nbsp; Looking ahead, I am excited about the future of drones. Advances in technology, such as improved battery life, autonomous flying, and enhanced imaging capabilities, promise to open up even more opportunities. I am eager to explore these advancements and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with drones.&nbsp; Whether it's capturing stunning aerial footage, contributing to innovative projects, or inspiring the next generation of drone enthusiasts, I am committed to making the most of this incredible technology. My love for flying, ignited by a childhood fascination with helicopters, has taken me on an amazing journey. And as I soar above the world, capturing its beauty and potential from new heights, I am grateful for every moment of it.

Pilot's Story: Travis Tuddle

13 June 2024
<a href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/gary-loyd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Gary Loyd</a>
When I was a kid, I loved building planes from balsa wood kits, covering them with silk&mdash;which required the use of &ldquo;dope&rdquo;&mdash;attaching the little gas engines to the front and flying them control-line at the park down the street. These models only had one control surface: the elevator.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/FMFrb1UjDmC3K8YddKtaqatmDsaOI8MmwdmxEuQt.png" alt="" width="195" height="291" />
One of my friends was into this, too, which was handy. Flying a control-line model requires someone to hold the model, engine running at max, while the pilot runs out to the middle of the flight circle and grabs the control handle. The pilot yells, "Okay," the helper lets go, and the plane flies in a circle around the pilot. Stunts are limited to what you can do with the elevator. My most vivid memory is of the grass fire we started one day at the park when the motor caught fire on my friends' plane!
Much later in life, during the midst of COVID, I got back into the hobby, but this time with electric-powered, radio-control planes. Large gliders, with 2 or 2.5-meter wingspans, were my favorite. These are scale models of manned high-performance sailplanes. With these, the power is used just to get the plane to altitude. Cut power, the props fold back, then hunt for thermals just like the big birds do! Some radios are equipped with audible variometer alerts to let the pilot know if the model is gaining or losing altitude. Quite enjoyable on a warm summer day.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/2E4GiR3tVR5tUmOzaYJQz3EKQ7aa0fgJJ4600YmB.png" alt="" width="457" height="582" />
At some point, I learned that enthusiasts around the world were flying planes &ldquo;FPV&rdquo; which means first person view. Being a bit near-sighted, this sounded interesting since flying line of sight can be troublesome. Even with large models, flying at 400 feet and a quarter mile away, it can be difficult to see what&rsquo;s going on up there. Take your eyes off your model, even for just a moment, and you may never find it again in the sky. Don&rsquo;t ask how I know this!
<h5>You&rsquo;re Flying</h5>
That must be the answer, I reasoned. Hook up a camera on the plane that transmits it&rsquo;s view back to the pilot on the ground wearing a pair of FPV goggles! Search &ldquo;FPV plane" on YouTube and you will find endless videos on all aspects of the subject.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/7nbfMEAAlRIceBIu1hOrHVGc4yDvLdSJdxAbF25p.png" alt="" width="315" height="343" />
Sounds easy enough, but it&rsquo;s not. FPV planes share very little with the retail RC aircraft generally available. You&rsquo;ve got to lean about flight controllers, video transmitters and receivers, unfamiliar brands of radio equipment, GPS receivers, and much more. After the plane is physically built, then you must program the flight controller by hooking it up to your computer and working with special software. Learning this critical piece can take just as long as learning to build FPV.&nbsp; Most local hobby stores are aware of FPV, but only regarding drones. They offer no help to the fixed wing FPV pilot. Everything I learned was from YouTube videos and special interest groups on Facebook.
Once you&rsquo;ve finally gotten your first FPV plane into the air, it&rsquo;s truly amazing. The visual experience is very similar to being right in the cockpit of the plane. You&rsquo;re flying!
Not only that, but you&rsquo;re also freed from the limitations of line of sight. Long distance flying is a thing. Records kept by radio equipment makers show that pilots are flying 20 miles out and more! My best is a bit over three miles out.
At some point, I stumbled upon a video about a commercial-grade plane equipped with specialized camera equipment (a.k.a. &ldquo;payload&rdquo;). It was being used for mapping a large land area slated for development. Not just that, the craft was being flown &ldquo;autonomously&rdquo; via a mission that had been planned prior to flight. This was yet another pivotal point for me. I&rsquo;m thinking, &ldquo;So, these things can be put to work&mdash;not just flown for hobby.&rdquo;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/jZYKCP3gdskPl8tr4EIXzM8FueukggFnF6pp0Hig.png" alt="" width="316" height="253" />
Having made a career in information technology, I was intrigued with the idea of downloading a &ldquo;mission&rdquo; to an unmanned aircraft and sending it aloft to do a job. As I begin to explore this, I could see that indeed it was a marriage of hardware (aircraft) and software. The fixed-wing mapping plane turned out to be an outlier. Yes, there are a few manufacturers offering VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) planes with a variety of payload options. But it quickly became obvious that the industry standard unmanned aircraft was of the quad copter variety. Most simply refer to them as &ldquo;drones.&rdquo; Common definitions of the term drone do not distinguish between fixed-wing and multi-rotor. Make no mistake though, when people speak of drones, they mean quad copters.
Prior to this latest epiphany, all I knew about drones, particularly those equipped with FPV, was for racing. I had no interest in that, so I mostly ignored them.&nbsp; But now that I had discovered that drones were being put to work in various ways, I had to find out more.
A Mini for Me&nbsp;
So, I bought my first drone. A factory refurbished DJI Mini 3 Pro with a standard RC-1 controller. This is the controller that does not have a built-in display screen. That turned out to be a stroke of luck because some of the popular 3rd-party software works fine with the RC-1 controller but is not compatible with the more popular controller with the built-in screen!
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/nnyZGDo7yr4PNJAiqcQiU6DERos7jSEHgzDJ4boz.png" alt="" width="318" height="255" />
I signed up for a subscription with Dronelink and bought a good android tablet to use with the DJI RC-1 controller. Interestingly, Dronelink is not compatible with iOS devices.
Soon I was planning mapping missions of various areas nearby. No doubt I held my breath the first time I sent my new drone off on a mission over a heavily wooded area along a river! With the mission complete, my drone returned to &ldquo;home&rdquo; and landed itself perfectly on the bright orange landing pad.
<h5>Tools, Not Toys</h5>
Once back at mission headquarters, and after reviewing the astonishingly high-quality images that had been collected, I had yet another pivotal moment. The 249-gram drone sitting on my desk was a tool, not a toy, and it had just finished its first job it had been assigned.
Now I was getting really motivated. After 39 years in corporate information technology, I was planning to retire soon. I&rsquo;m the type that needs to stay busy and had been looking for something to do post-retirement. If it could be mostly outdoors, even better. Starting a drone service provider business seemed to check all the boxes.
Hang on partner, there&rsquo;s that licensing thing: The Part 107 test.&nbsp;
Yeah, that thing. I downloaded everything free I could find, mostly from &ldquo;dot gov&rdquo; websites. But there didn&rsquo;t seem to be any rhyme or reason to a lot of it. I quickly became frustrated, so I did a quick look around and decided to sign up with The Drone U for their virtual prep classes and downloadable study materials. Is this the best way? I don&rsquo;t know but it worked for me. I spent about six weeks studying the material and practice tests a few hours each night.
<h5>I&rsquo;m Screwed</h5>
The day of the test came. Arriving early at the testing center, I noticed that everyone milling around in the building were wearing airline uniforms. The testing center assist escorted me a small room of cubicles and went over the procedure. I had a computer, keyboard, mouse, and a big book full of aviation diagrams and sectionals. There was a camera on the ceiling pointed straight at me and various laminated signs hanging on my cubicle wall. &ldquo;Flip this one over if you need a break. Flip this one over when you&rsquo;re finished. I&rsquo;ll be watching.&rdquo; the assistant said.
I started the test and read the first question. Mind you I had practically memorized the extensive practice tests supplied by The Drone U. I had read every word of their 391 page &ldquo;Part 107 Drone Certificate Study Guide.&rdquo; Some of the material I read multiple times (airspace, weather, and regulations.) But as I sat their staring at the first question, first I&rsquo;m thinking &ldquo;what is this? I don&rsquo;t remember this at all.&rdquo; Panic started to creep in. Now I&rsquo;m thinking, &ldquo;if this is the way it&rsquo;s going to be, I&rsquo;m screwed.&rdquo; Finally, I decided just to mark the question for review and move on.
That turned out to be the right decision. From there on, the questions started looking familiar. In fact, some were verbatim right out of the practice tests. By the end, I had six questions marked for review out of the sixty on the test. One-by-one I went back to each of them, first to memorize so I could write them down later, and of course to try and do my best to answer each one.
Finishing the test, I flagged the assistant. She came to get me and ask me to follow her back to her desk for scoring. I won&rsquo;t lie, I was nervous. The thought of going through all this again was not pleasant.
At last, she said &ldquo;Hey, pretty good score. You made a 90!&rdquo; With incredible relief I told her that I was surprised at the test difficulty. I took the printed report she handed me and made my way out of the building. Yes, a 90 means six questions missed out of sixty, but they don&rsquo;t tell you which six were missed.
Back at my car I tried to write down everything I could remember about the six questions that stumped me. Later, I emailed them to Mahesh at The Drone U so they could be included in future revisions of their study material.
So that brings my story to the current crossroads where I find myself: Retiring from an uninspiring 9-to-5 corporate career and starting a new venture with opportunity, and risk, all around me. Would I be better off financially if I &rdquo;hang in there&rdquo; for a few more years? Unquestionably. Would I be happier, and arguably healthier, getting out sooner? No doubt. I couldn&rsquo;t be more excited about what lies ahead!

Pilot's Story: Gary Loyd

05 June 2024
By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/jonathan-mcknight" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jonathan Mcknight</a>
I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. I&rsquo;ve been working in the IT field for over 15 years and I love it. I started my career in a call center and now I&rsquo;m the Systems Administrator for the company I work for. I&rsquo;ve done other jobs, but I&rsquo;ve always wanted to be my own boss.
Being married and a dad to three great kids, volunteering with the Guardian Ad Litem program, and having a full-time career, I have a full plate. On a busy day, my day normally starts around 5 am and doesn&rsquo;t end until 10 pm. But, no matter how busy I am, I always try to make time to relax. I&rsquo;ve been playing the bass for some years and that was my go-to activity to get my mind off the everyday hustle and bustle.
But once I started flying drones, that became my new happy place. It puts my mind at ease.
I&rsquo;ve been a fan of RC planes and helicopters for as long as I can remember. Once drones started to hit the market, I had to get one. I had a few toy drones that had a max range of 30 feet, but they were fun to fly. At the time, those drones were perfectly priced for what I needed to get my feet wet.
As years went on, I started spending more and more money until I got my first &ldquo;real&rdquo; drone. It was a DJI Phantom 1 drone. I&rsquo;ll never forget taking it out the first day I got it. It had all the bells and whistles. I took it up 100 feet and flew right into a tree. After a few minutes, it came falling into a sandbox with only a few broken blades and a broken camera bracket.
This was my first crash, but it wouldn&rsquo;t be my last.
I had it back up a few days later&mdash;this time, taking it over Biscayne Bay. It was my second flight, and I was already flying over water. I&rsquo;ll never forget the fear and excitement that I felt. I used that drone until I got a Phantom 3 advanced, then I got into the Mavic series to my latest Mavic 3 Pro. Thankfully, I haven&rsquo;t had any other crashes. When you get into more expensive drones, the repairs are more expensive, too.
During COVID, my employment wasn&rsquo;t affected by lockdowns, because I had been working from home 10+ years prior to lockdowns. My kids had to do home schooling, so we started going to parks and other outdoor venues once they allowed it. This gave me the perfect opportunity to fly my drones and get tons of outdoor footage. Florida has a lot of State Parks&mdash;including the Everglades and surrounding areas&mdash;that are perfect for aerial photography. We spent a lot of time outdoors when I wasn&rsquo;t working, and they weren&rsquo;t in school. We definitely got tired of being inside on lockdown for all those months.
In the middle of the pandemic, I decided to move. Homes in Miami were, and still are, overpriced. I prefer trees over high-rises, so I decided to move two hours north to Port Saint Lucie, FL. As I was still working from home&mdash;and working later in the day&mdash;this gave me more time to explore my new city and fly my drone over more nature in different environments. I was able to capture lots of my new local landscapes.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/udfFe8yYoYCiOiaRaxAkwhxV4LcxZ0N0h6Tjvl46.jpg" alt="" width="683" height="512" />
When the FAA announced and implemented Part 107, I always thought it was something I didn&rsquo;t want to get into. It seemed hard, and I figured I&rsquo;d never have a use for it.
Fast forward to me wanting to start a YouTube channel just to show some of my content and possibly get paid for it, I found myself looking into getting my Part 107 to not have issues with the FAA.
To prepare for my Part 107 exam, I paid for and took a few online courses before I got enough courage to take the test. I thought I was prepared but after seeing all the negative stuff in social media I got nervous. Preparing for the Part 107 exam was a mix of nerves and determination. The courses didn&rsquo;t really prepare me for it, and they didn&rsquo;t tell you to study on your own. The day of the test I went into the testing center and figured I&rsquo;d ace this exam. After the fifth question, I was like &ldquo;What did I get myself into?&rdquo;
Twenty minutes later, I looked at my watch and said either I know it, or I don&rsquo;t at this point. I walked out of that center with an 80 percent and I was happy for that.
I pictured myself having my shots featured in music videos and movies. Leaving my &ldquo;9 to 5&rdquo; and flying drones all day long. Getting clearances to fly in different airspaces and getting awesome shots of things I could only dream up.
Unfortunately, that&rsquo;s not the case (yet).
My drone ventures began with humble roof inspections, where I earned $35 for my services. Over time, I learned to value my skills and expertise, focusing on projects that not only showcased my talent but also compensated me fairly. This shift led me to explore diverse opportunities in photography, ranging from capturing sporting events and family beach photos to engaging in local photo shoots.
After taking that test, I really needed to put that certification to good use. Since then, I&rsquo;ve stopped taking jobs that don&rsquo;t pay well and started to focus more on my photography. Each new project added to my repertoire allows me to refine my craft and connect with a variety of clients. From high-flying aerial shots to intimate family portraits, every moment behind the lens has been a step towards honing my passion for photography and drone piloting.
As I delved deeper into the world of drone photography, my passion for capturing moments from unique perspectives only grew stronger. From breathtaking aerial shots of Miami's skyline to serene nature footage in my new city, each frame told a story of its own. The Part 107 certification not only opened doors to new opportunities but also instilled in me a sense of professionalism and dedication to my craft.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/tMjB1f8VcAM4VecxplxEFEVvALICqqZxQTOrBbVk.jpg" alt="" width="682" height="511" />
With every click of the camera and every smooth flight of my drone, I honed my skills and expanded my portfolio. The art of combining technical precision with creative vision became my driving force, pushing me to seek out new challenges and push the boundaries of what I could achieve. Whether it's documenting a community event, creating stunning landscape shots, or capturing the joy of a family gathering, each project allowed me to immerse myself in the art of storytelling through photography.
As I continue to soar to new heights both literally and figuratively, I am grateful for the journey that brought me here. From humble beginnings of roof inspections to now creating visually captivating images that resonate with my clients, my evolution as a drone photographer has been a testament to perseverance, passion, and the unwavering belief in the power of visuals to inspire and connect. With every flight, every frame, and every moment frozen in time, I find myself living out my dream of blending technology with artistry, one snapshot at a time.
<h5>Watch</h5>
<iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SiZOsIgKslU?si=skaFnHd1KuFfY6LF" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
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Pilot's Story: Jonathan Mcknight

31 May 2024
<a href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/steven-kelly" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Steve Kelly</a>
Born in Barrington, Illinois in 1984, I entered a world where technology was just on the brink of becoming an everyday essential. My upbringing was steeped in a culture of innovation, primarily influenced by my family. My father, an engineer, and my grandfather, a tinkerer who I regarded as an inventor, played pivotal roles in nurturing my fascination with technology. By the age of two, I was already familiar with the basics of operating a computer, much to my mother's amusement when I showed her how to power it on.
The true game-changer arrived when I was 12&mdash;a 4x86 DX 66 desktop computer. It stood three feet tall and was equipped with both 5-inch and 3.5-inch floppy drives, alongside a CD-ROM. This computer, a hand-me-down from one of my father&rsquo;s friends, was my reward for helping my dad upgrade his friend&rsquo;s setup. This machine wasn't just a tool; it was my gateway into the digital world.
As technology progressed, laptops became the new frontier. My first personal laptop came at the age of 15, secured through my own savings and determination. It was an invaluable asset through my high school years and into college. After college, I commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army and joined the military intelligence sector, where I first encountered drones. The drones I worked with were highly advanced and costly, primarily used for swift and efficient surveillance during missions.
However, it wasn&rsquo;t until a family visit to my in-laws' lakeside cottage that I saw a DJI Phantom 1 in action. It was following a water skier, capturing stunning footage of the skier&rsquo;s stunts. At that moment, the potential of personal drones truly dawned on me. Despite initially dismissing the idea due to budget constraints, the release of DJI Spark in 2017 changed my perspective. Affordable and compact, the Spark&rsquo;s capabilities impressed me deeply, yet I hesitated for a year before making the purchase.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/aWiJaFaixwAjTY5UqTwz7aa1RNMZf0L8FJDQu97n.png" alt="" width="637" height="479" />
Diving into the world of drones as a hobbyist, I explored various aspects of drone technology, from photography to video editing. I experimented with color grading, music, and transitions to enhance the professional quality of my videos. By 2020, my enthusiasm had not waned; instead, I upgraded to the DJI Air 2, captivated by its extended battery life, enhanced range, and superior video capabilities. This drone also offered new possibilities with its Software Development Kit, allowing for ortho mosaic mapping and automated missions.
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In 2023, I transitioned from hobbyist to professional, obtaining my 107 Certification and purchasing a Mavic Air 3. Each day with this aircraft reveals new possibilities and challenges. My approach to drone piloting is defined by a commitment to excellence and a readiness to tackle any project. I thrive on challenges and go above and beyond to ensure my clients are satisfied and have the best experience possible.
Whether you need a project completed or are curious about the potential of drone technology, I am here to explore innovative solutions that meet your specific needs.
<h5>Watch</h5>
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Pilot’s Story: Steve Kelly

22 May 2024
By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/terry-stafford" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Terry Stafford</a>
I&rsquo;ve always loved photography. I started with a Polaroid camera my mother gave me when I was about 12. I&rsquo;ve also always loved flying. I got my private pilot license at the Langley Air Force Base flying club while serving in the Navy at Norfolk Naval Base around 1980.
One of the most exciting assignments I had in the Navy was aboard the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower. I was an Operations Specialist and one of my jobs was that of an Air Intercept Controller in the Combat Information Center. Everything I did throughout those years was surrounded by aviation. I loved it.
One of the only times my wife flew with me in a Cessna 172 was in 1989, when we flew from Huntsville, Alabama to Murray, Kentucky to get our marriage license. Shortly after that, we were married at my mother&rsquo;s house near Murray. It was shortly after that when I stopped flying. It was just too darn expensive.
Around 2015, I started reading and watching YouTube videos about drones. The more I learned, the more I realized I could combine my love for flying with my passion for photography. Because of my flying experience, passing the Part 107 exam was a piece of cake.
I learned much about agricultural flying from another drone pilot and friend here in California. Living in the Central Valley&mdash;the most agriculturally rich area of the entire country&mdash;it seemed like it would be the most in-demand niche. A no brainer. I got into multi-spectral imaging for crop health. I flew many missions in nut and citrus orchards to capture pre-harvest tree health. It was fun, but physically demanding. I had two DJI Phantom 4 Pro drones at the time&mdash;one with a very expensive multi-spectral camera. I had an Air 2 as a backup for basic RGB work.
I was a bit surprised at just how demanding ag flying was. Driving my truck through hundreds of acres of orchards, I had to stop every few rows to fly a short nadir mission checking the tops of the trees. When you&rsquo;re flying in the middle of an orchard, it doesn&rsquo;t take long to get out of range of the controller. Keeping it all line-of-sight was literally out of the question. Of course, I would never recommend breaking that law to anyone, but it was just me and the trees for miles and filing for a waiver was quite a bit harder back in those days.
I crashed the Phantoms a few times, and broke the landing gear once on one of them. Luckily, the multi-spectral camera wasn&rsquo;t installed for those missions. I learned from those crashes that I couldn&rsquo;t be launching from the bed of my pickup, as convenient as it was. The metal in the truck disrupted the magnetic compass in the drone on startup. I figured that out pretty quickly.
Getting in and out of the truck and setting up each time to launch and land the drone from a pad the 20 or 30 times I ran a mission&nbsp;each day wore me down. Hand launching a Phantom 4 Pro isn&rsquo;t as easy as an Air 2s or one of the minis. So I used a round pad to keep the drone out of the dust in the floor of the orchard. With all that and driving a couple hours each way to the farm, at the end of flying those missions three or four times a week for a few months, my back was shot. It paid well, but I just didn&rsquo;t have the stick-to-it-iveness to keep going. I turned the contract over to another pilot friend of mine. It was a win for everyone concerned.
After I determined that I wouldn&rsquo;t be able to stick with heavy-duty agricultural work, I sold out to my drone friend, thinking I was over it. To say I was frustrated and disappointed would be an understatement. I lost my behind on that sale. But it was a good deal for him. A really good deal.
But even after all that, a couple of years ago, I realized I was far from over it. I picked up a new (at the time) DJI Air 2s and, more recently, a Mini 4 Pro. I&rsquo;m back in the game for the love of the art. I still love capturing images and the technical aspects of flying and business. I couldn&rsquo;t just not do it. So where would I go with it?
I spent most of my career after the Navy as a project manager for NASA contractors at both the Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama and Kennedy Space Center in Florida. I loved overseeing the progress of many spacecraft processing facility projects. Even as a kid, I loved watching things being built. My earliest memories are of me digging in the dirt with a tablespoon on the side of a hill near my house. Building things is what I enjoy&mdash;watching the progress and achieving the final product. I even had a wood shop for many years where I built small projects and repaired furniture as a hobby.
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In hindsight, I guess I should have been a construction project manager. But watching big, pointy, metal things launch into space was pretty cool, too. Again, putting all that together, I realized that providing construction progression documentation and inspection services would be the next best step for my drone career. Since working my way into that niche, I haven&rsquo;t felt any physical limitations. I can see doing it for many years to come.
I&rsquo;ve thought about entering the real estate fray, but it seems like agents can&rsquo;t really afford to pay anything, or they&rsquo;re flying drones themselves that they picked up at BestBuy. Part 107 be damned.
Once I convinced myself I wasn&rsquo;t too old, I freshened up my website, started a YouTube channel to feature some of my work, and recently learned about The Droning Company. What a neat idea! I&rsquo;m now all in, and I look forward to helping people put their best foot forward to impress their clients and customers. I also look forward to helping other drone pilots achieve their goals.
I continue to practice flying my drones and working with my go-to autonomous flight software, Dronelink (on the Air 2s anyway). I also still love to watch other operators on YouTube to learn new ways to work smarter. My ears are always to the ground looking for that better mousetrap.
My plan is to stay focused on construction progress monitoring deliverables, and perhaps some marketing gigs with the occasional basic roof inspection or farm art imagery. I always want to stay open to client ideas. People often ask for something I hadn&rsquo;t even thought of&mdash;such as inspecting the inside loft of an old barn or taking a video of a herd of dairy cattle in a pen waiting to be fed. Sometimes it&rsquo;s for corporate or insurance documentation, and sometimes it&rsquo;s simply to hang a framed picture on the dining room wall.
I captured the 50th anniversary World Ag-Expo at the International Agri-Center in Tulare a few years ago. I worked it for three days straight. I still see my photos and videos from time to time on their website or in marketing material. It was a lot of fun.
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Shortly after that, I flew a cultural event called PuebloFest at the same location. One thing is for certain in this business&mdash;you learn a lot of things and make a lot of new friends.
I was asked once to fly a horse show inside one of the buildings at the Ag-Center. While I said "yes," I was relieved when the show was cancelled. The more I thought about it, the more it felt like a disaster in the making. I would likely have had to turn off obstacle avoidance and GPS to fly. But add to that the risk of spooking the horses in the arena. Again, I was soooo relieved. In hindsight, I don&rsquo;t think I would entertain such a request again. I&rsquo;m not sure the insurance company would understand if something went wrong.
In any case, it&rsquo;s fun, it&rsquo;s challenging, and it&rsquo;s rewarding. All that and a little side income, too.
I look forward to engaging with the local droning community to share war stories&mdash;both wins and losses.
<h5>Watch</h5>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/201462863">Excavating in Paradise</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/terrystafford">Terry Stafford</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.

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