Trending News

Pilots Stories

7th May 2025
Click here to see Keonntay's Pilot Profile:
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/keonntay-watts">https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/keonntay-watts</a>
<div>
Growing up in Chicago, I was always fascinated by cameras, movement, and storytelling. After high school in 2012, I dove headfirst into the world of cinematography. I didn&rsquo;t have formal training or expensive film school credentials, but I had something that no degree could replace&mdash;pure curiosity, a deep hunger to create, and the drive to teach myself everything I could.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/dGWe8JYyOW1ykMyHTNFma9D2mYbdtyttEMXrsr6M.jpg" alt="" width="683" height="387" />
</div>
<div>
Back then, I was shooting with whatever camera gear I could get my hands on. Sometimes it was a borrowed DSLR, other times it was an old camcorder that had seen better days. I didn&rsquo;t care. Whether I was filming friends skateboarding, editing mini-documentaries, or experimenting with music video concepts, I was constantly sharpening my eye, my instincts, and my understanding of visual storytelling. I fell in love with the way you could capture emotion through movement&mdash;how a slow pan or a creative angle could say just as much as a line of dialogue.
</div>
<div>
Around 2018, I started noticing something new taking over the cinematography world: drones. I&rsquo;d see these insane aerial shots in big-budget films and music videos, and I&rsquo;d wonder, &ldquo;How are they getting these angles?&rdquo; I quickly realized drones weren&rsquo;t just toys&mdash;they were tools. They gave filmmakers like me access to a whole new perspective, quite literally.
</div>
<div>
At first, flying drones was just a hobby. I picked up a basic consumer drone to see what all the hype was about. I remember the very first flight like it was yesterday. I took it out to an open field on the South Side of Chicago, nervous and excited, fingers shaking a little as I fired up the controller. As soon as that drone lifted off the ground and hovered in place, I felt something shift inside me. It was like I had unlocked a superpower.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/M2Dq9AzNyPewEeLn22biU1YNwSiN8VWvjZJq38l0.jpg" alt="" width="693" height="390" />
</div>
<div>
I spent months learning the ins and outs of flying. I practiced in parks, open lots, even empty parking garages. I studied how different lighting affected the footage, how wind impacted stability, how to pan smoothly and track subjects. And of course, I crashed a few times&mdash;okay, more than a few. But every mistake taught me something. I became obsessed with mastering the controls and getting the most cinematic shots possible.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;Eventually, I began integrating drone footage into my video projects. The first time I used a drone in a music video was a game-changer. It was a simple rooftop scene in downtown Chicago, but that overhead shot pulling away from the artist as the skyline lit up behind him? It gave the whole video a bigger feel, like something you&rsquo;d see on MTV. Artists started to take notice, then the inquiries started rolling in from all kinds of people. I was soo eager and ready to provide it.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;I realized that if I was going to take this to the next level, I needed to make it official. So I studied for and passed the FAA Part 107 exam, becoming a certified commercial drone pilot. That license opened up a whole new world of opportunity. No longer just a guy with a camera and a drone, I was now a licensed operator, legally cleared to shoot commercially, whether it was for a wedding, a real estate company, or a construction firm needing aerial inspections.
</div>
<div>
That was a huge turning point for me. The Part 107 wasn&rsquo;t just a formality. It gave me confidence, legitimacy, and access to bigger jobs. Around this time, my work began to shift more heavily toward event coverage. Weddings were a natural fit. There&rsquo;s something magical about capturing a bride walking down the aisle from above, or sweeping over a scenic venue during golden hour. Clients loved it, and word started to spread.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/l3ScPYmb0Jhx7Jm5NyUGrg84p8CmYwkwk0qKpt1V.jpg" alt="" width="670" height="377" />
</div>
<div>
Chicago is a big city with a diverse range of venues, neighborhoods, and landscapes from the sleek architecture of the Loop to the historic charm of the West Side, the beaches along Lake Michigan to the gritty industrial zones. Every location brought new creative challenges and inspiration. One weekend I&rsquo;d be flying over a beachside ceremony, the next I&rsquo;d be tracking a Lamborghini cruising down Lakeshore Drive for a music video.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;Over the years, I&rsquo;ve developed a signature style. I blend smooth, cinematic motion with an eye for composition and storytelling. I want my viewers feel something watching my work. Whether it&rsquo;s the grandeur of a wedding day or the energy of a music video, I treat every project like it&rsquo;s my own film. I want every frame to tell a story.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M157wn0g214" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
</div>
<div>
Of course, it hasn&rsquo;t always been smooth flying, literally or figuratively. Drone work in a city like Chicago can be tricky. Between FAA airspace restrictions, no-fly zones, weather conditions, and unpredictable city elements, every flight has to be carefully planned. I&rsquo;ve had shoots get rescheduled due to sudden winds, and I&rsquo;ve had to negotiate with property managers just to get clearance. But those challenges have taught me how to be adaptable, resourceful, and always ready with a backup plan.
</div>
<div>
Looking back, what started as a simple hobby turned into a career I genuinely love. The journey from a self-taught videographer in 2012 to a certified drone operator with five years of flight experience hasn&rsquo;t been easy, but it&rsquo;s been incredibly rewarding. I&rsquo;ve built a brand, gained loyal clients, and earned a reputation for delivering top-tier aerial visuals.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;And I&rsquo;m still learning. The drone world evolves quickly&mdash;new tech, new regulations, new creative techniques. I stay sharp by keeping up with industry trends, testing new gear, and constantly pushing myself to improve. Whether I&rsquo;m flying a compact drone for tight urban shots or piloting a larger rig for a complex cinematic scene, I bring the same passion and attention to detail that got me started in the first place.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;More than anything, I&rsquo;m grateful for the chance to do what I love, to see the world from a different angle, and to bring that perspective to others through my work. Being a drone pilot isn&rsquo;t just about flying&mdash;it&rsquo;s about vision, creativity, and storytelling. It&rsquo;s about capturing moments that can&rsquo;t be replicated from the ground.
</div>
<div>
&nbsp;And in this sky-high journey that started with curiosity and a camera, I know I&rsquo;m just getting started.
</div>

Pilot Story: Keonntay Watts

1st May 2025
Click here to see Joshua's Pilot Profile:
<a style="color: #ba372a;" title="By Joshua Walton" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/joshua-walton">https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/joshua-walton</a>
Aviation has always been more than just planes in the sky. For me aviation is a symbol of freedom, innovation, and perspective. For me, becoming a drone pilot wasn&rsquo;t just about flying a machine; it was about seeing the world differently and discovering a new way to connect with my surroundings. That feeling only grew stronger with time. Becoming a drone pilot wasn&rsquo;t just a hobby it was a path to connect with my lifelong passion for flight, technology, and perspective.
&nbsp;
Growing up, starting from the age of six, I was introduced to the field of aviation. At that time, my image of aviation was limited to busy airports, what I thought were &ldquo;police officers&rdquo; in blue shirts (TSA agents), and huge aircraft that were way too loud and intimidating for a young child. I still remember clutching my seat nervously and crying during my first flight, unsure of what to expect. Luckily all it took was a single takeoff to change everything. I had the luck of receiving a window seat, and as the aircraft lifted from the ground, I saw a view that completely blew my mind, from the roads, buildings, and cars growing smaller and smaller beneath me until everything looked like a tiny model set. From that point on, I was hooked. Aviation had officially gained every bit of my interest.
&nbsp;
As I got older, my understanding of aviation broadened. I started to realize just how vast the field really was. At first, I imagined myself as an airline pilot, flying commercial jets across the globe. That was the only type of pilot I knew about. I would often picture myself in a captain&rsquo;s seat, announcing our descent into some exotic city. But it wasn&rsquo;t until I turned 14 that I began to discover just how many types of pilots existed. I learned about military pilots, helicopter pilots, private jet pilots, and even hot air balloon pilots. Each path seemed cool in its own way, but none of them quite matched the excitement I felt when I stumbled across drone piloting.
&nbsp;
Before then, I had owned a few small drones from gifts I&rsquo;d received over the years. To me, they were just toys: fun to fly around the yard but not something I took seriously. I didn&rsquo;t understand that people actually made careers out of flying drones. That changed one afternoon in my neighborhood when I saw someone operating a drone that was flying much higher and faster than anything I had ever seen. Naturally, my curiosity kicked in, and I had to ask questions. The pilot told me he was capturing aerial footage for the neighborhood website, and that he held a special license to operate drones professionally. That conversation opened my eyes. I learned about the FAA&rsquo;s Part 107 certification, about the laws surrounding drone flight, and about the real income potential for drone pilots. Most importantly, I learned that drones weren&rsquo;t just toys&mdash;they were tools. Tools for photography, surveying, inspection, marketing, emergency response, and more. That day, my perspective shifted. I no longer saw drones as something to play with&mdash;I saw them as a gateway into a new chapter of aviation. From that moment forward, I knew I wanted to earn my drone pilot license.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Studying for the Part 107 exam was both challenging and rewarding. The test required me to understand a wide range of topics from airspace classifications, weather patterns, regulations, emergency procedures, and more. I used a mix of online courses, FAA materials, and YouTube tutorials to study. The most difficult part for me was learning to read sectional charts and understanding the different classes of airspace. But I was determined. I spent weeks preparing, reviewing flashcards, taking practice exams, and watching videos late at night.
&nbsp;
The day of the test, I was beyond nervous knowing exactly what it was that I was about to do. Although I had studied for hours upon hours, I still arrived early at the testing center, reviewed my notes in the parking lot one last time, and walked in with butterflies in my stomach. When I finally clicked the &ldquo;Submit&rdquo; button on the screen and received the passing results from the testing coordinator, I felt a wave of pride wash over me. That moment marked the official beginning of my career as a certified drone pilot.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/skMGaiHgRhY?si=Cu2n9O942ksHOQsC" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Although I passed the test to be able to receive my Part 107 drone certification, I definitely did not want to stop at that point. Since then I have continued to practice and try to better myself with controlling my drones. Unfortunately I do not have the best of the best when it comes to drones, but I understand that you will always have to start from the bottom to get to the top. The first drone that I owned after becoming certified was the Potensic Atom, and I now own a Dji mini 3 drone. As of right now I currently have not been asked to perform any jobs or duties with the skills that I have at the moment. Even though I haven't been able to complete any task for anyone, I completely understand why. Due to the fact that I am new to this, and there are people who have done this longer than me and are honestly better than me at this skill, it will take time for me to make it to the next level. I don't let things like this bring me down, I just use these things as fuel and continue to practice and better myself and have fun with my drones. Although it might take a while to make it to the point that I would like to reach, I will always have my past goal as an image to remind me how I&rsquo;ve made it this far.
&nbsp;
Becoming a drone pilot has also opened up career possibilities I never would have thought of. Whether it's real estate photography, construction site inspections, or creating content for social media, there are endless paths in the drone industry. I&rsquo;m currently exploring how to build my own drone business, reaching to offer services to local businesses and individuals who want aerial footage.
&nbsp;
What excites me most about being a drone pilot is the combination of creativity and technical skill. I get to think like a photographer, a filmmaker, and a pilot all at once. I enjoy planning shots, choosing angles, adjusting settings, and making sure every flight is safe and successful. Every time I send my drone into the sky, I feel that same rush I had on my first flight as a six-year-old looking out the airplane window.
Looking back, I realize that my journey from a wide-eyed six-year-old on his first flight to a certified drone pilot has been filled with unexpected turns and valuable lessons. I&rsquo;ve learned to follow my curiosity, to ask questions, and to be open to new opportunities. Flying drones is more than just a skill, it&rsquo;s a passion that connects me to the world in a way that&rsquo;s both creative and purposeful. I&rsquo;m excited for what comes next. Whether it&rsquo;s continuing to grow a future business, collaborating with others in the field, or mentoring someone who was once just like me&mdash;curious, excited, and unsure.
I know that the sky is not the limit. It&rsquo;s just the beginning.

Pilot Story: Joshua Walton

Featured News

28 April 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/malik-norman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Malik Norman</a>
When I first set foot in flight school, my mind was set on one thing: becoming a commercial pilot. Like many others who dream of flying for a living, I was chasing altitude, runway lights, and that unmistakable rumble of a turboprop firing to life. I wanted to wear the stripes, command an aircraft, and look out at the horizon from 30,000 feet. Drones? At that point, they weren&rsquo;t even on my radar&mdash;no pun intended.
My journey into aviation began like most student pilots: with a deep passion for flight and a desire to master the skies. I enrolled in flight school full of excitement and maybe a little nervousness. The syllabus was intense, filled with aerodynamics, airspace classes, FAA regulations, and endless hours of ground school. Every day was a new lesson, every night a study session. I was completely immersed in the world of manned aviation.
The camaraderie at school was also something special&mdash;being surrounded by other aspiring pilots created a strong sense of purpose and motivation. We pushed each other to stay sharp, and although the curriculum was tough, there was something truly fulfilling about being part of a community united by the same dream.
Then came an unexpected turn.
One day, during course selection for electives, I noticed an option to take a Part 107 drone pilot certification course. It wasn&rsquo;t something I had planned on, but what caught my attention was the incentive&mdash;if I completed the course, I&rsquo;d get a free drone. That alone piqued my interest. At the time, the idea of flying a drone sounded like a fun side hobby, nothing more than a cool toy I could mess around with during downtime. It definitely didn&rsquo;t seem like anything I&rsquo;d pursue seriously.
So I signed up, half-curious and half-motivated by the prospect of scoring a free DJI drone.
To my surprise, the drone ground school wasn&rsquo;t all that different from what I was already studying. In fact, there was a remarkable overlap between manned and unmanned flight training. Concepts like airspace classifications, weather patterns, METARs and TAFs, sectional charts, radio communications, and FAA regulations were all part of the Part 107 curriculum too. What I thought would be a light, easygoing elective ended up being a full-fledged educational experience&mdash;and one that was far more demanding than I expected.
But here&rsquo;s where things started to shift.
The more I learned about drone operations, the more I realized how wrong I had been. Drones weren&rsquo;t just high-tech toys you flew around the backyard. The level of precision, situational awareness, and knowledge required to legally and safely operate one in national airspace was far greater than I had ever imagined. The FAA wasn&rsquo;t handing out licenses for weekend hobbyists&mdash;this was serious aviation.
I found myself starting to respect drone pilots in a way I hadn&rsquo;t before. It wasn&rsquo;t about just pushing a joystick and watching a screen&mdash;it was about mission planning, risk assessment, understanding the weather, respecting privacy laws, and navigating real-world airspace. I began to see drone aviation not as a side branch of aviation, but as a specialized skill set with its own challenges and rewards.
Going through the rigors of Part 107 ground school gave me a whole new appreciation for what drone pilots do. I gained a better understanding of how drones are used in industries like cinematography, search and rescue, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and more. I saw how UAVs could capture perspectives no human could reach, and how much discipline it took to fly them professionally.
When I finally passed the Part 107 exam, that certificate meant something very different to me than it did when I first signed up. It wasn&rsquo;t about a free drone anymore. It was about adding another set of wings to my aviation journey&mdash;just a different kind than I originally envisioned.
Soon after, I received my DJI Mini 3 Pro. At first, I flew just to practice, experimenting with different maneuvers, learning the controls, studying how the drone responded to weather, wind, and terrain. The more I flew, the more confident I became. That confidence turned into creativity. I started taking shots, exploring camera settings, and trying out different angles and perspectives that I never imagined I could achieve. The footage I was capturing wasn&rsquo;t just &ldquo;good for a drone,&rdquo; it was good&mdash;period.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/WCzlL4B1fq2XYJJWAz3IMX2N0JzZKMM7K16m079o.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="613" />
It&rsquo;s incredible how something that started as an afterthought quickly became a central part of my life. The more I flew, the more I realized this wasn&rsquo;t just another tool&mdash;it was an extension of myself as a pilot and as a creator. Drones opened up a new kind of freedom. Unlike traditional aircraft, which require airports and long flight plans, drones could lift off almost anywhere. I could be in the middle of a forest, on a construction site, or at the edge of the ocean, and still be airborne in minutes.
Eventually, flying drones evolved from a side interest to a professional pursuit.
Now, I fly commercially using my Mavic 2 Pro, and it has become an integral part of my career. I&rsquo;ve also logged significant hours on the DJI Mini 3 Pro and the Matrice series, which opened up even more possibilities in terms of payloads and applications. Each drone has its own strengths&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s the lightweight flexibility of the Mini 3 Pro, the cinematic precision of the Mavic 2 Pro, or the industrial power of the Matrice.
Every project I take on is a new challenge. Whether I&rsquo;m shooting real estate footage, mapping terrain, documenting a construction site, or capturing a sunset over a coastline, I&rsquo;m always looking to push myself creatively and technically. I never stop learning&mdash;there&rsquo;s always a new maneuver, a new camera technique, a new airspace regulation to adapt to. And I welcome all of it.
One of the most rewarding parts of being a drone pilot is seeing how my work helps others. Whether it&rsquo;s delivering stunning aerial footage for a business, assisting with site surveys that save hours of labor, or even just giving someone a new perspective of a familiar place, there&rsquo;s a satisfaction that comes from creating value through flight.
Sometimes, I think back to when I first saw the Part 107 elective on that course list and laughed at how casually I brushed it off. I never imagined that drones would play such a major role in my professional life. But I&rsquo;m glad they did. They&rsquo;ve allowed me to merge my passion for flight with a growing fascination for visual storytelling and remote aviation technology.
What I love most about being a drone pilot is the freedom it offers&mdash;both creatively and professionally. Drones have a way of showing the world from a perspective that people rarely get to see. When I&rsquo;m in the air, framing the perfect shot or flying over an area I&rsquo;ve never explored before, there&rsquo;s a kind of thrill that&rsquo;s hard to describe. It&rsquo;s like painting with motion, using light and elevation instead of brushes and canvas.
At the same time, I never forget the responsibility that comes with the license. Flying drones&mdash;especially commercially&mdash;isn&rsquo;t just about cool footage or flying for fun. It&rsquo;s about safety, awareness, and respect for the airspace and the people around you. That&rsquo;s something I carry with me every time I lift off.
My background in manned aviation gave me a solid foundation, but it&rsquo;s my experience as a drone pilot that&rsquo;s helped me grow in ways I didn&rsquo;t expect. I&rsquo;ve learned to appreciate not just the technology behind drones, but the discipline and professionalism required to fly them. And perhaps more importantly, I&rsquo;ve learned never to underestimate an opportunity&mdash;even one that starts out with just a free drone.
Today, I consider myself lucky to be a part of the ever-evolving drone industry. I&rsquo;m proud of the work I do, the skills I&rsquo;ve developed, and the journey that brought me here. And while I still love the idea of flying commercial jets one day, I can honestly say that drones have earned their own place in my heart&mdash;and in my future.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 677px; height: 381px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lc0qJy9ETYU?si=OXNCFwCZt6bbcWkk" width="677" height="381" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;

Pilot Story: Malik Norman

11 March 2025
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/BL1Xkcjj0VrcPfebJT9xYlGbzAVq8gztw7KZuyli.jpg" alt="" width="120" height="164" />
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/jason-sherblom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Jason G. Sherblom</a>
My name is Jason Sherblom. I am 47 years old and the father of three children. After moving to Florida from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2024, I began driving from place to place and was amazed at how flat the area is. As I continued to go to various parts of the state, admittedly, only a small part of it so far, I started to realize the breadth of the views looking in all directions. The thought occurred to me how interesting it would be to see this from above.
I do a lot of traveling for business. While I am not as impressed as I used to be looking out the window and seeing the ground from above solely for the thrill of it, I do like to look out as I fly over familiar parts to get that birds-eye view of something I know. It is that perspective change that piques my interest, which certainly sparked my interest in drones.
Something else that contributed to my newly acquired fascination with aerial photography is all the infrastructure like communication towers and electrical transmission towers I can see from many vantage points in Florida, again as it is so flat around here. Being able to see so much of the tower, even the base in a lot of locations as it is not blocked by hills and thick trees and foliage, allowed me to discover parts of those types of infrastructure I had never seen before.
Towers have always fascinated me. The taller they are the more I was drawn to them. I believe a lot of it was fear of them. It may sound odd, yet there really was a fear of these things, a lot of it due to their sheer size and mass.
Wind turbines, what I always called windmills growing up, were really my favorites when I was younger, and in many ways still are. That is because the town I lived in constructed eight 100-foot turbines on the side of Mount Wachusett in the 1980s. The school bus route I would take each day passed right by them, within 500 or so yards. As I could not see the bottom half of the towers due to the heavy tree growth, like I mentioned earlier, I think it was that unseen part that gave birth to both my amazement at the biggest things I had seen up to that point, and the new fear that developed over what exactly was behind those trees.
The noise the turbines made at that time was also a little unnerving. It was a deep and heavy whistling noise that came in and out of ear range as the relatively short (by today&rsquo;s standards) 30-foot blades whooshed by, held together by the large center hub, as they spun around. I can still hear it even now. Over time, I managed to get up the nerve to go up to the site where these towers were anchored to their thick concrete bases. Sometimes, only a few of them would be operating but that sound was always present up there.
A few years later, one of the turbines collapsed during a bad storm. I only saw pictures of the wreckage in the newspaper and never saw any of the pieces in person. Seeing the mangled pile on the ground, even if only in the paper, increased my curiosity related to what these towers really were, now seeing for the first time that they were vulnerable and not the terrifying, invincible goliaths I once thought they were.
Being that they could collapse, which is something I had never thought was possible in those early days of my life, meant that they were susceptible to destruction. It hit home that they were things, built by man, which meant that man needed to be there to fabricate the pieces, assemble them on site, and climb higher and higher to work on them. That really did it for me as they were more &ldquo;real&rdquo; now than they had been before the collapse.
Now, fast forward a few years and I started messing around with photography. I bought a pretty nice DSLR camera in the 1990s which still used traditional rolls of film. I knew nothing else at that time, so this was fine with me. Also, it was always a thrill to drop off the rolls to be developed and experience that anticipation of how they would turn out, something that is rarely seen in today&rsquo;s fast-paced technological world. I always made sure I was back right at the time the developer said the pictures would be ready!
Some decades later, I got into digital photography. That was when I really started learning about how photography worked, a little bit anyway. I was always good with computers and managed to learn software relatively quickly. It was with editing software that I learned how to clean up the shots I had taken, making them even better.
As I progressed with learning how to edit, my novice work began to get noticed. Over time, people started asking me to bring my camera to events. My sister got married a couple of years ago and she asked me to be one of the photographers there to document the occasion. I was thrilled!
The wedding took place at the Mount Washington Hotel in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. My favorite place in the world! While I was proud to be asked to help photograph that beautiful weekend, I was especially excited to take my &ldquo;good&rdquo; camera up there as I had never done so before. The wedding was an enormous success and the several hundred pictures I ended up taking turned out mostly well, too.
In order to tie all of this together and answer the question of how I got involved with drones, that one is quite easy. I am a financial analyst by trade for a fantastic energy storage company. Over my years there, I fell in love with the company. Not only because of what we do as a company, but what I do for the company, data analysis. It is because of that love for what I do that I am always trying to learn as much as I can about other areas of the company, to really understand what my data is telling me about certain things. What is the story it is trying to relate?
One afternoon, I was walking through a mall when I was up north on business. I will say that again, yes, I was walking through a mall, a real mall, with stores on either side and a huge food court. With so much online shopping that is done nowadays, which I am not balking at as I take great advantage of that opportunity myself, I still treasure the times I can walk through a real mall or department store. Partly, maybe, out of nostalgia for those good old days of my youth.
Back to my point, as I was walking through the mall, I received a message through Microsoft Teams. Our Director of Project Management had asked one of our construction managers if he could go to a job site at some point and use his &ldquo;FAA license&rdquo; to get some drone footage of the progress. I stopped dead in my tracks and moved to the side of the aisle to get out of the flow of foot traffic to read it again.
While I had seen images of many of our job sites on the company&rsquo;s intranet page, I never stopped to think about how those pictures were taken. In today&rsquo;s online world, we see overhead images of locations all the time. However, when I read those few words, I realized there was a real need for a qualified and knowledgeable person to go out with a drone and collect those top-down images from above. I started researching that night about the FAA requirements and drone piloting.
It was not long after I began outfitting myself with a fairly good drone set up. That then led to purchasing one of my favorite pieces of technology ever, my Matterport Pro2 digital camera, which takes 360-degree photo images to create digital twins of a location. I learned about other 360-degree photo and video options and ended up starting my company, JS Media Group located here in Wildwood, Florida. I began offering virtual tour creation for real estate with my Matterport, along with aerial photography and videography with my drone. I even moved along with working on certification to conduct tower inspections with my equipment.
A new world has certainly opened up to me because of that little flying camera, and the rest is history that has not yet been written. The sky is literally the limit!
Fly safe out there!
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 673px; height: 378px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rn9d8X5Nobs?si=Izf6zUqjsbsC_iJ-" width="673" height="378" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Pilot Story: Jason G. Sherblom

03 March 2025
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/k0FYdKPkS0mYgoJfHln6uxnEPGzjxnEISq4AuD9M.jpg" alt="" width="114" height="110" />
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/adam-shew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Adam Shew</a>
I grew up in the coastal town of Brookings, Oregon, a place surrounded by towering evergreens, rugged cliffs, and breathtaking ocean views. From an early age, I was fascinated with anything that moved fast&mdash;RC cars, boats, helicopters&mdash;you name it. If it could zoom around my backyard, I wanted it. But little did I know that this childhood fascination with remote-controlled vehicles would eventually evolve into a deep passion for drone piloting.
Today, I live in San Francisco, where I attend the University of San Francisco, studying Engineering while also playing Division 1 baseball for the USF Dons. Go Dons! Between balancing academics and baseball, I was looking for a hobby that would help me escape the fast-paced city life and break free from my repetitive routine&mdash;something that would keep me mentally grounded in creativity. That search ultimately led me to the world of FPV (First-Person View) drones, and it completely transformed my perspective.
<h5>Discovering FPV</h5>
The first time I saw an FPV drone video, I was hooked. The sheer speed, the precision of the maneuvers, and the immersive experience of flying from a first-person perspective&mdash;it was like nothing I had ever seen before. It felt like being a fighter pilot, minus the very real danger of immediate death upon crashing. I knew right away that I had to get my hands on one.
It all began with the DJI RC Controller 1, a Christmas gift from my parents. With it, I started honing my skills in Liftoff, a drone simulator that allowed me to practice various maneuvers. Once I felt confident in my abilities, I took the leap and invested in the DJI Avata 1&mdash;my gateway into the FPV world. This decision completely transformed how I experienced the landscapes and cityscapes I had always known, offering an entirely new perspective from the sky. Flying an FPV drone didn&rsquo;t just allow me to see these places again&mdash;it allowed me to experience them in a whole new way. Suddenly, even the most familiar locations felt brand new from the skies. The ability to maneuver through tight spaces, skim over the ocean, or dive down cliffs was unlike anything I had ever felt before.
<h5>Building My Portfolio&nbsp;</h5>
Once I got comfortable flying, I knew I wanted to take it further. I had been watching cinematic FPV reels on social media for months, and I decided it was time to create my own. That&rsquo;s when Shotzbyshew was born. I started my Instagram page (@shotzbyshew) as a way to showcase my growing portfolio of work, and before I knew it, I was fully immersed in the FPV drone community.
From photography to FPV videography, real estate aerial shots to tower inspections, I began expanding my skill set and pushing the limits of what I could do with my drone. Each flight was a learning experience, an opportunity to master new maneuvers, refine my video editing skills, and improve my ability to compose the perfect shot.
<h5>Getting My Part 107 License</h5>
While flying drones was an exhilarating hobby, I soon realized I could take it to the next level. I decided to earn my Part 107 license, allowing me to legally fly commercially and turn my passion into a profession. Passing the exam was a challenge, but it was an essential step in growing as a drone pilot. Now, I can offer my services for paid gigs, opening up opportunities in real estate, event coverage, and commercial cinematography.
One of the most rewarding parts of this journey has been the ability to merge art and technology. The thrill of flight combined with the creative storytelling aspect of cinematography has given me a sense of purpose beyond just flying for fun.
<h5>My Favorite Shot&nbsp;</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/6pJzgu21p6yF8lHw69QhBLLkICoesGntazaPz05D.png" alt="" width="311" height="281" />
Of all the places I&rsquo;ve flown, one shot stands out as my absolute favorite. It was at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, just as the sun was dipping below the horizon. I captured a surfer catching a perfect wave, silhouetted against a fiery orange and pink sky. The light, the motion, and the raw energy of the moment came together in a way that felt almost surreal. That video, which is available on my Instagram, embodies everything I love about FPV drone flying&mdash;speed, beauty, and perspective.
<h5>The Gear That Fuels My Flights</h5>
Right now, I&rsquo;m flying the DJI Avata 2, a major upgrade that allows me to capture high-quality FPV footage with even more precision and clarity. The technology behind these drones continues to evolve, and with every new piece of equipment, I find new ways to push the boundaries of what&rsquo;s possible. Having the right gear is crucial, but it&rsquo;s the skills and creativity behind the flight that truly make a shot come to life.
<h5>Growth as a Pilot</h5>
Over the course of my FPV journey, I have learned so much&mdash;not just about drone piloting, but about photography composition, video editing, and the importance of storytelling. Every crash has been a lesson. Every difficult shot has pushed me to refine my technique. Every video I&rsquo;ve edited has taught me more about pacing, music synchronization, and crafting a compelling visual narrative.
But perhaps the biggest lesson I&rsquo;ve learned is patience. FPV flying isn&rsquo;t easy. It takes hours of practice, trial and error, and a willingness to learn from mistakes. Mastering smooth movements, maintaining control at high speeds, and ensuring the best camera angles all require dedication and perseverance. But the reward? It&rsquo;s absolutely worth it.
<h5>Dreams for the Future&nbsp;</h5>
While I&rsquo;m still early in my drone career, I have big goals for the future. My dream is to work with major brands like Red Bull, X Games, or GoPro&mdash;companies that thrive on high-energy, action-packed visuals. The idea of capturing extreme sports, adventure travel, and high-stakes action through FPV drones excites me beyond words. I want to push the boundaries of what FPV cinematography can achieve and continue to grow as a creative professional.
Additionally, I hope to expand my work beyond just social media and commercial gigs. I want to contribute to larger projects&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s documentaries, feature films, or live sporting events. The possibilities for FPV drones are endless, and I plan to explore every avenue.
<h5>A Journey Just Beginning</h5>
When I first picked up an FPV drone, I had no idea where it would take me. What started as a childhood fascination with RC vehicles has turned into a full-fledged passion and career path. From scenic flights over the coast to capturing high-speed action shots, FPV flying has given me a perspective on the world that I never knew I needed.
To anyone considering getting into FPV drones&mdash;do it. It&rsquo;s a learning curve, no doubt, but the rewards are incredible. Whether it&rsquo;s for fun, for art, or for business, drone piloting has the power to transform the way you see the world.
For now, I&rsquo;ll keep flying, keep learning, and keep pushing myself to new heights. The sky is not the limit&mdash;it&rsquo;s just the beginning.
If you want to see more of my work, check out my Instagram: <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.instagram.com/shotzbyshew/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@shotzbyshew</a><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.instagram.com/shotzbyshew/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">.</a> See you in the skies!
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oSv4yKEwo9o?si=TZ0yd2tUMhyeqDH8" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9MbTKUT4owI?si=56ZLaSypo4nqMEd4" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<iframe style="width: 670px; height: 376px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YxVWom8gbDE?si=KTn4avd_P2e5dpXp" width="670" height="376" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;

Pilot Story: Shotzbyshew 

24 February 2025
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/v6GwSsNQKIDfbgVYHQPccyUiLVm7DhRH2NR09Kk2.jpg" alt="" width="119" height="88" />
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/dante-ramirez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Dante Ramirez</a>
Growing up, I never had a clear vision of what I wanted to do with my life. After high school, while many of my friends were packing their bags for college, I found myself standing still&mdash;uncertain and directionless. College never felt like the right path for me, not because I was afraid of hard work, but because I simply didn&rsquo;t know what I wanted to work toward. So, instead of rushing into something I wasn&rsquo;t sure about, I decided to take the time to figure it out.
That journey of self-discovery wasn&rsquo;t easy. It was filled with trial and error, highs and lows, moments of excitement, and plenty of frustration. But through it all, I discovered something invaluable: my passion for drones.
My first venture into the working world was with video editing. It started as a hobby&mdash;cutting together small clips, learning the ins and outs of different software, and spending countless hours on YouTube teaching myself the craft. Eventually, I managed to pick up a few small gigs for people. It felt rewarding to get paid for something I had taught myself, but the work was inconsistent, and I struggled to find clients. Each time I thought I was gaining momentum, it would slow down again. The feast-or-famine nature of freelancing was tough, and it left me feeling like I was constantly playing catch-up. Over time, I began putting together some videos that I was truly proud of, and I started to recognize the value of my growing skill set.
Looking for more stability, I pivoted into copywriting. I figured it was a skill I could learn and apply to businesses. I dove into research, read books, and practiced writing sales pages and ad copy. But after a few months, I realized something crucial: I didn&rsquo;t enjoy it. The work felt dry, and I wasn&rsquo;t excited about it. That was my first lesson in understanding that making money alone isn&rsquo;t enough&mdash;I needed to actually enjoy the work I was doing.
Still determined to find my path, I transitioned into social media management. This felt like it had more potential for creativity. I took on a few gigs, managing accounts, creating content, and even using some of my video editing skills to enhance brands&rsquo; online presence. For a while, it seemed promising. The money was decent, and I liked certain aspects of it. But once again, I hit a familiar wall&mdash;the struggle to find clients. And over time, the excitement faded. It started to feel more like a chore than a career I could see myself building. However, I gained something important from that experience. Combining my video editing skills with my understanding of social media, I learned how to create well-edited, captivating videos that grabbed attention and performed well online. I realized that knowing how to produce quality content was only part of the equation&mdash;understanding what resonates with audiences and how to package it for maximum impact was just as crucial.
Feeling a bit lost, I decided to try something completely different: door-to-door sales. I got a job selling solar panels. It was tough work&mdash;knocking on doors in the heat, facing rejection over and over again. I quickly realized that sales wasn&rsquo;t my calling. While I respect the hustle and the resilience it builds, I knew deep down it wasn&rsquo;t for me.
I was beginning to feel like I was running out of options&mdash;like I was destined to drift from job to job, always searching but never finding. Then, everything changed. I stumbled across the drone industry.
I can&rsquo;t remember exactly how I first discovered it&mdash;whether it was a YouTube video, an article, or a social media post&mdash;but I remember the feeling. It was different. When I looked at video editing, copywriting, or sales, my thought process had always been, &ldquo;I can do that.&rdquo; But with drones, it was, &ldquo;I want to do that.&rdquo; That subtle shift was everything.
The idea of flying drones for work&mdash;capturing stunning aerial footage, helping companies document progress, or assisting with inspections&mdash;lit something inside me. It combined creativity with technology, and it felt like something I could genuinely be passionate about. For the first time in a long while, I felt excited about my future.
As I started researching the drone industry, I quickly realized it was far bigger and more advanced than I had imagined. Drones weren&rsquo;t just cool toys; they were transforming industries. Construction, real estate, agriculture, insurance&mdash;the demand for skilled drone pilots was growing rapidly. But it wasn&rsquo;t just about flying for fun; it required certification and knowledge.
That&rsquo;s when I learned about the FAA Part 107 certification. I knew that if I was serious about making this my career, this was the first step. I buckled down, studied for about a month, and recently, I passed the test. It was a proud moment. It felt like I had finally taken a real, concrete step toward building something lasting.
Of course, passing the test was only the beginning. Now, I was facing a new challenge: figuring out where to start. The drone industry has so many different paths&mdash;real estate, construction progress monitoring, roof inspections, insurance documentation, mapping, and more. It was overwhelming at times, trying to decide which direction to go in.
I spent hours watching YouTube videos, reading online forums, and reaching out to other pilots to get a sense of the industry. I learned about the importance of building a portfolio and how offering free work to local businesses could be a great way to get my foot in the door. I started practicing with my drone, capturing footage of my own neighborhood, friends' properties, and anything I could think of to sharpen my skills and build confidence.
I also began networking within the drone community. I joined online groups, participated in forums, and started conversations with experienced pilots. I quickly realized that the drone community is filled with helpful, supportive individuals who are eager to see newcomers succeed. That sense of community gave me an added boost of motivation and made me feel like I was joining something much bigger than myself.
But I knew one thing: I was all in. This wasn&rsquo;t another experiment. This wasn&rsquo;t me dabbling to see if I liked it. This was my future.
While searching for ways to get started, I came across The Droning Company. I saw it as an opportunity&mdash;a platform to connect with others in the industry, showcase my skills, and hopefully, land those first few jobs that could kickstart my career. So, I signed up. And now, here I am&mdash;writing this pilot story.
I don&rsquo;t have decades of experience. I don&rsquo;t have a long list of clients or a massive portfolio. What I do have is hunger. I&rsquo;m a self-starter, a self-teacher, and I&rsquo;ve proven to myself that I can learn and adapt to anything. I&rsquo;m hardworking, honest, and reliable. Above all, I am driven by the desire to build a future for myself&mdash;one where I wake up every day excited to work, proud of what I do, and confident that I&rsquo;m creating a life I can be proud of.
I know the road ahead won&rsquo;t be easy. I know there will be setbacks and challenges. But I also know that this time, it&rsquo;s different. I finally found something I want to do. And that makes all the difference.
So, if you&rsquo;re a company looking for someone who will give it their all, who will show up ready to work, eager to learn, and committed to delivering high-quality results&mdash;I&rsquo;m your guy. Let&rsquo;s build something great together.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9wuFxtBW-jI?si=cW04H9ZpFUkUPLFR" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Pilot Story: Dante Ramirez

18 February 2025
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/vRlB5uYbwpY8d8cmJJZR9XGctqPjOMffU89wbPlu.jpg" alt="" width="109" height="103" />
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/dan-dierking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Dan Dierking</a>
My story begins going way back to about 1992&mdash;yes, I know, it shows my age (LOL). I starting flying R/C airplanes and helicopters in college. I joined a local R/C airplane club and I was immediately hooked. This was back in the day when there was only nitro powered aircraft using NiCad battery packs and AM/FM transmitters/receivers. You had to use frequency crystals in both the transmitter and the receiver in the aircraft. They both had to be on the same channel. If you were flying at a local R/C airplane club, no two aircraft could fly on the same channel at the same time. With today&rsquo;s technology, you just bind your aircraft to your controller. I built my first balsa airplane from a kit in my college dorm with the help of one of the veteran airplane club members in the club that I belonged to. It was a Carl Goldberg Eagle 2 high wing trainer. I&rsquo;ve belonged to several R/C airplane clubs over the years. I have even been the vice-president as well as president of a few of the clubs. I also taught a few people to fly R/C airplanes and at one point I was a sponsored R/C helicopter pilot for Gohbee, but unfortunately, they went out of business in 2009.&nbsp;
Around 2002, when I saw other people starting to mount point and shoot cameras on helicopters, I just had to give it a try. I started with a Thunder Tiger Raptor 50, then I moved up to a nitro powered Align TREX 600 then finally I moved up to a TREX 600E once electric helicopters became more streamlined. I also had an R/C kite that had a point and shoot camera mounted on it. Unfortunately, the kites are no longer being made. Next, I moved to tri-copters and then to quadcopters. That was before they were even called Drones. I&rsquo;ve mounted cameras on several airplanes over the years and even dabbled with long range flight using R/C wings as well.&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/FAWtL4zHPJepy6fD6I4WH4Gh94FLYd504itLgm2s.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="371" />
I&rsquo;ve always had a passion for flying as well as photography/videography. I started out in my aerial photography journey by taking photos of parks and neighborhood houses in my subdivision. Some of my first&nbsp;jobs included aerial photos of a BMX race track, churches, daycares and paint ball fields. Less than a year after the Part 107 certification came out which I believe was in 2016, I acquired my Part 107 certification in early 2017. I continued to do jobs on a part time basis as my full-time job as an IT Systems Administrator wouldn&rsquo;t allow me to go full time flying drones. I was never comfortable quitting my day job to do aerial photography/videography full time. I also obtained my Missouri Real Estate license twice, once back in 2003 and again in 2022. Mainly so I could pay myself to buy a new house. Again, I was never able to keep up with it and retain my realtor license due to my full-time job.&nbsp;
I also tend to switch around between different hobbies a lot. According to my wife, I have more hobbies than anyone she has ever known. I will get bored with one or more of my hobbies and switch to something else for a while. Here are just a few of the things I&rsquo;ve either done over the years or that I am currently doing: flying ultralights (a go-cart with wings), flying gyrocopters (what James Bond flew in the movie You Only Live Twice), performing as an amateur magician ( started performing magic in college as well to help me get over the fear of being in front of a crowd), flying R/C airplanes and helicopters (true me, I have owned quite a few over the years), racing R/C cars, FPV drone racing, 3D printing (which I still do the 3D print parts and accessories for my drone), sublimation printing, laser engraving with CO2 and fiber lasers, machine embroidery, pixel Christmas light displays, motorcycle riding and ATV riding. I always seem to come back to my drone aerial photography/videography. &nbsp;
Before I got into taking aerial photos and video, keeping up with the radio control theme, I raced R/C cars. I built a couple outdoor offroad race tracks and even a couple indoor offroad race tracks. The first being inside a greenhouse that had closed down and the second indoor race track was in an indoor archery range. Even though I thoroughly enjoyed racing R/C cars, it was a very competitive hobby, but flying R/C airplanes, helicopters and drones was my true passion.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve owned mainly DJI drones over the years including a DJI Phantom 1, DJI Phantom 4, DJI Mavic 2, and a DJI Inspire 1 V2. I&rsquo;ve also owned an Autel EVO II Pro, a 3DR Solo as well as a number of cinematic drones for doing indoor fly-through work including a&nbsp;DIATONE MXC Taycan duct 3-inch cinewhoop, a few BetaFPV and Emax cinewhoops as well as a few others. Currently I have a DJI mini 4 Pro, a DJI Neo and a DJI Avata 2 in my arsenal. My main focus is Real Estate, residential and commercial FPV flythroughs and construction, but we will see where things will take me.&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/ZXt4vdecV5S4YkIOBksZ9rtnF2xLTJxTgQDFPprP.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="446" />
I really enjoy taking aerial photos and videos for clients using my DJI Mini 4 Pro, but over the last few years I have preferred doing real estate fly throughs (residential and commercial) using my cinematography FPV type drones like my DJI Avanta 2 and my DJI Neo. I think some of the reasons are that the FPV drones are more challenging to fly and require more skill and are just not as common as regular aerial photography/videography.&nbsp;
A little bit more about me personally now. I have a prosthetic leg. I was born with a birth defect and had to have my right foot amputated when I was a year and a half old. I have been very fortunate and have never let it slow me down. Most people don&rsquo;t even notice I have an artificial leg. I have a BS degree in Industrial Technology (engineering). I got into this field as I am always tinkering with something. I am currently an IT Operations Manager for a small company in the St Louis, MO area. I&rsquo;m married to my very supportive wife. I have a 19 year old daughter in college and a 16 year old son in high school. I couldn&rsquo;t ask for any better kids. I also have two fur babies (cats). Annie is my very spoiled cat and Bella is my wife&rsquo;s cat, she&rsquo;s spoiled as well, LOL.&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve tried to retain a lot of photos and videos that I have taken over the years. Unfortunately, I haven&rsquo;t done the best job. I do have several videos on my YouTube channel, <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.youtube.com/@3dmanaerials" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/@3dmanaerials</a>. I hope to continue to do aerial photography/videography and indoor fly throughs for years to come. I&rsquo;ll continue to improve my flying skills to produce better&nbsp;results&nbsp;for my clients. I am very excited to see the future of this business. It will be interesting to see how the FAA shapes this industry with things like remote ID. My only hope is that these changes allow this industry to grow rather than hurt all of the Part 107 certified pilots.&nbsp;

Pilot Story: Dan Dierking

10 February 2025
<a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/desi-ekstein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Desiree Ekstein (a.k.a &ldquo;Drone Diva Desi&rdquo;)</a>
I didn&rsquo;t start in aviation or drones, my journey began as the owner of a successful but incredibly stressful event rental and coordination business. It was rewarding work, but I was ready for a change. I wanted something new, something exciting. That&rsquo;s when I discovered drones, starting with the AR Parrot. I&rsquo;ll be honest&mdash;it was a learning curve, full of flying and crashing, but I was hooked from the start.
When the FAA announced that drone operators needed a 333 Exemption to fly commercially, I jumped at the opportunity to get mine and began exploring the potential of unmanned aviation. At the time, obtaining a 333 Exemption meant having a private pilot&rsquo;s license, which I didn&rsquo;t have. To fulfill that requirement, I started training to fly a hot air balloon. However, a propane leak during one of those lessons made me pause and reevaluate my path. That&rsquo;s when I decided to hold off and wait for the FAA Part 107 certification to roll out instead&mdash;a much more accessible route for aspiring commercial drone pilots.
While waiting, I enrolled in a course through Gold Seal. The course started as general aviation training, but as I progressed, it transitioned into the FAA&rsquo;s Part 107 drone regulations. This process was a game-changer for me. It made me realize how important safety is in this industry and how critical it is to approach drone operations with professionalism and care. With my entrepreneurial mindset, I saw the massive potential in drones, and I wanted to learn everything I could.
Once I had my Part 107, I was fortunate to join a growing company exploring different industries, including agriculture, construction, and infrastructure inspection. Working across these verticals gave me an invaluable experience and fueled my passion for the endless possibilities drones offer.
But what really drives me is helping others. Seven years ago, I was given the incredible opportunity to lead the Girls Take Flight program. This role was a dream come true&mdash;empowering young women to explore aviation and STEM careers has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey. Through the program, the young ladies learn how to fly drones safely and build critical skill sets, including videography, professionalism, and understanding aviation regulations. They also have the opportunity to prepare for and take the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification exam.
One of the most exciting moments is when a 15-year-old passes the exam and must wait until they turn 16 to officially apply for their certificate. It&rsquo;s incredible to see their confidence grow and to know they are taking their first steps toward meaningful careers in the drone industry. Watching these young women develop their skills and realize their potential reminds me why this work is so important. The program has a lasting impact, opening doors to opportunities they may have never considered.
Today, I&rsquo;ve built a fleet of over 27 different types of drones, ranging from the tiny but mighty Babyhawk to large, powerful models like the M200 and Inspire 2. I also love the challenge of freestyle FPV. I&rsquo;m not great, but I get better every time I fly, and the thrill of improving keeps me coming back. Of course, technology keeps evolving, and right now, my favorite drone to fly is the DJI Air 3S&mdash;it&rsquo;s an incredible piece of equipment.
Over the years, my dedication and love for drones have helped shape my career in ways I couldn&rsquo;t have imagined. I&rsquo;m proud to be widely recognized as "Drone Diva Desi" and to have become a trailblazer in the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) field. As the founder of On The Go Video.biz, I provide specialized training and services in drone technology, video production, mapping, and 3D modeling. My experience as one of the first few women to receive the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate in 2016 cemented my role as an early advocate for the emerging drone industry.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/C0GXQpjXKoGcmhTQIcmYNG44SFJFA9jBvhOWs8Xd.jpg" alt="" width="485" height="372" />
Another cornerstone of my journey is the Coffee Connection. What began as an initiative to connect and support the UAS community has grown into a thriving live series, streaming across multiple platforms. As the host of Coffee Connection, I lead discussions on cutting-edge drone technology, safety regulations, and the personal stories of industry leaders. It&rsquo;s a space where experts and beginners alike can come together to learn, network, and share their passion for drones. Seeing the series grow and help foster a stronger, more connected community has been truly rewarding.
In addition to hosting Coffee Connection, I am also an Ambassador for Women and Drones, a role that allows me to advocate for greater representation, mentorship, and opportunities for women in the drone industry. Through this work, I support initiatives that promote diversity, professional growth, and community engagement, ensuring that the future of aviation and drone technology is inclusive and thriving.
My love for drones also ties into my passion for history and adventure. One of my favorite projects involves preserving the history of old mining sites. These off-road adventures take me (and my husband) deep into remote areas where I use drones to document structures that might otherwise be lost to time.&nbsp; There have been many memorable trips visiting forgotten mining towns in the desert. The crumbling buildings tell a story, and using drones, I capture detailed 3D models to ensure that this history is preserved. Projects like these combine my love for technology, exploration, and storytelling, making them some of the most fulfilling work I do.&nbsp; As my passion for these expeditions grows, I want to invite others to experience them with us.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge and offering both individual and corporate training, ensuring that drone operators understand not only the technology but also the importance of safety and regulations. I&rsquo;m also honored to serve as the UAS Lead FAASTeam Representative and a DronePro in San Diego, California, where I work to champion safe drone operations.
Beyond my work in the U.S., I&rsquo;ve had the privilege of speaking internationally and sharing insights on drone industry trends, regulations, and its future potential. I&rsquo;m also a published author, with works focusing on drone safety and industry best practices, reflecting my dedication to advancing education in this field.
I&rsquo;ve been humbled to be inducted into the Women in Emerging Aviation Technology Hall of Fame and to receive the FAA Part 107 Trailblazer Award, honors that represent my commitment to both innovation and safety in the drone industry.
From those first shaky flights with the AR Parrot to where I am today, my drone journey has been filled with challenges, growth, and incredible opportunities. Whether I&rsquo;m mentoring the next generation, flying my drone, or exploring new applications in the industry, my mission remains the same: to inspire, educate, and push the boundaries of what&rsquo;s possible with unmanned aviation.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/C13pcUaPc9R6eg57zL3aZvbIlAcP3JhdYb0h26Wh.jpg" alt="" width="459" height="344" />
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 665px; height: 374px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2qaQO-uU3yg?si=n2j3NL9QPmNX3P9q" width="665" height="374" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;

Pilot Story: Desiree Ekstein

22 January 2025
<div>
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/caleb-webb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">By Caleb Webb</a>
As a young person, I really never was sure what I wanted to do as I got older. I had a lot of ideas, but as a kid with a short attention span and a variety of hobbies that I liked to do, I changed my mind quite a bit.&nbsp;I&rsquo;ve had so many hobbies over the years, it is really not funny. From amateur radio to triathlon, I&rsquo;ve been quite an active young person.&nbsp;Fast forward a number of years: I&rsquo;m 19 years old now, and owner of a slowly growing aerial photography company in New Hampshire. But how in the world did I get into flying drones?&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
I remember always liking RC vehicles, helicopters, and planes. I remember having one old RC truck that I recall having quite a bit of fun with. But I especially liked the little helicopters. The first one I can remember in the house was a little green helicopter. I was probably too little to fly it, as I have no recollection of myself flying it. I think one of my family members ended up crashing it. A few years later, I remember buying my brother a little better RC helicopter, and soon thereafter, he got me one. Mine was red with a red and blue flashing light on the front of it.&nbsp;It took forever to charge and had about a 5&ndash;6-minute&nbsp;battery life at best. I remember having a lot of enjoyment with that.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
Fast forward another few years. My brother and I were older, and one of my brother&rsquo;s dreams had been to fly real airplanes.&nbsp;Ever since he was little, he had a love for aviation. And so, at 18, my brother began to take flying lessons. This is where I was really introduced to aviation.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
Around this same time, my brother got me a little quadcopter for Christmas (which, by the way, I still have). This was my first &ldquo;drone.&rdquo; It had a little camera with no gimbal on the front, and a positioning camera on the bottom. It had an app that could be connected to a phone to have a live view, and&nbsp;had a battery life of about 8 minutes. I remember&nbsp;flying it around the house. I thought it was so cool, but it was very hard to fly, as the positioning system was terrible on it, and it had a tendency to drift a lot. It was almost impossible to fly and turn the drone without hitting something. I remember the first time I flew it outside. I flew it straight up about maybe 50 feet, did a few flips, and then brought it down and landed it on the beach, where I got sand in the motors.&nbsp;
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/reRTVgbiomISgGIQvgHet34C78PfegICD2t1wo87.jpg" alt="" width="454" height="340" />
</div>
<div>
Now during this time, my brother had gotten his private pilot&rsquo;s license and was working towards his instrument rating. But in the meantime, one of his flight instructors recommended that he get his Part 107 drone license. For an already licensed airplane pilot, it was really easy: an open book test. I guess they figure you already know a lot of the rules of the airspace and so on. So,&nbsp;he got his license. I remember my dad talking with him and looking at drones and discussing with him the possibility of flying a drone for money. However, that never went anywhere. He was far more interested in manned aviation. However, it was about this time that I started looking at the Part 107 and thinking, &ldquo;Hmmm...that is cool. I&rsquo;d love to do that.&rdquo; I also read that I only had to be 16 to get my Part 107. I decided that is what I wanted to do: start an aerial photography service.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
So, I bought the 2022 study book&nbsp;and 2-year&nbsp;practice testing software license&nbsp;from ASA. I was 17 at the time. I began to study it, and&nbsp;was quite excited. However, I started to get busy. I was working in the summer, as&nbsp;well as developing as a runner, so I had a lot going on. And then my senior year of high school came. I was home schooled, and had a difficult and rigid curriculum. Just as a note: I am not complaining at all; I&rsquo;m actually very thankful for the above average education I received, even though it was a lot of work. But, my drone studies kind of fell apart. I would look at the book and think, &ldquo;Oh, I&rsquo;ll study&nbsp;for that.&rdquo; But then I never seemed to, except for rare occasions. I kept setting goals for myself to get my Part 107 license, but it just kept getting pushed farther and farther out.&nbsp;
After graduation, I kind of just decided that I was going to get my license.&nbsp;I started studying again. Then I remembered that I had never activated my 2-year&nbsp;license. So,&nbsp;I hopped on the computer and did so. My first practice test I took, I believe I passed&nbsp;(although it was close). I couldn&rsquo;t believe it. I took many more over until I was constantly passing them with good grades. I&nbsp;then&nbsp;decided that I was going to get my license&nbsp;ASAP. I only took the practice exams for about a month before I took my actual test.&nbsp;I remember being nervous as the instructor got the grade for the test, for I&nbsp;was worried I had failed. Thankfully, my hard work had paid off, and I passed with flying colors&nbsp;in&nbsp;October 2023. I pulled out that little quadcopter and took it outside. It was a little difficult, for the wind was a little too high for it. First, it blew into the neighbor&rsquo;s yard; then, it nearly blew into my dad&rsquo;s truck. So,&nbsp;I couldn&rsquo;t use it outside.
In the meantime, I had been looking at what drone to buy. I was looking at the DJI Mini 3 Pro and Mini 4 Pro, as well as the DJI Air 3. I also ran across the Autel&nbsp;Robotics Evo II Pro and Yuneec Typhoon H+. But my dad and I were discussing what I should get, and the conclusion we came to was to buy a cheap drone to learn on. After all, we thought, if drones are as hard to fly as that quadcopter, I don&rsquo;t want to be&nbsp;buying a thousand dollar&nbsp;drone and crashing it.&nbsp;So, to Walmart we went.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
I am happy to say that my first drone was not I what I was originally expecting to buy. I ended up buying a DJI Mini 2 SE. I absolutely loved that drone. Very user friendly, and at the time, I thought the camera was absolutely amazing. (You really can&rsquo;t complain about it for the price.) Although, within a couple of months I realized I would need a better drone for higher quality YouTube videos and so on&nbsp;and the work that I was hoping to soon get. I ended up buying the Autel&nbsp;Evo II Pro V2. It isn&rsquo;t the V3, but it is still an impressive drone.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
About the time I bought the Evo II Pro, I decided to form an LLC by the name of&nbsp;New England Aerial Photography, LLC. Combine&nbsp;the old-fashioned work ethic that my dad and grandfather instilled into me&nbsp;with my desire to work for myself,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I was determined to make it happen. I made a website, bought business cards, went around to realtors, made cold calls, and sent out emails. Unfortunately, there was really nothing solid from anybody. I got either no response, or they just said nice things to me, probably to make me feel better since I am young. But one chimney company did take me on. I remember my first job I did for them. I&nbsp;charged too little, but it was perfectly okay. That was the first $100 of my business.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
I ended up buying a regular camera for real estate, but I still got nothing. However, after talking to&nbsp;a close friend of mine who was a realtor, he said he would use me if I invested in a software&nbsp;called Matterport&nbsp;which&nbsp;does virtual 3D tours. He said it would be a couple thousand-dollar&nbsp;investment, which&nbsp;I was in no shape to do that at that time, even though I was working part-time. However, something came up. I found out that far cheaper Insta360 cameras are just as capable of performing Matterport tours&nbsp;as the expensive Matterport brand cameras.
I ended up buying an Insta360 One RS 1 for doing Matterport, and it has more than paid for itself. Sure enough, he took me on, and it really helped out when another friend of mine, who had been doing the drone work for my realtor friend, sold me his drone which was a DJI Mavic 3 Classic that had hardly been flown with a bunch of accessories for a very good price. My realtor friend has been using me ever since. The final drone I ended up buying was the Autel Evo Lite Enterprise 640T, which came out a few months ago.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
Well, to close out, I have had my ups and downs as I develop this business. I have had many frustrations. This business is far from supportive for me. I have to work another job, but they are very flexible, and allow me to take off whenever I need to, as my business is priority&nbsp;to me.&nbsp;It takes a lot of work and sweat, but I have confidence that my hard work is going to pay off. My ultimate goal is to work full time as a drone pilot.&nbsp;Nothing worthwhile ever came easy to anybody, and I believe that I am no exception.&nbsp;As of this writing I am currently planning on getting my thermal certification within the next couple of months&nbsp;(March 2025),&nbsp;and&nbsp;I look forward to the doors that that will open for&nbsp;me.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
I am willing to travel to complete a job. My goal is to provide the best possible product for the customer, while being safe, professional, honest, and FAA compliant. I currently use SkyWatch&nbsp;hourly drone insurance, which&nbsp;covers me up to $1,000,000 in liability.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
As an end note, I hope that this story has been interesting. Maybe there are other pilots reading this that are in my shoes. If so, keep up the good work, and don&rsquo;t give up. It will pay off in the end if you stick with it. If you are an experienced drone pilot reading this and see&nbsp;areas where I can improve, PLEASE stop reading, go to my profile, get my contact information, and tell me where I can improve. I&rsquo;m always open for tips and pointers on how&nbsp;to do better.&nbsp;
</div>
<div>
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Here's to safe flying and clear skies!
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 665px; height: 374px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F6SXSpKKW-M?si=z_Jo-VYxxnCtvcqt" width="665" height="374" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<iframe style="width: 663px; height: 372px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eWvesBj5QwU?si=qFV43Cf4Pofrq0K3" width="663" height="372" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;
</div>

Pilot Story: Caleb Webb

20 January 2025
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/KlVMUtTFAZL3Xboc2BxURXlg4HpY86NUx7Q1K28A.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="130" />
By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/nathan-mantor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Mantor</a>
I am a Nashville-based photographer and FAA-certified drone pilot with a passion for capturing dynamic, high-quality images. My career has been shaped by a deep appreciation for lighting, composition, and technology, and has evolved over the years from wedding and family photography to specializing in real estate and aerial imagery. Along the way, I have learned the value of perseverance, continuous learning, and a willingness to embrace new tools and techniques.
Like many photographers, I began my career in the world of wedding and family photography. However, it wasn&rsquo;t long before I discovered a new passion&mdash;architectural and interior photography. One day, while browsing online, I came across a website that showcased stunning images of interiors. What struck me most wasn&rsquo;t just the subject matter, but the way lighting and composition were used to bring life to inanimate objects. These photos were far from the typical static shots one might expect; they were filled with drama, texture, and depth.
Having always been fascinated by the impact of lighting in photography, I was immediately drawn to the idea of applying dramatic lighting techniques to architectural subjects. I began experimenting with lighting setups, focusing on how different angles, shadows, and artificial light sources could transform spaces. The ability to make something as mundane as a room or a piece of furniture appear dynamic and full of life felt like a new creative frontier.
Inspired by the images I saw online, I purchased a wide-angle lens&mdash;a tool that would help me capture more expansive scenes with greater clarity and detail. I then found myself referred to a local real estate photography company that specialized in photographing houses for sale. At the time, the company primarily employed a small number of full-time photographers, with many part-timers who worked on an as-needed basis to fill scheduling gaps. I was brought on as a part-time photographer, tasked with going to properties, shooting the images, and uploading them on the same day for the editing team to handle.
While the work itself was fulfilling in many ways, the process was not exactly what I had envisioned. The company&rsquo;s model meant that I had little to no control over the final images. As someone who was passionate about the creative side of photography and wanted to have a hand in how the photos looked, this arrangement didn&rsquo;t quite meet my aspirations. I knew that in order to fully express my creative vision, I would need to take matters into my own hands.
Determined to improve the quality of my real estate work, I began to seek out ways to refine my technique. One of the most valuable resources I found was YouTube, where several real estate photographers shared tips and tutorials on how to capture images with the style I admired. I soon realized that the photographers who achieved the polished, dramatic look I was drawn to didn&rsquo;t rely solely on bracketing images and merging them together. Instead, they used flash to control the light in a way that made every element of a room stand out. This was a pivotal moment in my journey&mdash;I understood that the key to achieving my desired results was mastering artificial lighting.
With a new focus on lighting and advanced techniques, I began practicing diligently. Nashville, at the time, was a rapidly growing city with a booming real estate market, particularly in the Airbnb sector. Recognizing the opportunity, I took test shots of my own home as well as a custom home my father had built. With the addition of these images to my portfolio, I relaunched my website and began receiving inquiries from Airbnb hosts looking to have their properties photographed.
This marked the beginning of the transition into full-time real estate and Airbnb photography. As Airbnb properties became increasingly popular in Nashville, demand for high-quality property photos grew. What had started as a small side gig soon turned into a thriving business. I found that the ability to capture spaces in a way that showcased their unique features&mdash;using creative lighting, composition, and storytelling&mdash;was a skill that set me apart from other photographers.
As real estate photography continued to evolve, I kept a close eye on emerging trends. It quickly became apparent that drones were no longer just a novelty in the real estate industry&mdash;they were quickly becoming a must-have tool. Aerial shots added a new perspective, allowing potential buyers or renters to see not only the property but its surrounding environment. As a result, those who didn&rsquo;t offer drone photography services were being left behind.
Having always been a fan of technology, I embraced the idea of incorporating drone photography into my skill set. My first drone, a DJI Spark, was an affordable entry point into the world of aerial photography. While the Spark was an excellent learning tool, it didn&rsquo;t take long for me to encounter the steep learning curve that comes with flying drones. I quickly learned the importance of careful planning, and how crucial it was to understand both the technical and safety aspects of drone operation.
One of the lessons learned the hard way came when I crashed my DJI Spark into a tree. I realized that taking off in obstructed areas, coupled with running the battery down, could lead to disaster&mdash;especially when trying to rely on the drone&rsquo;s &ldquo;return to home&rdquo; function. Though this was a frustrating setback, it provided valuable insight into the complexities of drone photography.
The next step in my drone journey came when I sought to upgrade to a more reliable and capable model. After conducting research, I discovered a significant deal on a GoPro drone, which came bundled with a GoPro camera and a handheld stabilizer. At first, this seemed like the perfect solution for combining photo, video, and drone capabilities in one package. Unfortunately, the GoPro drone turned out to be a massive disappointment. Known for its inability to maintain a strong signal and prone to sudden, unexplained crashes, it wasn&rsquo;t long before I experienced this firsthand.
Realizing that GoPro drones were notorious for this issue, I promptly returned the faulty equipment and purchased a DJI Phantom instead. The Phantom quickly proved to be a far more reliable tool. After flying it for a while and becoming comfortable with its capabilities, I knew it was time to take the next step&mdash;earning my FAA Part 107 certification.
Obtaining a Part 107 certification was a significant milestone for me, especially given my self-admitted difficulty with traditional tests. The knowledge required to pass the exam was challenging&mdash;questions focused not only on drone operation but also on topics like aviation law, weather patterns, and flight safety, areas far outside my usual expertise. However, I persevered, utilizing resources like YouTube and the RemotePilot101 course to study. When I finally passed the exam, it was a huge moment of pride&mdash;especially since it validated my specialized skills and set me apart from others who might be flying without proper certification.
Becoming a certified drone pilot opened up new opportunities and further cemented a place in the industry. Though there are hundreds of thousands of certified drone pilots in the U.S., the fact that I had achieved this distinction gave me a sense of belonging to a specialized group. It also gave me the confidence to continue pushing my business forward.
Currently, I fly two DJI Mavic Pro 3 drones. My philosophy is that it's important to have a backup on hand in case something goes wrong with the primary drone&mdash;both for the sake of my business and the client experience. As I continue to refine my photography, I am exploring ways to expand my offerings. In 2025, I plans to integrate thermal imaging into my services, which would allow me to offer specialized photography for a variety of industries, including construction, home inspections, and energy audits.
I am eyeing new technology, including the Matrice 4 drone, which promises even greater capabilities. Just as I once took a chance on purchasing my first wide-angle lens, I am excited about what the future holds and the possibilities that new gear and techniques can bring.
With years of experience in real estate photography, architectural photography, and drone services, I am always looking for new ways to innovate and push the boundaries of what&rsquo;s possible. As the industry continues to evolve, I remain committed to growing my skill set and offering my clients the best possible experience. Whether it&rsquo;s capturing stunning aerial shots of a property, creating dramatic interior shots, or expanding into new fields like thermal imaging, I am dedicated to staying at the cutting edge of the photography world.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
<iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZOi4c8J3kAw?si=D5Ai1ebGwl9FgEaG" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<iframe style="width: 667px; height: 375px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/duuwwNIo2yE?si=KcjnKHRYQCacb3BA" width="667" height="375" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
&nbsp;

Trending News Pilots StoriesPilot Story: Keonntay Watts

Trending News Pilots StoriesPilot Story: Joshua Walton

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Malik Norman

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Jason G. Sherblom

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Shotzbyshew

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Dante Ramirez

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Dan Dierking

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Desiree Ekstein

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Caleb Webb

Featured News Trending NewsPilot Story: Nathan Mantor