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<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>20 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/KlVMUtTFAZL3Xboc2BxURXlg4HpY86NUx7Q1K28A.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="130" /></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/nathan-mantor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nathan Mantor</a></strong></span></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><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></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><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></strong></span></p>
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Pilot Story: Nathan Mantor

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>13 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><a href="https://skymagic.show/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Skymagic</strong></span></a> has truly upped the drone-show game with its stunning laser drones, which were developed along with <a href="https://www.lightelectric.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Light Electric</strong></span></a>.</p>
<p>The new tech dropped at&nbsp;a the <a href="https://www.grucci.com/home.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Fireworks by Grucci </strong></span></a>New Year&rsquo;s Eve show at Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. In a fleet of 1,400 conventional LED drones, 47 of the new laser drones were added to the production.&nbsp;</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/s2jqIM2QCu2f8sWfd09nUYGwp5BEgPkU7avCWdXH.png" alt="" width="315" height="257" /></p>
<p>In a message on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-o-mahony-2b04126_lazers-drones-eventprofs-activity-7282305012150464512-WrA7?utm_source=social_share_sheet&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>LinkedIn</strong></span></a>, Skymagic cofounder and director Patrick O'Mahony shared: "The Laser Drone is here. On 31 December 2024 at Ras Al Khaimah Skymagic Drone Shows took to the sky with our new Laser Drone. This new swarm drone developed by Skymagic in collaboration with Light Electric is a major technical revolution in the use of swarm drones to tell stories in the night&rsquo;s sky."</p>
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<p>Previewed during a discussion at SWSW 2023, the laser drones are now ready for primetime in 2025 and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<div class="text-body-medium break-words" data-generated-suggestion-target="urn:li:fsu_profileActionDelegate:-1108296204"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/patrick-o-mahony-2b04126_lazers-drones-eventprofs-activity-7282305012150464512-WrA7?utm_source=social_share_sheet&amp;utm_medium=member_desktop_web" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Click here to see a short video of the laser drone on LinkedIn</strong></span></a>.</div>
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Skymagic Astounds with Pioneering Laser Drones

<p><strong><span style="color: #34495e;">[Above photo courtesy of L.A. County Fire Dept.]</span></strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>10 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p>The FAA reported yesterday it is investigating an unauthorized drone that crashed into the wing of an L.A. County Super Scooper firefighting aircraft over the Palisades fire.</p>
<p>Happily, the fire department aircraft was able to land safely.</p>
<p>"Aerial looky-loos" seeking to capture stunning footage of the Los Angeles fires are dangerously impeding the efforts of firefighters and other first responders. The FAA has issued the following reminder:&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a federal crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to interfere with firefighting efforts on public lands. Additionally, the FAA can impose a civil penalty of up to $75,000 against any drone pilot who interferes with wildfire suppression, law enforcement or emergency response operations."</p>
<p>Sadly, someone has already caused an incident over the Palisades fire, damaging and grounding the aforementioned Super Scooper when it is obviously needed to bring the fight to the fires.</p>
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<div id="google_ads_iframe_/21787098806/web.latimes/california/story_inline_1_0__container__">Despite FAA and FBI warnings, drone pilots are capturing and sharing photos of fire devastation via social media.</div>
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<div id="google_ads_iframe_/21787098806/web.latimes/california/story_inline_2_1__container__">While drone pilots can apply for waivers to fly in restricted airspace, the FAA has not granted any.</div>
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<div>"Due to the number of manned firefighting aircraft in the airspace, we are currently not able to accommodate drone flights with the TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction)," said an FAA spokesperson.</div>
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<div>The FAA also announced the TFR near the wildfires has been extended until January 23.</div>
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<div>To our <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>The Droning Company</strong></span> community&mdash;Please stay out of the affected airspace and let firefighters do their job safely and unimpeded. This tragic fire needs to be contained by professionals&mdash;not documented by unauthorized social-media content providers.&nbsp;</div>
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Small Drone Smashes into Super Scooper Aircraft Over Palisades fire

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>10 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/OImUURVXnsELMUf3Yy4zOQCfxHRD0OPQeadwZ8d2.jpg" alt="" width="111" height="108" /></em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By <a href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/pilot/adrian-pueyo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adrian Pueyo</a></strong></span></p>
<p class="p1">If you told me during my childhood that I would get to fly drones and travel, I would probably get excited but I still wouldn&rsquo;t believe you as I thought I had a very different path in life. I would probably laugh it off if anyone told me I would be starting my own company. I always had a passion for aviation, video games, and I had the goals to travel and fly as often as I could.</p>
<p class="p1">As a child I would constantly get my hands on anything RC or anything to do with planes and aviation. I would constantly play <em>Galaga</em> or <em>Gradius III,</em> and eventually I would try to sneak some time in on my grandfather&rsquo;s Microsoft <em>Flight Simulator</em>. I would also constantly window shop at Radio Shack and daydream about what I could play or get my hands on.</p>
<p class="p1">Eventually I got my hands on those small RC helicopters and hand-thrown foam planes that you could get at the flea market, and as one can imagine, they would break just as quickly as I got them. This would then lead to a repeated cycle of me buying these every chance I would get and then having a pile of broken components with no real means or ways to fix them. My parents thought these were a distraction to my studies at the time and so this was a hobby I would pursue quietly.</p>
<p class="p1">I was born to Peruvian immigrants who came out to the United States to give me a better life and they had the expectations that I would learn and study to do something in pre-law, pre-med, or pre-rich. It was in their minds that I would be a professional and that anything with video games or playing with my RC toys was a distraction and it was difficult for them to see the returns on these skills.</p>
<p class="p1">After high school I then joined the workforce with some clear goals in mind&mdash;get my own RC equipment, get my own camera drone, and learn to fly so I could travel the world. I went to college and attended with no real focus in mind and then I held a variety of jobs with no real progress towards my goals. I eventually decided to join the military as I then knew that would get me to travel and then I could also buy my own equipment.</p>
<p class="p1">I joined the Marines in 2016 and then served at a Marine Air Base for my military service. I bought my own RC equipment and then I bought some drones from Walmart and started practicing. I wanted to buy DJI at the time, but then owning a drone on base became problematic so I would stick to the drones I had at the time. I also looked at flight lessons at the time but decided to save it for after the military.</p>
<p class="p1">After the military I then began my pursuit for my private pilot certificate, and with a fresh start out of the militar,y I thought I could do it all. This was in January 2020, and as we remember a few months later, the pandemic lockdowns began.</p>
<p class="p1">Fortunately, aviation was a critical skill and flight schools shortly reopened after the initial lockdowns. During lockdown, I then got my hands on a used Mavic Air and practiced flying recreationally and getting my skills as a remote pilot to de-stress and unwind after my lessons flying Piper Archers. I would also watch other pilots and drone pilots on youtube and their experiences during downtime on my night shifts as a security guard for the Riverside Regional Transit Agency.</p>
<p class="p1">I was constantly burning the candle at every end. I would work as a Flight Dispatcher for the college whenever I could, I would fly during the afternoons, and work as a security guard at night. I would squeeze in drones any chance I could get.</p>
<p class="p1">It wasn&rsquo;t until 2021, where one of my best friends from college taught me about how he was making money using drones and how he obtained his Part 107. I was in full testing mode when I learned about the Part 107, so I wanted to wait to get it until after I completed my Private Pilot Certificate. After I got my Private Pilot Certificate I then began studying for my Part 107 concurrently with starting my lessons for Instrument flight. I then learned that as an existing Part 61 pilot that one could get their Part 107 by taking an online training course through the FAA Safety Team website. It was a lengthy course, but it felt like the shortest course I ever took, and I then took the completed course to my current CFI who then endorsed me. I then received my Part 107 in the mail a few weeks after and then the true journey began.</p>
<p class="p1">I worked with my friend while in college and learned how to apply the Phantom 4 Pro to many different types of work and learned how it was used in construction. I then began my deepdive into its many other applications that one could use the orthomosaics for and how to get the most out of one drone. I also bought an EXO Ranger for fun and learned about the differences and limitations between drones and what I could accomplish with each one.</p>
<p class="p1">My friend and I were also members of the drone club at my college and it was all over in the blink of an eye. I graduated from California Baptist University with a Bachelor&rsquo;s in Aviation Flight in 2022, and then got my job as a Flight Dispatcher at REACH Air Medical right after.</p>
<p class="p1">At that point, I didn&rsquo;t really know how to turn the dial down, as I kept finding ways to make money by taking on jobs through pilot networks and going door to door in my free time. I also ended up pursuing my Master&rsquo;s in Commercial Aviation from Delta State University that same year. I then began to get my own first contracts in construction and I found myself in a similar pattern at the Bachelor&rsquo;s level. I worked Dispatch at night, drones during the day, and I would then study during any downtime and would research on how to form my own LLC and what drones/equipment to use in order to get more work and how to make operations safer/more efficient.</p>
<p class="p1">After months of working as a subcontractor and getting gigs, my son was born and during parental leave I then formed my own LLC. I then continued to get more contracts and more work, which finally led me to reaching a breaking point. I could no longer balance a double work life and family life. I was on a ranch job, mapping to help create GEO zones for a harness. During the scenic and peaceful work I dreaded returning to the office and thought enough was enough.</p>
<p class="p1">I handed in my notice on April Fool&rsquo;s Day (without realizing what day I had actually handed my resignation in) and then worked my final days asI began my transition to becoming a full time business owner and operator.</p>
<p class="p1">I took the leap of faith in my drone business in 2024, and have continually made small successes. I now aim to be Sacramento&rsquo;s Drone Guy, and have continued to network and make my name known around the Sacramento Region. My family now sees me pursuing my passions and they ask about what jobs have I taken or what new places have I seen due to my work.</p>
<p class="p1">I now get to work with some of the best people and learn from others who are like minded, as well as get more involved in the world of drones and technology. I still fly Cessnas and the occasional Piper Archer from time to time. I am now pursuing a GIS certificate, as well, so I can better understand how to better apply drone technology. If there is one thing I have learned in my journey so far, it is that the more I learn, it is that I realize how much I don&rsquo;t know.</p>
<h5 class="p1"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><iframe style="width: 668px; height: 376px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bPvFnuBnX5o?si=2DBmU7i51FbRQlt5" width="668" height="376" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></strong></span></p>
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Pilot Story: Adrian Pueyo

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>09 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p>The 37-year-old Green Beret who blew up a rented Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump Towers in Las Vegas left an apparent PTSD-fueled manifesto claiming the mysterious drone sightings of the past few months have originated from the Chinese.</p>
<p>In notes and emails discovered by the FBI, Matthew Livelsberger&mdash;who took his own life by gunshot before the Cybertruck exploded&mdash;explained his actions as a "wake-up call" for the United States, as well as stating his distress over fallen comrades and the lives he took in combat.&nbsp;</p>
<p>His writings also made unsubstantiated claims regarding the drone sightings that have bedeviled U.S. infrastructure&mdash;especially in an email he allegedly sent to <em><span class="skimlinks-unlinked">Military.com.</span></em></p>
<p>"What we have been seeing with 'drones' is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the U.S," said Livelsberger. "The so what is because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned AC. They are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the White House if they wanted. It's checkmate."</p>
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<p>As investigations continue to try to accurately explain the mystery drone appearances, the episodes obviously weighed heavily on Livelsberger's mind, prompting the unproven statements in his manifesto.</p>
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<div class="rPeykc" data-hveid="CAMQAQ" data-ved="2ahUKEwj70sXBvemKAxXGLkQIHcx6O84Qo_EKegQIAxAB"><span data-huuid="3527302979010539586">According to the&nbsp;<span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a class="uVhVib" style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_veterans.asp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Center for PTSD</a></strong></span>,&nbsp;<mark class="QVRyCf">approximately 7 percent</mark> of veterans experience PTSD at some point in their lives. </span><span data-huuid="3527302979010543137">This is slightly higher than the 6% of adults in the general population who experience PTSD.<span class="UV3uM"> At 23 percent, the figure is significantly higher for veterans who utilize VA health care. In addition, veterans account for 20 percent of the suicides in the United States.</span></span></div>
<div class="rPeykc" data-hveid="CAMQAQ" data-ved="2ahUKEwj70sXBvemKAxXGLkQIHcx6O84Qo_EKegQIAxAB">
<h5 class="Gur8Ad"><span style="color: #ba372a;" data-huuid="6609783928155121519"><strong>Veterans Crisis Line</strong></span></h5>
<div class="vM0jzc"><span data-huuid="6609783928155120998">If you feel you are suffering from PTSD, or are in danger of self harm, please call 988, then press "1" to speak with a responder qualified to assist Veterans. </span><span data-huuid="6609783928155120477">You can also text 838255 or chat online with the Veterans Crisis Line.</span></div>
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Cybertruck Bomber "Solves" Mystery Drone Sightings

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>06 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Gwyneth Paltrow may be an oracle of eroding international relationships...</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">The actress' popularization of author Katherine Woodward Thomas' term "conscious uncoupling" can soon be applied to the what appears to be a growing "tech divorce" between China and the United States.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Well, except when applied to human relationships, "conscious uncoupling" speaks to applying compassion and respect as a romantic partnership ends. The impending U.S. and China uncoupling over drones and other technology, however, appears to quite a bit fraught, and even <em>meaner</em>.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">America's threat to ban DJI&mdash;and other Chinese manufactured&mdash;drones has continued, despite some governmental ebbs and flows, as well as hope from most of the drone community that DJI's typically affordable and techologically advanced UAVs be marketed in this country unscathed. The nation's first responders, for example, could be significantly compromised if forced to switch from DJI models to more expensive American-made drones.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Recently, President Joe Biden supported cutting China out of the U.S. drone trade&mdash;a move that obviously wouldn't be enacted (if at all) until president-elect Donald Trump's administration.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">But China hasn't taken the threat quietly.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Mere hours after Biden's announcement, Beijing mandated export bans on 28 American corporations, including defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Boeing.&nbsp;</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Oh, and China has cited U.S. concerns regarding "national security" as their own reason for the export ban. "Payback is fair play," anyone?</span></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>You Have a Voice</strong></span></h5>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">Whatever your opinions on whether DJI drones actually pose a risk to our national security, the <a href="https://www.bis.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>U.S. Department of Commerce&rsquo;s Bureau of Industry and Security</strong></span></a> is asking for public commentary on a potential ruling to ban Chinese drones. Deadline is March 4, 2025. <a href="https://www.bis.gov/press-release/commerce-issues-advance-notice-proposed-rulemaking-secure-unmanned-aircraft-systems" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO</strong></span></a>.</span></p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Battle of the Drones</strong></span></h5>
<p>While the United States reportedly has the largest combat drone fleet on the globe with 13,000 UAVs at the ready, China's drone tech&mdash;especially in the area of AI and its deployment for warfare&mdash;is seen as not just fierce competition, but also as a threat to the U.S. forces in a confrontation with Beijing over the Indo-Pacific region. <span lang="EN-GB">The U.S. Defense Department has warned that &ldquo;China&rsquo;s development of new unmanned aerial vehicle capabilities for military use is rapidly catching up to the United States&rsquo; own advancements in the technology.&rdquo;</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">In fact, China's MD-19 military drone, recognized as a "ground-breaking" platform that can fly at supersonic speed and land horizontally, shows clearly that Beijing is investing in speedier, brainier, and more battlefield adaptible drones.</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN-GB">As for the potential of a U.S. ban on DJI drones, the Chinese foreign ministry has stated the country will "take all necessary measures to firmly defend its legitimate and lawful rights and interests."</span></p>
<p>In addition, China's state media, <em>The Global Times</em>, has commented that "the world economy has already become too deeply integrated for protectionist measures to remove cost-effective products from the market to succeed."</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 681px; height: 383px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/25d8qpXuZB8?si=y_1p87JyJiSRwTAH" width="681" height="383" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>

Drone Wars: China Fights Back

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>02 January 2025</em></span></p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Incredibly, those mystery drones are still coming to New Jersey, and the FAA is adding more restricted flight zones to the state.</p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The current total is 57 temporary drone-flight restrictions in New Jersey towns&mdash;all of which should be in affect for approximately three weeks. The FAA has stated the restrictions were enacted "at the request of federal security partners," as security concerns continue regarding the safety of critical infrastructure.</p>
<p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The current list of New Jersey towns were the FAA has restricted drone flights are:</p>
<ul class="gnt_ar_b_ul">
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Absecon</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Atlantic Highlands</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Avenel</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bayonne</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bayville</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bedminster</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Belford (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Branchburg</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Brick (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Bridgewater (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Burlington</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Camden</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Cedar Grove</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Clifton</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Colts Neck</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Columbus</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Delran</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Edison</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Elizabeth</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Evesham</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Fort Hancock</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Gloucester City</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Hamilton</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Hancocks Bridge</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Harrison</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Highlands</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Howell</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Jersey City</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Kearny</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Lebanon</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Linden (4 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Metuchen</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Neptune</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">North Brunswick Township</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Paulsboro (2 sections)</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Perth Amboy</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Pleasantville</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Port Reading</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Sewaren</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Short Hills</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Somerset</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">South Brunswick</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">South Kearny</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Wall Township</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">West Brick</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">West Creek</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">West Deptford</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Westampton</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Westville</li>
<li class="gnt_ar_b_ul_li">Winslow</li>
</ul>
<p>While the continuing sightings remain mysterious, President-Elect Donald Trump said in a news conference two weeks ago that "the government knows what is happening."&nbsp;</p>
<p>Unfortunately, no one is sharing the data with The Droning Company or anyone else.</p>
<p>Maybe UFOs <em>do</em> exist.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>See the Trump Press Conference</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h-vYp6Q-38Y?si=Sd-Z1uBKALo6Plhi" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

FAA Restricts More Drone Airspace in New Jersey

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>27 December 2024</em></span></p>
<p>President-Elect Donald Trump's choice to lead the Department of Government Efficiency is no military expert&mdash;and he evaded South Africa's mandatory service in that country's armed forces&mdash;but Elon Musk nonetheless sees the future of airborne combat.</p>
<p>It's not about fighter pilots and manned jets.</p>
<p>Yesterday, Musk posted on X:&nbsp;"America needs a large quantity of long-range drones (air, surface water &amp; submarine) and hypersonic missiles. Anything manned will die very fast in a drone war."&nbsp;</p>
<p>The recent post follows similar thoughts he shared on the site last month:&nbsp;"Future wars are all about drones &amp; hypersonic missiles. Fighter jets piloted by humans will be destroyed very quickly."</p>
<p>Musk is also no fan of the F-35 fighter, which he calls a "sh*t design."</p>
<p>"The F-35 design was broken at the requirements level, because it was required to be too many things to too many people," Musk stated in a November post. "This made it an expensive &amp; complex jack of all trades, master of none. Success was never in the set of possible outcomes. And manned fighter jets are obsolete in the age of drones anyway. Will just get pilots killed."&nbsp;</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>How Bad IS the F-35 Fighter?</strong></span></h5>
<p><iframe style="width: 674px; height: 379px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bSS0JbWczAQ?si=FTMVtK5DCIWi6TtS" width="674" height="379" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p><iframe style="width: 670px; height: 377px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fX3HG4mw32o?si=aj2-nOPrq7pZimFB" width="670" height="377" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>Whatever one's opinion on the F-35 and other manned combat jets, Musk&mdash;along with likely tons of The Droning Company community&mdash;sees that drones offer mission-critical advantages without significant risk to pilots, and that the future of warfare will most probably be written by drones. We already have incrediblle data from actual war zones and military think tanks regarding the success rates of combat drones.&nbsp;</p>
<p>So, while we can probably thank Musk for stating the obvious, warfare is a tricky business and combat advancements typically take years&mdash;and staggering expense&mdash;before they are proven and battlefield ready.&nbsp;</p>
<p>What are your views on drone combat? Feel free to share them with us at <a href="mailto:mmolenda@thedroningcompany.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>mmolenda@thedroningcompany.com</strong></span></a>.</p>

Elon Musk Bullish on Combat Drones

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>17th December, 2024</em></span></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By Professor Will Austin of Warren County Community College</strong></span></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">I first learned of the sightings of drones in New Jersey on November 19, from the leader of our elected county commission, and former Warren County Community College student, James Kern. When first asked about these sightings a month ago, I asked classes of students to keep an eye on the night sky, and just for the record, to&nbsp;date we have only seen small drones (the 2-4lb, typical drone we would expect to see in affluent areas in New Jersey).</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">I was first contacted by North Jersey&rsquo;s regional media on November 26 by the <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/2024/11/27/fbi-investigates-after-mystery-north-jersey-drone-sightings/76592029007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Morristown Daily Record</a></strong></span>, where I tried to explain that the drones were most likely small drones flown by our recreational <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers/knowledge_test_updates" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FAA Trust</a></strong></span> certified pilots or by Part 107 pilots engaged in commercial flights, but that it would be impossible for me to discount a flyaway from Picatinny Arsenal given its close geographic proximity. The paper is owned by Gannett Co. Inc., which also owns the USA Today, which grabbed the headline and in large part began the current media frenzy, which quickly became a proverbial political football.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Not realizing the coming storm, like all of you I went on to enjoy friends and family for Thanksgiving. Upon my return to work, frankly I had forgotten the whole thing, and I most certainly did not see a single drone of the size described in the night sky (I am still waiting to see one, even though I have been out hunting for the better part of a month). On December 8<sup>th</sup>, my media folks at Warren County Community College called to tell me that the story was likely going national and that our <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.nj.com/news/2024/12/what-are-the-rules-for-flying-drones-in-nj-heres-what-experts-say.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statewide news media</a></strong></span> was calling for comment as we have the most advanced drone training program in New Jersey.&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">On December 10, I reached out to a couple <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://dronelife.com/2024/12/11/understanding-the-new-jersey-drone-sightings-separating-fact-from-fiction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">media contacts</a></strong></span> and <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.thedroningcompany.com/blog/new-jersey-drone-sightings-may-not-be-drones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Droning Company</a></strong></span> to share my perspective, because I know that reporters follow their &lsquo;gut&rsquo; on a story, whereas this college president follows the science. All along, I have suspected that there are no large drones over NJ, but there did seem to be a large number of eyewitnesses that kept growing, especially after the politicians on both sides of the aisle added to the story. Many of these folks are close personal friends of mine, and they have never lied to me, yet I know in my heart that there are no large drones flying over New Jersey even though many truly believe they saw them.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The story continued to grow with the alleged sightings. I began to realize when <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=933795925345783" target="_blank" rel="noopener">helping reporters</a></strong></span> who would send me files, stop by the drone lab, or just ask me live on TV, what people were looking at (hint: it was always an airplane or a small drone, or in a couple of cases an over zoomed in picture of the planet Jupitor, which is very clear in New Jersey right now). The Associated Press began to pick up the story, and now between the Gannett story and the AP story, I was seeing my name in just about every newspaper in the nation. I am an extremely private person, so friends asked why I would get involved. The reason is simple, I do fear the repercussions of how this story could hurt our industry, progress, and the chances of our students finding gainful employment, whereas last year WarrenUAS <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.ccdaily.com/2024/01/partnerships-beyond-just-transfer-students/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">students were signing six-figure employment contracts</a></strong></span>.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">By now the political and media forces were travelling throughout the state, searching for drones (likely with little to no knowledge of drones). They were allegedly finding drones, where after almost a month, I couldn&rsquo;t find or verify much more than a couple of DJI Mavic&rsquo;s, two Phantoms, and a rare M600 sighting &ndash; but absolutely not a single drone over 55lbs. College presidents exist to run colleges but often should exist to speak to the truth wherever it takes us, this is what the true meaning of Academic Freedom is, and as this president also enjoys tenure as a faculty member, I may be one of the last people who can speak truth where ever it leads.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Our team decided to reach out to the national media to share our drone story and to suggest that perhaps people were experiencing the parallax effect, spotting planes, and becoming disoriented and confused into believing they were seeing drones. We in the aviation community are familiar with this concept, among others, that make such night flying aircraft hard if not impossible at times to distinguish. Our team appeared first on <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.foxnews.com/video/6365948563112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FOX News</a></strong></span> (which has covered happenings at Warren County Community College many times in the past). On the way back from that airing, the Associated Press was calling with more questions, and <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://x.com/ac360/status/1867749501462511998?s=42" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a></strong></span> was practically racing after us to get to our drone port hoping we could do a night flight demo for them. As that team was arriving at the college, the <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/13/world/video/the-lead-drones-fbi-government-jake-tapper" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jake Tapper</a></strong></span> show asked me to come on live to talk about recently sited drones by NJ Senator Andy Kim. Unfortunately, I could see on the screen immediately that poor <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/andy-kim-drones-donald-trump_n_67609df8e4b007ff17a49f8e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Senator Kim and law enforcement had mistaken airplanes for drones</a></strong></span>, and although I really did not want to, I was compelled by logic and reason to state the truth. Senator Kim, among other politicians, has now stated that his misidentification came from a lack of trust of the government (which I thought he was a part of), and which I get is related to not accepting the response or the utter lack of it from our federal government. Still, how are all these intelligent people seeing so many drones, hearing them, and having them hover over their homes? I thought, surely, I must be going mad? Still, I knew the truth in my heart, so I kept pushing for the sake of our industry.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Finally, to ensure that I could demonstrate that all my opinions were based on fact and not on politics as I live a life of metaphysics based in objective reality and an epistemology of reason, I really searched the internet hard for some sign of any large drone in flight at night in New Jersey. After this hard search for facts, I began hoping this story was bound to have run its course, I mean no one actually had identified a single large drone, so when asked I went on <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.msnbc.com/weekends-with-alex-witt/watch/drone-expert-debunks-mystery-sightings-and-explains-how-lasers-can-be-deadly-to-passing-pilots-227121733880" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSNBC</a></strong></span> to be more forceful about the fact that we are mistaking airplanes for drones at night, that&rsquo;s why we don&rsquo;t see drones in the daytime, because they are actually airplanes. I mean at this point <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.nj.com/news/2024/12/planes-over-nj-hit-by-lasers-as-hunt-for-drones-continues.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my statewide education reporter</a></strong></span> is asking me to&nbsp; speak to the fact that people on the ground are trying to use laser pointers to take down drones and its impacting the safety of manned flights in NJ (a fact I verified with local airport managers). I also verified that no commercial pilot had reported seeing all these drones and that that all flights in the NAS were proceeding as normal. This kind of behavior could get people hurt or worse.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">So now, two days later, as I write this essay, by request, I sit here listening to early morning stories in the background about so-called mystery drones, watching reporters show videos of obvious airplanes and call them drones on the air, and I think how did we get here and what is this phenomenon as most certainly it is not drones. I am now certain of this because over the weekend, the sophisticated federal tracking software identified a whopping 12 sightings Saturday (December 14) and just one on Sunday (December 15) in the entire state of New Jersey as reported by the <span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a></strong></span>. I thought all this should have dispelled the idea that there are thousands of drones in the NAS in New Jersey?</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">How could so many people be seeing and experiencing drones that are not there? To answer this, I must put away my Embry Riddle Aeronautical University aviation degrees and take out my sociology degrees from Loyola University of Maryland and Temple University. You see, there is a concept in sociology called, &ldquo;Mass Sociogenic Illness,&rdquo; where healthy folks develop the symptoms of people around them for illnesses the healthy do not have, or to put it simply we often model the behavior of those around us that we trust in very deep ways. So, what are we experiencing then, I feel it is two things, first, there is definitely a sociological phenomenon that I am going to term &nbsp;here and now as &ldquo;Mass Sociogenic Technophobia,&rdquo; which I now believe explains all the previous drone sightings that came and went around the nation, which now seems to be spreading thanks to an udder lack of leadership by our federal government. You see, at this point it no longer matters if there were actual drones in the NAS, to the hearts and minds of thousands, they saw large drones and no one will ever convince them otherwise, just bring on the Congressional Hearings to prove my point.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">It is time for some real leadership from the FAA. Please stop sitting silently by and do the hard work of telling folks that there were no drones, as we both know that is the truth. There are a lot of us out here who have dedicated years and countless resources to this industry, and I fear a coming overreaction to a sociological phenomenon mistaken for a technological one that will have all of us in the industry forever scrambling to catch up because of new regulations to make sure these mystery drones never return from wherever it is they will now likely go, which I can only assume is back to the imagination. This will give our adversaries the boost everyone in NJ already assumed they had. It is time, the silence has now hurt enough people this holiday season, and only heaven will know the aftereffects for our industry. Enough is enough already, enjoy the holiday, there does not appear to be a single large drone, and perhaps there never was one in the first place.</p>

No Large Drones in New Jersey Skies!

<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><em>16 December 2024</em></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/b57Zi7xC0wUcrD8VTIpSzg5wlWrzM2hfXzcLaoAo.jpg" alt="" width="113" height="156" /></strong></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>By <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://thedroningcompany.com/pilot/edward-ghosn-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Edward Ghosn</a></strong></span></p>
<p>My journey into the drone life began many years ago and it didn&rsquo;t begin with drones. It all began in a little mountain village in Lebanon in March of 1961. This little country is in the Mediterranean Sea with Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south with the Mediterranean Sea on its west. I was fortunate and blessed to move to California, USA in 1965 with my aunt and uncle. I underwent a dozen or so operations on my legs to counter the effects of polio. My last operation was in 1975 before I entered high school. The nationally recognized Orthopedic Surgeon did wonders for me.</p>
<p>I am grateful to God for allowing me to come to the US, land of the free and home of the brave. After high school, I obtained a certificate as an audio engineer. After that, I decided to pursue a medical career as a Respiratory Therapist before getting married to the gorgeous woman who is helping me edit this paper and we had ten children.</p>
<p>In the early 1990&rsquo;s I became fascinated with videography. I began doing small video projects and was encouraged to continue with this hobby, which became a side business, E.G. Video Creations. I videotaped a lot of weddings and special events, produced medical training videos and produced and edited The Rock Guitar Video You&rsquo;ve Been Waiting For.</p>
<p>As my family grew, I developed an entrepreneurial spirit and found creative ideas to bring in more income. I added the business of doing digital photo transfers and 8mm reel to reel transfers to VHS. Film transfers were in high demand as media technology changed rapidly.</p>
<p>I also advanced my education by obtaining a BS in Business Management and an MBA in Health Care Management. I continued with my video business and shooting weddings and perfecting my creativity in post-production. By 2010 I was no longer working in the hospital setting but worked in education, teaching aspiring Respiratory students.</p>
<p>I was hired to shoot a wedding in 2020. The venue was in beautiful Oak Glen, California. I was searching the venue on the web and found an awesome aerial YouTube video of the venue. I was fascinated and intrigued by the video and I just had to have that clip in my post-production of the wedding video. I contacted the owner, and he gave me permission to use part of it. I thought it was awesome, and I just had to get more of these aerial shots. I developed a desire to use drones for videography.</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/DDy45uyz3aHgdKbr3uIILwD3svCkgVp4yq6xOS4K.jpg" alt="" width="463" height="216" /></p>
<p>After a bit of research, I purchased a cheap drone from a pawn shop. It was called The Beast (or something like that). The images were not good quality. I practiced and played around with it and took some videos and pictures, but they were not good enough for professional work. I realized that I could make money using my drone. During my research, I discovered that if I wanted to make money with my drone, I would have to register the drone with the FAA and get a pilot&rsquo;s license called Part 107. So, in 2022, I registered that cheap drone with the FAA and began to study for the Part 107 exam. I continued to fly that drone and began looking for a professional drone.</p>
<p>The name DJI kept popping up and I realized that I had better buy a DJI drone because they were well-known drone manufacturers. I found my first Phantom 4 Pro version1 on eBay. I was able to save up some money to purchase it later in November 2022. I continued to study for the Part 107 and finally on November 29, 2022, I passed the exam the first time. Once I received my official Remote Pilot&rsquo;s License card, I began to practice flying my Phantom 4 Pro. I practiced and practiced several times a week. The next step was to figure out how to begin making money. That was a challenge. I wasn&rsquo;t sure where to start.</p>
<p>I found Dronersio and completed the onboarding process and it wasn&rsquo;t much after that that I was offered my first drone job. It was a piece of vacant land in Calimesa. The winds were 10 mph but all went well. I followed the steps they laid out and I completed my first project. Wooo Hooo!!! I made $80 on that project. I continued to do more projects and began doing commercial real estate projects. I joined Drone U and began learning more about drones and their use in construction. I learned that I should set up an LLC and did so in November 2022. And so began United Drone Services, LLC.</p>
<p>In early 2023 I received an email from Drone Brothers in Michigan asking if I would be interested in doing a bimonthly drone shoot that would last for 1 year for the construction of a new Home Depot hub in Perris, California (10 miles from my home). I jumped on it! It was doing 11 Panos using Drone Deploy with my P4P.</p>
<p>By that point I had completed a dozen other drone jobs with Dronersio, but still couldn&rsquo;t count on it as a main source of income, since the cost of living is very high in California. I was able to acquire my second P4P by mid-2023 and later that year I purchased the Autel Evo 2 version 1. On my last day of the construction project, I was flying the P4P when I lost signal and visual line of sight. The P4P went down on the roof and was rendered useless. I was able to locate the drone the next day and take a picture of its location. I was able to complete the project the following day. The construction project manager retrieved my crashed drone for me. I learned the importance of having hull insurance. I was able to get a new P4P with the insurance claim.</p>
<p><img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/rn63wHnNCHrIXLC2ZrO5fpEYRIzJBetcZ2bxBxwq.jpg" alt="" width="638" height="585" /></p>
<p>I continued to learn on the uses of drone technology. Roof inspections, Orthomosaic, Mapping, Thermal inspections, Cell tower inspections, Cinematic expressions, movie industry and the list goes on. I joined the The Pilot Institute to educated myself on the business aspect of the use of drones and conintued to use the Drone U website&nbsp; as well to increase my knowledge base.My drone fleet increased to DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2, Autel Evo 2 Dual (with the Flir 640R payload) and the DJI Mini 3 Pro</p>
<p>I was becoming more confident from my experiences, but I realized that I knew very little about drones and their fast-growing technological use. I completed several mapping projects and dabbled with 3D rendering as well. I began looking for other drone hiring companies to do more jobs. I signed up with VidTech, Drone Videos and Zeitview and completed a number of projects for each of them but, I thought that the pay was not quite what I felt I deserved, so I began to market my services on my own. It had not been easy to get jobs with those businesses and I had been at my wits&rsquo; end when I found The Droning Company.</p>
<p>I read about Stuart Smith and I connected with his story and his need to provide for his family. He was from my era&mdash;the 70&rsquo;s and 80&rsquo;s&mdash;and he was a rock and roller in real life. I signed up immediately and he contacted me in record time, welcoming me on board. He encouraged me and provided guidance on how to get my name out there, using The Droning Company platform, so I could begin making money without the middleman. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow my business, while doing what I enjoy.</p>
<h5><span style="color: #ba372a;"><strong>Learn More</strong></span></h5>
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