I am a certificated drone pilot, now what?

What should a drone pilot charge?

  • nothing, you're not even flying!

    Votes: 5 21.7%

  • $50/hour

    Votes: 5 21.7%

  • $100/hour

    Votes: 5 21.7%

  • $200/hour

    Votes: 2 8.7%

  • One million dollars!! Muahahaha

    Votes: 6 26.1%
  • Total voters
    23
Cessnaflyer said:
If you are seriously looking at going at this as a business I would suggest reading the book: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz. Great book to get you thinking about how to get a business thriving when there is a lot of competition.

I've been approached by many real estate brokers in the area because they also know I am a pilot to do drone and aerial stuff for their listings. I won't touch it though because the majority of the stuff is within a class D and there is flight testing and military training in the area. In the very off chance of the drone going rogue, I don't want to risk my ATP over a couple thousand dollars for taking pictures.
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There's a procedure for all of that...
 
ozone said:
I saw the thread previously about how easy it is to get your drone pilot rating. I followed the FAA directions, called my local DPE, and voila! I am a drone pilot.

I have an idea to provide my supervisory services to realtors and farmers, etc. From my reading, even as a part 61 drone pilot, I have the ability to charge for my services, even if I'm just supervising the realtor or farmer while they fly the drone around the property.

Does anyone know what the going rate might be for charging for my services? I have $50/hour as a starting point idea, but I thought I'd crowd source what people think they can charge for running a drone operation to take pretty pictures of houses (that sell in my area for $400,000+) or crops (where the land rents between $100-200 per acre).
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$50/ hour is about equal to what you posted as the going rate of starting at $150. Drones only fly for so long, and once you get the hang of post-production, it's fairly straighforward so it shouldn't take you 3 hours for one shoot. Now the big time sucker is getting all of your documents set up for a business, and building your portfolio. That's what I'm currently doing right now is the portfolio and finishing touches on all of the SOP's, company book, checklists, etc.
 
Cessnaflyer said:
I'm sure there is. I have no desire now to do it when there are C-17's, and a gaggle of Boeings flying minimum circle approaches at a few hundred feet AGL.
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I've said it on here before, but I would rather follow all procedures, carry insurance and be a conscientious drone driver while making money, rather than have some nitwit who doesn't know or care to follow the rules doing it. We'll see how it works out, though in real life.

By the way, your drone cert is not on the same ticket as your Part 61 certs. Just an FYI...
 
Cessnaflyer said:
If you are seriously looking at going at this as a business I would suggest reading the book: The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz. Great book to get you thinking about how to get a business thriving when there is a lot of competition.

I've been approached by many real estate brokers in the area because they also know I am a pilot to do drone and aerial stuff for their listings. I won't touch it though because the majority of the stuff is within a class D and there is flight testing and military training in the area. In the very off chance of the drone going rogue, I don't want to risk my ATP over a couple thousand dollars for taking pictures.
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Are you risking your ATP though? There is a reason why it's a different license with a different number...
 
I think it's a different number because it is a new type of certificate. Everything else we do is 'manned' so no wright flyer design this time.
 
ozone said:
I think I just found the going rate for a drone pilot in my area: http://alexandercarr.com/drone-services
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Hey, I didn't take the drone test yet. I heard it's pretty much a no-brainer if you're already a pilot because the rules are basically the same. With that in mind, here's a question, especially in light of Mississippi pics on ACARRs website. What is rule and/or suggestion for the sectional's "blue dot" areas, e.g. NWRs, etc? Can a drone fly low over those areas with impunity?
 
Crop Duster said:
Hey, I didn't take the drone test yet. I heard it's pretty much a no-brainer if you're already a pilot because the rules are basically the same. With that in mind, here's a question, especially in light of Mississippi pics on ACARRs website. What is rule and/or suggestion for the sectional's "blue dot" areas, e.g. NWRs, etc? Can a drone fly low over those areas with impunity?
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No. Drones are basically banned from all of the Federally managed public properties where I live.

Best to check with the land manager but anything "mechanized" in a Wilderness area or National Wildlife Refuge is a huge no no.

These are not FAA rules but National Park Service rules.

Of course this creates the situation where it is far better (easier for the operator) to ask for forgiveness rather than permission.

Likely no one will catch you there is no enforcement.


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tomokc said:
Our local FSDO ASIs constantly remind licensed pilots that they risk a revocation action. I understand that this has happened, but the pilot agreed to a suspension instead of a revocation.
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Really? This is dumb. How can they punish an unlicensed drone operator?

This means responsible operators who hold additional FAA certificates will not participate.


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tomokc said:
Our local FSDO ASIs constantly remind licensed pilots that they risk a revocation action. I understand that this has happened, but the pilot agreed to a suspension instead of a revocation.
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Was that the guy on the boardwalk taking video of the hot dog eating contest? If so, he had multiple violations of best industry practices, including no 333 exemption (required at the time for commercial ops), operating near non participant people, and I believe in areas where the local restrictions forbade UAS use. From what I read, he also had a horrible attitude about it all also. He didn't do himself any favors.
 
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tomokc said:
Our local FSDO ASIs constantly remind licensed pilots that they risk a revocation action. I understand that this has happened, but the pilot agreed to a suspension instead of a revocation.
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I HIGHLY doubt that in the few months of license issuance there's already been an incident as described. Maybe in the pre Par 107 days, but this quick? Nahhh.
 
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