FAA Rules to Get the Drone Pilot Certificate

Drone operator training

 FAA rules

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have come a long way over the years. They were initially used mainly for military operations, testing ammo and dropping bombs. The non-tech savvy community still thinks of this type of artillery usage when they hear the word “drone.”

Drone Operator TrainingThough this no longer the usual utilization of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, reports of drone crashes and hundreds of damages because malfunctions or mistakes in government flights can make the common public wary of the private sector’s use of drones.

In the last few years, major manufacturers have made drones more accessible to the public. By making them more user-friendly, affordable, and by using smart marketing strategies drones are quickly becoming a household item.

Recently Amazon has expressed interest in delivering packages to their customers via unmanned aerial vehicles, Though this would be a time and money saving innovation, it could be a while for this … Read the rest

Role of Drones in Utilities and Energy Sectors.

drones in utility and energy sectors

Drones in utilities and energy sectors

Not all readers will remember August 14, 2003, but 50 million people living in Northeast America probably do. This was the date of the worst power outage on the North American continent ever recorded – it left those 50 million literally in the dark. This is why power companies spend millions of dollars to fly helicopters to survey the power lines in hopes of finding out what exactly went wrong and in seeking new ways of meeting grid reliability standards.

They use a variety of sensing technologies in addition to visual inspections, too. Thermal imaging cameras and radar sensors are used extensively to spot thermal and physical issues w/ wirelines.… Read the rest

18 Tips for Aerial Videography Training

Drone Photography Tips

Aerial videography training tips

Good aerial photography will take more than just attaching a camera to a drone. Knowing how to properly pilot the unmanned aerial vehicle will help, but in order to get the best footage, it can be more complex.

This article contains advice for drone pilots who want to get the best videography possible. Here’re 18 tips from the professionals to take anyone’s aerial videography from amateur to expert quality:

1. Pick out a drone.

It is advisable to not just go with the first drone that is recommended by a store representative. Those in the market for a UAV should search for a drone that meets their personal needs.

For first time buyers, it’s a good idea to buy a cheaper, easy to use model. Drone crashes happen inevitably to experienced pilots and even more commonly to newbies.

Novice pilots looking to get a drone for … Read the rest

Keep These 6 Things in Mind before Flying Your New Drone

Drone Operator Training

 Know before flying

Everyone seems to be talking about drones and for good reason. These unmanned aerial vehicles are doing a lot to simplify many of the problems people face in their careers. For farmers, they can survey their fields and let them know how the crops are doing.

Real estate agents can use them to take aerial photos of the homes they’re selling. Even some police departments are using them to subdue dangerous criminals. With so many innovative ways drones can improve lives, regular Joes are headed to the store to buy one for themselves.

Here’s a guideline for first-time drone owners so they can make the most out of their UAV piloting experience while still staying within legal and safety limits:

Step 1- Register the drone

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) makes the rules about drone usage in the United States. Right now, the FAA dictates that all … Read the rest

Helicopter Photography Tips for Shooting the Property

Helicopter Photography Tips

 Tips for shooting the property

Here’s an outline of some great aerial photography tips taken straight from an expert who helps realtors show off their properties’ best qualities from the sky:

With aerial photography becoming a necessity to help sell properties, its feat professional photographers will sometimes have to master to stay relevant.

Whatever the project may be, the client will be depending on their photographer to capture footage that shows off the area’s best features in a clear, artistic way.

The same level of professionalism is expected from aerial photography as regular ground-based photography. The pictures will likely be rejected if they look like satellite imagery.

The majority of the images captured should be taken at an oblique angle, not just straight down.

Shooting multiple angles of the desired structures will give the pictures added dimension and look more appealing overall.

The photographer should take hundreds of images, … Read the rest

Drones are Making it Easier for You to Shop for Real Estate

Drones in Real Estate

 Drones in real estate

Real estate agents are now adding a new skill to their portfolio: drone photography.

UAV photography is all the rage in Europe and real estate agents abroad are using drones to amp up their business by getting unique aerial pictures of the homes they’re trying to sell.

In America, the national trade association for real estate agents has drawn up a set of guidelines for agents who wish to add drone photography to their repertoire.

Aerial photography is sometimes necessary for prospective home buyers to fully see the property they are interested in.

Before drones were an option, real estate agents would have to hire a helicopter to take top-down pictures of the homes they were representing.

This was very costly as helicopter rentals don’t come cheap. Realtors who were afraid of heights or those with poor photography skills would have to hire a photographer.… Read the rest

You should Ask These 11 Questions from Your Helicopter Training School before Getting Started

Helicopter Training

You Must ask these 11 questions

Helicopter flight training does not come cheap. Most of the today’s pilots pay anywhere from $45,000 to $120,000 to complete their course to get licensed.

Experts in the piloting industry are willing to offer to advise to anyone passionate enough to want to spend their money and time on getting trained in helicopter piloting.

Here are 11 questions recommended by an expert pilot that students should ask their helicopter training school before ever enrolling:

1. What is the cost?

Pilots will not only need to inquire about the total cost of completing their education but also request a detailed itemized list of the costs involved.

Nine of the subjects discussed on the list need to be cost of the helicopter, cost of the instructor, cost of the fuel, cost of the insurance, cost of the take off and landing briefings, cost of ground school, … Read the rest

Check Out the List of 15 Best Colleges for Drone Training

Drone Operator Training

 Best colleges for drone training

The FAA has recently changed its laws in reference to drone aviation and is expected to continue making changes over the next few years.

In anticipation of these new regulations, many colleges are offering varying degrees in drone operator training.

Below is a list of the 15 best colleges for drone students to consider if they want to start or maintain their career as a UAV pilot:

1. Embry-Riddle

Embry-Riddle has more pilot cadets to graduate from their Reserve Officers Training Corps program than any other non-military endorsed school.

Embry-Riddle was the first in America to offer a post-graduate education course in UAV maneuvers and continuing education.

Their instructors are qualified to teach students everything there is to know about drones from how to build them to how to pilot them.

Drone courses are available through Embry-Riddle online and in person at their Prescott, Arizona … Read the rest

3 Things can Maximize Your Helicopter Training

Helicopter Training

 Maximize your helicopter training

Learning to fly any aerial vehicle will no doubt come with many amazing experiences.

Though helicopter training is rewarding, it won’t always be smooth sailing. It takes a great commitment to get a pilot’s license since it is an investment in time, effort, and money.

For those serious enough to make such a commitment, they’ll want to maximize the time spent in training in order to become as successful as possible.

Included in this article is a list of three basic things every pilot can do to ensure they get the best knowledge and experience while learning to fly.

Helicopter Training

1. Fly frequently

Those whose dream it is to fly any aerial vehicle should not have any trouble with this step.

If a hopeful pilot sees that he is not making the time to get in adequate practice, he needs to reevaluate his priorities and think about … Read the rest

8 Great Tips for Aerial Photography from the Helicopter

Helicopter Photography Tips

 Helicopter photography tips

Helicopter rides can be an incredible experience. Tourists and locals alike will enjoy the priceless views that can only be spotted from up high.

For those who want to share the experience with family and friends, a camera is necessary to capture the action. Experts are willing to share their advice for having a great time getting the best photographs from the helicopter, no professional camera required.

Some might assume that they need a fancy expensive camera in order to get good shots of the world below, but that may not be necessary.

Here’re a few aerial photography tips that will come in handy on a helicopter ride:

1. Passengers should take a time to enjoy the experience.

In this age of technology, it’s easy for people to get so wrapped up in the digital world that they miss out on the real world.

Those on … Read the rest