Remote Pilot Association

Welcome to drone flying new drone pilots, you have embarked on an exciting journey no matter what type of drone flying you want to do such as, recreational RC park flying, start an aerial photography/videography business, or First Person View (FPV) racing, just to name a few. The world of drone flying in the US is changing dramatically this year with respect to the regulatory scene. In this article we offer 10 tips, mostly flying tips, for new drone pilots.   Source: Gary Rosson, Earth View Drone Imaging The later part of the article we will discuss the regulatory side of the equation. Let’s jump in feet first with the Top 10 Tips: 1. Consider hiring a flight instructor or searching out a mentor  to learn the basics. One of my best customers said upon our first lesson, “I would rather crash your drone than mine.” It took me a minute to get over this barb, but a selling point is a selling point. In all seriousness, in addition to being under the watchful eye of an instructor or mentor h

Here’s a situation we all have had at one point, ordering something online, like a drone for instance, and realizing that it didn’t come with all the accessories needed for an enjoyable experience. It’s back to the computer to order more stuff. The most common scenario is not having but one battery with which to go flying, now that gets under my skin. Good retail outlets suggest up sells that are popular. Some manufacturers have special upgrades, such as the DJI “Fly More” package, that include extra batteries, tablet holders and carrying case. Putting together your own package is doable if you want to save money, just compare the deluxe package to the basic offer. We assembled a list of accessories, not necessarily focused on the camera, but rather ideas on how to make your flight a positive experience.   Batteries and Multi-Battery Charger   As mentioned in the beginning of the article, not having enough batteries is a real bummer. Even if you have a drone that will fly for thirty pl

Drone verses helicopter, sounds like the title of a new blockbuster movie, but I digress. There was one image out of Hollywood that impressed upon me the opportunity of drones in filmmaking. The scene was a busy small downtown with a few multi-story buildings where the action star was running from a burning building. Perched above at seventy-five feet was a helicopter shooting the action from just above the rooftop. I thought to myself, “Wow, that seems like a risky proposition, low level right over the town intersection set, what if the engine quit on the helicopter?” How cool it would be to use a drone, also known as a small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS), for this scene. However, we are not just talking about the film industry, it’s much broader. Next, we will outline the positive and negative aspects of each platform.                   Source: Helicopter, Bangor by Rossographer ,  CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons   Helicopter Positives   ·        Ability to carry a larger payloa