Remote Pilot Association

As wedding celebrations continue to evolve, couples are constantly seeking unique and memorable ways to capture their special day. One of the latest trends gaining popularity is the use of drones to document weddings from breathtaking aerial perspectives. The stunning imagery and creative possibilities that drones offer have made them an invaluable addition to wedding photography and videography. In this article, we will explore the art of using drones for weddings and provide essential tips for capturing extraordinary aerial shots that will leave couples and guests in awe. The following are six considerations that are critical when shooting a wedding.   1. Understanding the Regulations:   Before incorporating a drone into any wedding, it's vital to understand and comply with the legal and regulatory aspects of drone operations. Familiarize yourself with the local airspace restrictions, FAA guidelines, and obtain any necessary permits or waivers required for flying in specific...

  Oh, how I love to sit on the couch and look for the ever increase amount of drone shots you see on television, movies and the internet, yelling “drone shot, drone shot!” to anyone in the room (and sometimes to an empty room). The increasing amount of drone shots means shouldn’t mean to you that everyone is doing it, so why bother. What it means to me is that drones are becoming a critical part of the film industry, a staple if you will.     I’ve had the opportunity to use a drone in independent films, commercials, and “spec” projects. The good news is that you can use cinematic moves using the drone you already own (even if it’s for practice). If you read some of my work, you will know that I’m a firm believer in starting with what you own. Have a 1080P drone, well your well suited for most video online. Don’t fall into the trap of chasing the latest and greatest drone, unless it comes with a significant increase in efficiency, quality, and benefit for you and the custo...

  Ah, the good old days…just a few years ago where you could go online, look at reviews of drones in your price range, click buy, and a few days later a box arrives on your doorstep. A quick start guide glance later, you were up in the air. Unfortunately, in 2023 it’s not that easy. Before we get into the 10 tips we need to bring you up to speed on Remote Identification, or Remote ID, that some call a digital transponder, and others call a tracking device. Now for a little bit of history. Source: Photo Jason Torgerson, First Choice Home Inspection and Gary Rosson, EarthView Drone Photography. Photo Credit, TC Freeman, RPA   As a result of many airspace violations, security concerns, etc. we now have Remote Identification, a.k.a. Remote ID, a tracking device (transponder) that’s mandated by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulation. As of late 2022 manufactures were required to include Remote ID in new drones (noticed I said, “were required,” as they are now operating u...

Don't get me wrong Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) is a great tool as it allows for much quicker access to air traffic controlled airspace. In the past the process for getting access required submitting a waiver, which could take up to 90 days to process. However, I don’t recommend this for every pilot.  Sadly, according to a Drone XL article only 20 to 30 percent of drone pilots are complying, or using, LAANC according to an Aloft company study, in ATC controlled airspace when they should be using the app. In other words, there are 70 to 80 percent of the drone pilots violating ATC controlled airspace. Source: interdrone, LAANC example What is LAANC and how does it work? As you know, airspace that is controlled by Air Traffic Control (ATC), Class B, C, D and sometimes surface based E airspace requires ATC approval. Approvals in the past were not efficient thus a new system called LAANC was developed to give drone pilots quicker and more extensive acc...