Drones have been all over the news lately from the New Jersey ghost drones to the guy who brought down the Super Soaker aircraft for repairs at a critical time with the Palisades fires. A monster case was brought against a droner last year by the FAA for ignoring their warnings. And there was the boy who was almost killed by a mini-drone when it went rogue and opened his chest up. He survived after emergency surgery, but it shows how dangerous drones can be.
I'm an FAA-certified remote pilot and have been flying drones for about ten years. I use mine to fly our acreage and estate home properties and to show people interesting things that are happening in the area.
When I started out, it was the Wild West, and pretty much anything went, but those days are long over. Technology is moving so fast in the way of drone capabilities and there are a lot of drones to choose from. I'll talk about the pros and cons of larger drones vs mini-drones. I'll talk about several of my drone crash stories and how they could have been prevented and also flying with and without goggles.
I'll discuss geo-fencing for drones which has been a thorn in my side for years. Just recently that technology was abandoned and the jury is still out whether that's going to be a dangerous precedent.
When you start flying your drone, the FAA will either categorize you as a hobbyist or a professional. I'll talk about the pros and cons of each and what you will need to do to stay in compliance.
Finally, I'll very briefly discuss the FAA Part 107 exam, which you will be required to pass if you are classified as a professional drone pilot. Surprisingly, it was one of the toughest tests I've ever taken but now that I've had it, I can give you some tips on how to study.
I could easily spend a day talking about everything I've learned about flying drones, but I'm just covering the basics. What you can do, and more importantly, what you cannot do.
The talk will be at our Keller Williams Allen office at 1002 Raintree Circle, 75013. This Friday, Feb 14th, Valentines Day, one hour, from 1-2 but I'll stay later if there are any questions or comments. You don't have to be a Keller Williams agent or even an agent at all.
