aerial-decisions

Tag: Commercial Drone Service Provider

  • Top 15 Most Common Drone Industry Acronyms

    Top 15 Most Common Drone Industry Acronyms

    If you’re like me, you may sometimes wonder if the English language has been reduced to words containing only 3-4 letters.  We often see it in almost every industry we’ve encountered in our professional lives.  

    What am I talking about?

    Acronyms.    

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    Drone Flying Over Vegetation

    For those of us in the drone industry, it’s no different.  In fact, given the relatively early stage of our industry’s evolution, it can be quite daunting to keep up with the latest drone industry acronyms.  You’re probably saying, here comes yet another 3 letter word I have to learn.  OMG!

    Well, I thought it would be a great idea to gather a few of the most common drone industry acronyms and provide a definition for each.

    Without further ado, here are my Top 15 Most Common Drone Industry Acronyms (in alphabetical order):

    AGL – Above Ground Level: In aviation, the term AGL generally refers to the height of an object above ground level.  As it relates to Part 107, a drone pilot cannot fly an sUAS (see below) higher than 400 feet Above Ground Level.  The only exception to that rule is if the drone is flown within a 400-foot radius of a structure and does not fly higher than 400 feet above the highest, permanently attached, point of the structure.

    ATC – Air Traffic Control: is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers to direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent collisions, organize and expedite the flow of air traffic, and provide information and other support for pilots.

    BVLOS – Beyond Visual Line of Site: BVLOS is a term relating to the operation of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) and drones at distances outside the normal visible range of the pilot.

    COTS –  Commercial Off the Shelf (Drone): COTS is an acronym that refers to commercially available drones but is more recently associated with a COTs drones’ inter-operability with “Drone-in-the-Box” remote charging solutions for BVLOS applications.  The industry is collectively working towards developing charging solutions that are drone manufacturer agnostic and can be used to charge a variety of popular commercially available off-the-shelf drones.

    eVTOL – electric Vertical Take-Off & Landing: eVTOL is a type of aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically.  In the drone industry, eVTOL is often associated with metropolitan airbus transportation and UAM (see below).

    FAA – Federal Aviation Administration: The Federal Aviation Administration is the largest modern transportation agency and a governmental body of the United States with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation in that nation as well as over its surrounding international waters.

    NAS –  National Air Space: The NAS is airspace that is regulated by the FAA and can be either controlled or uncontrolled airspace.

    NTSB – National Transportation Safety Board: The NTSB is an independent U.S. government investigative agency responsible for civil transportation safety and accident investigation.

    OAS – Obstacle Avoidance System: An integral on-board software and optical system that enables unmanned drones to “see and avoid” obstacles to minimize mid-air collisions.  You will often hear OAS mentioned in conjunction with BVLOS as it is a critical function to enable safe autonomous flight planning initiatives. 

    sUAS – Small Unmanned Aircraft System: Similar to UAS, there are many terms for UAS technology such as Drone, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), Unmanned Aircraft (UA), Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) and small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS). These acronyms are often used interchangeably in industry circles.

    UA – Unmanned aircraft: this term refers to drones, or any aircraft, that are designed to operate autonomously or to be piloted remotely without a pilot on board.

    UAM – Urban Air Mobility: UAM refers to air traffic systems that are designed to transport people by air.  Unlike modern airspace rules that guide commercial aircraft at higher altitudes, UAM is designed for commercial eVTOL air transportation at lower altitudes within urban and suburban areas.

    UAS – Unmanned Aircraft System: Unmanned aircraft system (UAS) typically refers to an unmanned drone and its related equipment that enables a remote operator to allow the drone to operate autonomously.

    UATM – Urban Air Traffic Management: Often referred to in connection to UTM (see below), Urban Air Traffic Management represents a highly coordinated system of urban air traffic management for autonomous drones.

    UTM – Unmanned Traffic Management: Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) is an air traffic management ecosystem that creates defined “rules of the road” for uncontrolled airspace below 400 feet AGL.

    Clearly, I have only touched the surface of the acronyms you will see in our industry.  As the drone industry continues to evolve, there will no doubt be more to come!  If you feel I have missed an important one, hit us up on Social Media and let us know what you think (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

    From The Editor:

    Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at Drone Photography Pricing and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the bottom of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.

  • 5 Reasons to Prioritize Pre-Flight Checklists for Drone Services

    5 Reasons to Prioritize Pre-Flight Checklists for Drone Services

    1. Safe and Professional Operations

    Just like commercial airline pilots use a checklist before each flight, drone pilots use  pre-flight checklists to ensure their operations are safe and legal. In addition to ensuring aircraft readiness and considering things like weather, site safety and crew briefings, checklists also help pilots ensure compliance with FAA, state and local regulations that govern the commercial use of drones.

    2. Redundancy = Consistency

    Checklists augment pilot memory to ensure that all required actions are performed in an orderly manner and without omission. When properly implemented, checklists are used redundantly and consistently before every flight, regardless of how many times the pilot has flown a particular aircraft or mission.

    3. Complacency = Missed Steps

    The aim of implementing a checklist is not simply to read through and check off items. Rather, the objective is to prevent complacency by methodically following every step. Forcing oneself to read each checklist item may seem awkward and time-consuming to a drone pilot who has flown a particular aircraft many times before. However, if a pilot scans the items to be checked quickly due to time pressures, versus taking time to consider each step, missed or incorrect steps can result in disaster.

    4. They’re Not Just for Pilots

    The pre-flight checklist is an integral part of effective Crew Resource Management, which enhances teamwork, increases communication and transforms operational hierarchy to improve safety and reduce risk. When used effectively, the checklist is key to ensuring that the entire flight crew is on the same page and properly briefed for every mission.

    5. They’re Not Just for Pre-Flight

    Pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight procedures are all part of a comprehensive checklist. Best practices should include, but not be limited to, these high-level considerations:

    Pre-flight

    – Airspace restrictions and weather considerations

    – Pilot and crew mental and physical fitness

    – Site inspection and mission walk through

    – Take-off, landing, safety perimeter and emergency abort zones established

    – Crew and bystander briefing

    – Aircraft, payload and flight system inspection

    In-Flight

    – Take-off procedure

    – Maintain visual line of sight with aircraft

    – Maintain safe operating distance from people and obstavles

    – Monitor airspace for other aircraft

    – Maintain “sterile cockpit” to avoid pilot distraction

    Post-Flight

    – Landing procedure

    – Power down sequence

    – Data acquisition procedure

    – Post-flight aircraft inspection

    – Flight logging

    Conclusion

    Replacing human error with a strong safety culture and reliance on proven procedures is paramount to the success of any drone services provider. Aviation safety studies have shown that consistent and methodical use of checklists reduces risk by virtually eliminating mistakes and oversights. A strong emphasis on team intelligence and effective procedures like operational reports and checklists can ensure teams are on the same page and operating at peak effectiveness.

    Bottom Line: Take the time to do it right – or don’t fly

    From The Editor:

    Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at Drone Photography Pricing and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the bottom of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.

     

  • 5 Reasons for FAA-Certified Drone Service Providers

    5 Reasons for FAA-Certified Drone Service Providers

    This is the first in a series of “Five Reasons” articles. Over the next several months, we’ll explore key areas for consideration, what to look for and questions to ask when hiring a commercial drone service provider to fly your important mission.

    5 Reasons to Insist that Your Drone Service Provider is an FAA-Certified Remote Pilot

    1. Flying a Drone for Commercial Purposes Without FAA Part 107 Certification is Illegal 

    The civil penalties for flying a commercial drone without an FAA remote pilot’s certificate are up to $32,666 for each incidence. After the violator receives a letter of warning letter from the FAA, this fine may be charged per day for continual illegal use of a drone for commercial purposes. The FAA may also impose criminal sanctions, which include a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to three years upon conviction (49 U.S.C. § 46306(b) and (d)).

    2. Hiring an Unlicensed Commercial Drone Service Provider is Illegal

    Federal statute (49 U.S. Code § 46306(b)(8)) declares that “a person shall be fined (up to $250,000) under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both, if the person . . .  knowingly and willfully employs for service or uses in any capacity . . . an individual who does not have an airman’s certificate authorizing the individual to serve in that capacity”

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    A Safe Bet: Certified and insured drone service providers

    3. Aviation Knowledge and Regulatory Compliance

    A commercial drone pilot has a primary responsibility to follow all regulations established by the FAA to keep our national air space safe for everyone. A certified commercial drone pilot will understand where, when and how high they can fly and, if needed, they’ll know how to get permission to fly in different classes of air space. 

    4. Safety

    Flying a drone is relatively simple and straightforward, but flying safely is an entirely different matter. Licensed drone pilots spend many hours learning FAA drone regulations – rules that are designed to keep people, property and air space safe. They understand how wind speed, visibility, clouds and other conditions can affect flights;  and make safety a priority by adhering to crew resource management and medical guidelines while following proven risk management protocols and procedures.

    5. Professionalism

    A licensed drone pilot should be expected to demonstrate professionalism through an unwavering commitment to FAA regulatory compliance, safety procedures, respect for privacy, and legal and ethical operations. Additionally, it’s important to  factor in their level of experience and ability to capture the high-quality aerial data required for your important project. 

    Conclusion

    As the drone industry transitions from nascent to mainstream, demand for FAA-Certified Remote Pilots continues to grow as well, and it becomes more important than ever to protect yourself from personal and professional liability. When hiring a drone service provider, ask to see their FAA Remote Pilot credentials, insurance, and preflight checklists to ensure that you are working with someone who is truly committed to professionalism and regulatory compliance.

    From The Editor:

    Do you need to hire a professional drone service provider?  To speak to an aerial data specialist, fill out a form, email us or for even faster response times, give us a call at (833) FLY-4YOU or (833) 359-4968.  Check out our transparent pricing at Drone Photography Pricing and watch this space as we expand on the above topics and more over the coming weeks and months.  If you like this post, feel free to click the share button at the bottom of the page.  We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.