Cellular technology manager’s primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and reliability of cell towers. Regular cell tower drone inspections are crucial to identify and address any potential problems before they become major issues that can impact network performance and safety. While traditional tower inspections are still commonly used, the use of drones has become increasingly popular due to their ability to save time, money and improve human safety.
Drone Inspections Save Time
Using drones for cell tower inspections can significantly save time. Drone inspections can be completed much faster than traditional inspections, as they can quickly cover the entire tower without needing to set up complex rigging or scaffoldings. In addition, drones can capture high-quality images and video footage of the tower, allowing for more detailed analysis and faster identification of potential issues. This means that the inspection process can be completed quickly, and any necessary repairs or maintenance can be performed in a timely manner, reducing downtime for the network.
Modern cellular or PCS base station
Drones Improve Cost Savings
Using drones for cell tower inspections can also save money. Traditional inspections can be expensive, requiring specialized equipment and skilled technicians. Drone inspections are more cost-effective as they require fewer personnel and resources to complete the inspection process. Additionally, drone inspections can identify issues early, which can reduce the cost of repairs and maintenance in the long run.
Ensure Worker Safety
Finally, using drones for cell tower inspections can also improve human safety. Typical cellular towers (or PCS Base Stations) range from 50-200 feet. Traditional inspections often require technicians to climb the tower, which can be a hazardous task. Drones can eliminate the need for technicians to climb the tower, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. This is especially important in remote or hard-to-reach locations, where the risk of accidents can be even higher.
In conclusion, cell tower inspections are critical for ensuring the safety and reliability of cellular networks. The use of drones for these inspections offers significant benefits, including time and cost savings, as well as improved human safety. Cellular technology managers are constantly exploring and adopting new technologies like drones to ensure that their networks remain safe, reliable, and cost-effective.
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.
The adoption of aerial drone photography in the commercial real estate industry is on the rise. Like other industries, there are many benefits of using drones for commercial real estate, including improved efficiency, cost savings, and higher quality data. In this blog post, I will discuss the top five benefits of using drones in commercial real estate, along with recent statistics illustrating the uptick of drone adoption in the industry; specifically in the Los Angeles market.
Los Angeles Commercial Retail Center
Here we go:
Faster and More Efficient Surveys
Drones are able to capture high-resolution aerial imagery of properties and land. This means that surveys can be conducted faster and more efficiently, saving time and reducing costs. In fact, a recent survey found that 90% of commercial real estate professionals believe that drones have improved the speed and efficiency of their work.
Improved Marketing
Drones can capture stunning aerial footage of properties that can be used in marketing materials. This can help to attract potential buyers or tenants, as well as showcase a property’s unique features. According to a recent report, using drones in real estate marketing can lead to a 68% increase in listing views.
Commercial Real Estate Rooftop Drone Inspection
Enhanced Property Inspections
Drones can perform inspections of roofs, facades, and other hard-to-reach areas of a commercial real estate property. This can help to identify potential issues before they become major problems, leading to cost savings and improved safety.
More Accurate Property Valuations
Drones can capture high-quality aerial imagery that can be used to create accurate 3D models of commercial properties. This can help to provide a more accurate valuation of a property, leading to better informed decisions and potentially higher profits.
Increased Safety
Drones can be used to inspect properties and land without the need for workers to access potentially hazardous areas. This can help to improve safety on job sites and reduce the risk of accidents.
Now, let’s take a look at some recent statistics on drone adoption in the commercial real estate industry. According to a recent report, the use of drones in commercial real estate has increased by 200% in the last year alone. Additionally, the Los Angeles commercial real estate market has been identified as having significant potential for the use of drones in real estate. With the city’s large and diverse real estate market, drones can be used to capture aerial footage of a wide range of properties, from industrial warehouses to luxury residential homes.
In conclusion, I believe the benefits of using drones in commercial real estate are numerous. From improved efficiency and cost savings to higher quality data and increased safety, drones are helping to revolutionize the way that real estate professionals conduct their work. As adoption rates continue to grow, I fully expect to see even more innovative uses of drones in the commercial real estate industry.
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.
With the recent growth of unmanned aircraft into the commercial drone sector, many companies have found themselves in the position of needing to create new jobs for FAA Part 107 Certificated Remote Pilots. Considering the relative infancy of commercial small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) operations, this has created a limited, yet rapidly growing pool of applicants that all share one basic qualification – an FAA airman certificate or “drone pilot license.”
FAA Part 107 License
A drone pilot license to fly a sUAS under Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) does not take much time to obtain. This typically requires that the applicant be 16 years of age or older and able to pass a 60 question, multiple-choice exam, known as the Part 107 exam. As a result, many employers are now left wondering, what other qualities and experience should we be looking for in a commercial drone service provider?
In no particular order, here are 12 of the most important qualities of a drone service provider:
Detail Oriented
A commercial drone pilot needs to be detail oriented. To be a safe sUAS pilot, an individual should use checklists, create safety procedures, and be very alert to changes in weather or situational safety. The equipment also requires a tremendous amount of time and effort to keep the drone and the software maintained. A person who skips steps and cuts corners is not likely to be a very effective and safe commercial drone pilot.
Situational awareness means being Prepared, Organized and Alert
Socially Skilled
Drone pilots are constantly approached by the public and asked questions about their equipment, how to fly, and what they are doing. Drone service providers must learn to be comfortable in a situation where people are watching them complete a difficult task and bombarding them with questions. That may require a friendly yet tactful response (said with a smile) such as, “I’d love to answer your questions and show you my footage, but due to safety reasons I can’t talk while I’m flying so let’s talk after I land in a few minutes.”
Cool, Calm and Collected
Not only are interruptions from the public and performing in front of an audience challenging, there are other conditions that can also cause flying a drone to be stressful. Many things can go wrong when flying a drone. Firmware updates, wind, rain, snow, extreme cold, extreme heat, fog and the like can cause hardware, software and drone malfunctions. Not to mention other hazards like aggressive angry birds, air traffic, ground traffic, advisories from the air traffic control tower, restricted airspaces, geo fences, etc. are among the many obstacles a drone service provider must navigate while remaining cool, calm, and collected to stay safe and complete the mission in the best way possible. Even if everything goes wrong, they stay composed, especially in front of the client.
Disciplined
A commercial drone pilot needs to be able to fully understand and comprehend the consequences of their actions. A drone is considered an aircraft by the FAA. An excellent drone service provider does not break the rules or cut corners and takes the time to consider the consequences. A drone pilot that breaks FAA laws and/or regulations will be subject to fines and/or possibly have their license revoked.
Punctual
In many instances, an aerial image is being collected to gather data or an image at a specific point in time. A safe drone service provider will arrive on site early enough to conduct a thorough site survey and weather assessment, scout the area, identify potential hazards, and test their equipment, and other important safety procedures. If a drone pilot arrives late to the site, they could rush through important steps and be more likely to cause an accident.
Pilots often perform simple test flights prior to the actual mission
Organized
To fully maintain procedural discipline and to gain the utmost levels of safety and consistency in performance under a range of both normal and challenging conditions, many drone service providers will meticulously create a plan for each mission as well as a plan to maintain, organize, label, and store their equipment.
Humility
Flying a drone can include many costly risks. Companies need to protect themselves by ensuring that their drone service providers are competent, safe, extensively trained, licensed, and insured. A pilot who thinks him or herself invincible and above the law will be more likely to cause an accident or damage. A good drone service provider will understand that accidents are possible and will not overestimate their abilities, take necessary precautions, but still be confident enough to successfully conduct a mission. Or if conditions are too unsafe or hazardous to complete the mission, they will humbly call off the mission.
Dedicated
The sUAS industry is still in its infancy and evolving rapidly. Dedicated drone service providers are ready and willing to seek and give help, build, and strengthen their drone community, and continuously learn, hone skills, and refine their craft. They are passionately involved and enjoy the fast-moving speed of this new tech and art form.
Inquiring
Much like the autonomous drones they fly, good drone service providers are data collectors. They inquisitively ask questions to gain perspective on a situation. Part of being a good drone service provider is being able to assess a flight location, gather information on a variety of factors, and make final decisions related to the specifics of the appropriate plan. A drone service provider that takes the time to properly prep and gather relevant information has a much better chance of conducting safe and successful missions. Good drone service provider often asks the client a lot of questions during an interview. By nature, they are curious and prefer to gather information to paint a clearer perspective of the bigger picture, like a bird’s eye drone view.
Drone service providers are professionals who are experts at operating different types of drones
Situational and Self Awareness
Excellent drone service providers modestly know their strengths, weaknesses, and personal limits. They will also possess situational awareness and be able to analyze a situation and know when not to fly. When the pressure is on to conduct a flight, a discerning drone service provider focused on safety will be able to call off the mission and explain why.
Team Leader
A good drone service provider must understand their position as the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC). The RPIC is ultimately the decision maker and is held responsible by the FAA for any decisions that they or their crew carry out. Knowing how to manage the crew, make proper decisions and when to set limitations or boundaries on a mission is key. A great drone service provider must have the ability to step up as the leader and guide their crew to completing a safe mission.
Integrity and Professionalism
Above all an excellent drone service provider will uphold the highest standards of honesty, integrity, quality, hard work, courtesy, and professionalism. The client of a drone service provider of this caliber will breathe easier knowing they are taken care of, and they will have not only the highest quality valuable assets, but also a safe and enjoyable experience.
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.
There were 1,102 work-related fatalities in the construction industry in 2019. The most important asset in every company is the people they have working for them. Losing a valuable member of a team can lead to decreased morale, concerns about safety, coworkers quitting because of concerns with safety and a huge financial impact of possible lawsuits and replacing valuable members of your team.
Drones in construction can help reduce the risk of accidents and increase the level of safety and accountability around a construction site. Drones can be used to photograph, map and 3D model a construction site to help monitor potential hazards and identify equipment in hazard locations.
A key safety element of using drones is the operators themselves. Drone teams consist of licensed and insured pilots as well as skilled visual observers. Together, drone pilot led teams help to minimize cost, increase safety and reduce the overall time to convey critical real-time data.
Saving Money
Drone Building Facade Inspection
Drones can save a construction company millions of dollars on a construction site through multiple drone use cases. These include site photos, 2D orthophotos and 3D models, LIDAR Maps, time-lapse videos, promotional videos, visual timelines. These can all be done at a fraction of the cost just 10 years ago, thanks to the extensive array of tools drones can carry to help the construction industry.
Construction companies have found that a 2 –3-week process and several tens of thousands of dollars cost has become a 1 day process when working with a licensed and certified drone service provider. When you’re looking at dramatic 75 percent or greater cost and time improvement, it’s really powerful,” said Hunter Cole, Brasfield and Gorrie General Contractors.
Improvement to Infrastructure
An orthomosaic is a great way to capture close to real time construction progress updates
When civil engineers are tasked with improving the value and infrastructure of a certain property, they need to survey the property several times. This is where drones can help by surveying the land quickly and precisely and at a much lower cost than traditional surveying techniques.
When construction companies look at large projects that are floated by government organizations of public institutions, using drones to survey and understand the complexities beforehand can provide intelligence that can help create and submit the most comprehensive and competitive bid.
Audits and Inspections
Construction Workers Face Dangerous Situations
Drones are unique in where they can be operated with or without human interaction. Drones can be operated by humans when they need to help with audits – where a qualified drone inspector or professional can survey the land or property as per guidelines, standards or requirements set out by a governing body.
Drones can also be programed to fly from a sheltered home-base and fly the same routes, the same time of day or week. This can help to make sure that the property isn’t being tampered with and that the project is progressing to scope. This can save a construction company hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially in reduced theft, phase audits and work certification costs.
In summary, construction companies have been using drones for construction progress monitoring, planning and marketing for years now, but with continued advancement in drone capabilities, the impact of drones to the construction industry continue to streamline time and cost as well as worker safety issues factors.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on matters pertaining to the safe, professional, and ethical operation of drones. Please check our website at 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 top of the page. We appreciate you helping us by spreading the content we share on our blog.
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.
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.
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.
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”
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.
