aerial-decisions

Tag: Drone Pilot

  • How’s Your Drone Service Provider At Crew Management?

    How’s Your Drone Service Provider At Crew Management?

    How’s Your Drone Service Provider At Crew Management?

    How do you know if your drone service provider is good at crew management? Crew Resource Management is terminology by the FAA to describe the management of multiple people in a crew. (FYI: The FAA uses a lot of acronyms but they save time so you’ll have extra time to read this article. LOL)

    CRM (crew resource management) focuses on a drone pilot operating in crew environments and managing his or her crew safely and efficiently.

    What Makes a Great Remote Pilot In Command Leader?

    When the RPIC (Remote Pilot-In-Command) is working with others during a flight mission and has crew members that are helping, it’s about making sure that everybody knows exactly what they’re doing.  All crew members know the method of operation for that proposed flight. The RPIC is taking in all the circumstances pertinent to that flight mission. That includes weather, hazards, rules, regulations, etc.

    The FAA.gov document called AC 107-2 – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) states,

    “ A remote PIC uses many different resources to safely operate an sUAS and needs to be able to manage these resources effectively.’ …’ Therefore, a remote PIC must be able to function in a team environment and maximize team performance. This skill set includes situational awareness, proper allocation of tasks to individuals, and avoidance of work overloads in self and in others. And effectively communicating with other members of the crew, such as VOs and persons manipulating the controls of an sUAS.”

    Image of Crew Shoot X
    Drone Pilot-in-Charge and Crew

    Who’s Responsible For Everything?

    Basically, the RPIC is. He or she is responsible for the crews’ actions and safety (crew, civilians, property), etc.  Furthermore, it’s up to the RPIC to get the mission accomplished on time and within client specifications.  If the RPIC does not ensure good CRM, the FAA can fine or even revoke the RPIC’s license. And the RPIC would be held liable for any damages incurred. Adherence to good crew resource principles ensures the client’s needs are met, the risk is minimized, and the task is completed safely and efficiently. The RPIC must be a good team leader.

    Who’s On The Crew?

    Usually at least a VO. The VO (Visual Observer) helps the RPIC (Remote Pilot-In-Command) have a second pair of eyes. The VO aids the RPIC to avoid obstacles and hazards not only for the drone but also for the drone pilot as well.

    What Helps the Crew to be Successful?

    The RPIC needs to communicate clearly with their VO and everyone on their crew. The use of two-way radios can help with this. For example, if the VO or crew is stationed farther away not in earshot. Additionally, walkie-talkies can help if the mission is in a high-traffic and/or noisy location. During the mission communication is key.  But that communication should begin even before the mission begins. All on the crew need to be well briefed by the RPIC beforehand so they each clearly know what their roles and responsibilities are. This way all can safely and efficiently contribute to the success of the mission. A great RPIC makes the best use of his or her crew and allows each crew member to give input. An excellent RPIC knows how to highlight each crew member’s strengths to create an atmosphere of safety and excellence. Good crew resource management means a crew and the remote pilot in command are better together than just a remote pilot alone.

    Image of Exceeding Standards
    Drone Pilots at Construction Site

    Why It’s Important to Hire The Best Drone Service Provider

    When considering hiring a drone service provider make sure they are good crew managers. If not you could be putting yourself at risk. Crews that are not properly managed by their RPIC could cause severe damage and set a project way back. Save time and money and have peace of mind knowing the drone service provider you are hiring uses good CRM. He knows what to do and so does his crew. The best drone service provider knows how to manage their crew in such a way that will mitigate risks, and liability, and ensure the project is completed safely and on schedule.

    When you hire a great drone service provider you’re also hiring a great RPIC that knows how to utilize great CRM. So hire one ASAP.

    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.

  • 12 Qualities of an Excellent Drone Service Provider

    12 Qualities of an Excellent Drone Service Provider

    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.”

    Image of Part 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.

    Image of Mdr Shoot X
    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.

    Image of Mdr Shoot X
    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. 

    Image of Glendale Rc Field Scaled
    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.

    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.