Hello all, I am thrilled to start my next chapter as a commercial drone pilot. I've loved aviation my entire life, starting with Cox airplanes, graduating to building and flying RC planes in the early 90s, and then went on to earning my private pilot certificate SEL in '98. I have a few hours flying a helicopter too. I've read some great tips here for starting out as a drone pilot, which are much appreciated. I would love to know if the demand in lower Michigan for commercial drone pilots is strong? Based on what I have read from the drone guide, it appears to be strong in the US. Thank you!
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- Thread starter kgmid
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Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
LoudThunder
Well-known member
Welcome from the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, USA.
As a potential New Drone Pilot, there are a couple of Legal Things you may need to do…
If you have not already done so, you will need to get your TRUST Certificate. You can get that at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…). Once you get a Drone and if it weighs less than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are not required to register your Drone. However, if your Drone weighs more than 250-grams (0.55 pounds), and even while you are flying under The Exception for Recreational Flyers, you are required to register your Drone.
Link to the TRUST Certificate at the Pilot Institute Web Site (FREE…)
FAA TRUST Online Portal for Recreational Drone Operators - Pilot Institute
Get your FAA TRUST Certificate of Completion to legally fly drones for recreational reasons in the United States.
trust.pilotinstitute.com
Link to the FAADroneZone (Optional Registration for Drones under 250-Grams…)
FAADroneZone
If you are considering acquiring your Part 107 License, here is a link to get you going… TO fly for anything, and I mean anything other than fun, you will require a Part 107 Certification. That means even if your grandma asks you to fly over her home to see if she needs a new roof, you cannot do that "legally…" But seriously, whose watching…?
Drone Courses - Free and Paid Drone Pilot Training
30+ free and paid classes to fly your drone. Pass your FAA Part 107 license exam, learn how to fly your drone, and more.
pilotinstitute.com
Since you live in Michigan, there are specific laws and rules for you to follow, please check the link below for all the Rules and Laws that are in effect in your neck of the woods and it also links you to some of the Best Places to Fly in your area… Also, if you travel on vacation, visit friends, and relatives in other parts of the country, check back here so you do not run afoul of the law.
Federal Drone Laws in the United States (FAA) - Pilot Institute
44809 is an exemption from Part 107 drone laws. This means that drone pilots fly under Part 107 drone rules by default unless they meet all 9 of the requirements to fly under 44809, the exception for limited recreational operations of unmanned aircraft. You can read more about these requirements...
pilotinstitute.com
Now, you asked about the demand for professional drone pilots, that all depends on what you want to do.
There are so many options: Photography, Videography, Infrastructure Inspections (Bridges, Towers, Windmills, etc…), Surveying, Post disaster Insurance Inspections, Crop Inspections, Agricultural Applications (Fertilizer, Pesticides and Herbicides), Media (Television and News Print), Facility and Event Security, and Small Package Delivery, just to name a few…
How low is "lower" Michigan. My son lives in Mason and that might be considered "lower" when you live in Upper Michigan (the UP as in "Upper Peninsula").
So, with that being said, there is lots and lots of opportunity, if you do the right type of work, There is not much need to real estate videos in Mason and conversely, there is not much need for Agricultural Applications in Detroit…
It also will depend on the type of equipment you buy, there are all sorts of drones that specialize in videos and photos and others that can carry a payload to spray crops…
You have a lot of decisions to make…
Good Luck and as the old knight told Indiana Jones in "Last Crusade," chose Wisely…
