Steps to Becoming a Drone Pilot

Drone Technology Has Created A Whole New Industry For Job Seekers

Technology as opposed to what the myth has stated has created more job opportunities for people. Drone technology is now an emerging industry that has helped create new jobs in construction, real estate, entertainment, and many more sectors. You can now be a commercial pilot for drones and operate them on behalf of a governmental or private organization. 

If this sounds exciting to you, then you can learn more about becoming a drone pilot and then decide if this is the right career path for you. To begin with, you need to understand what a drone pilot is all about. This type of pilot or operator helps to operate drones that are also called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). You will be controlling the drones using remote controls or automated software. You can also fly a drone for your pleasure. However, when you are a commercial drone pilot then you can fly the same for companies, government organizations, military groups, and private businesses. 

How You Can Become A Drone Pilot

No matter what kind of industry you are interested in, drones are now a part of many business processes. You will be able to understand which sectors now use drones as a part of their business activity in the latter half of this article. Below are the steps you can take if you want to become a drone pilot. 

Invest In A Good Drone

Buying a drone to start learning how to become a pilot for the same is just like buying books for your college or school. This is the first step to take when you want to become an official drone pilot. You need to invest in a good quality drone so that you can practice the technical skills on your own. It will give you more opportunities to even learn remotely.

Get Formal Education

When you want to become a commercial drone pilot then you will need to present the necessary certification to let the prospective employers know that you have achieved formal education for the same. You can earn a certificate or license from UAV Training Australia if you are an aspiring drone pilot. There are many different study options available so you can choose one that you prefer. Some academies require you to pass an exam that will test your knowledge about drone pilots. These include knowing details about drones laws and regulations, restrictions, weather forecasts, operations, and maintenance of the same. Once you learn and pass the exam for the same, you will obtain a pilot certificate. 

Practice What You Learn

After you earn your remote pilot certification you can begin to fly your drone. However, depending on the country you live in, you might have to register your drone with the regulatory authority. Mostly these registrations can be done online and are valid for 2 to 3 years. You can then practice flying the plane so you can get some experience. This will be an added advantage when you meet a prospective employer. You can also start working privately and take pictures or make videos for the marketing or entertainment industry. 

Career Options As A Drone Pilot

Once you are a certified drone pilot you will find many opportunities to work in several types of industries both full-time or part-time. You can work for someone else or even start-up on your own. As a freelancer, you can offer drone-related services to your clients. If flying a drone is your hobby, then you can do part-time projects in your free time. This can be helpful as you will get to improvise your technical skills, network with people who have similar interests, and earn some extra money at the same time. 

As a drone pilot, there is a lot of variety of work available in different types of industries that are related to capturing images and collecting data. In the real estate industry, drone pilots are hired to take photos and videos of a property. During the pandemic, as well as when people are looking for properties in different countries than those that they reside in, drones are used to give prospective clients 3D virtual home tours. 

For marketing campaigns, drone pilots help to make videos and images for advertising purposes. Surveyors drone pilots get more information on new projects and maps for the same. Mapping information is also needed by excavators. In the construction industry, as a drone pilot, you can help to create 3D images of a new project as well as help the building inspectors collect more information. 

The responsibilities of a drone pilot differed from one industry to another. The general ones however include planning flight paths, capturing aerial videos and imagines, collecting data on the behalf of the client, and overlooking safety in many sectors. 

Future Of Drone Technology 

The technological sector is ever-developing and innovating. Drone are brilliant pieces of technology that are here to stay long term. To be able to keep up with these advancements, you need to stay updated on the current rules and regulations as well as newer technological changes that come in. As a drone pilot, you will need to renew your license every few years wherein your updated knowledge will be tested. 

Though it may take a bit of an effort to become a licensed drone pilot, it will be worth it in the long run. This is especially true if you enjoy flying drones. You will be able to build a career path for yourself wherein you will enjoy your work and make a good amount of money. The remuneration of drone pilots varies as per the sector, geographic location, and experience. You can be a drone pilot full-time or part-time or even a few hours every week as a freelancer. 

Being a licensed pilot for a drone is different from flying it for recreational purposes. This is because as a professional drone pilot you will need to learn how to maintain balance, coordinate smooth take-off and landings, and be able to focus your camera on different requirements. These are not easy achievements without a formal training program.