Side Hustle: FAA-Certified Drone Pilot

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Enroll Today for $50 Off Drone Pilot Ground School
(Now Through July 31st)



Become an FAA-certified drone pilot with Drone Pilot Ground School, an online test prep and training course for commercial drone pilots looking to pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test for a Remote Pilot Certificate.

Over 99% of our nearly 20,000 students have passed the FAA’s exam on their first attempt.

Enroll in Training for $299 $249
Use code ENROLL50 for $50 off and get instant access to our self-paced test prep course.

What’s Included?

• Everything you need to pass the test. Our course covers all 120+ knowledge concepts across 65+ video-based lessons that the FAA requires drone pilots to learn in the UAS Airman Certification Standards

• Bonus lessons with practical flight knowledge. Our flight proficiency lesson demonstrates flight sequences for the beginning sUAS operator. You also get a pre-flight checklist and guides on how to conduct airspace research and how to apply for airspace authorization and waivers.

• Plus, bonus lesson on business operations. Learn from a drone lawyer and other industry professionals about how they approach important legal, marketing, insurance and business considerations.

• 350+ practice questions and answer key. We provide test questions for you to practice on, every step of the way. Take the quiz at the end of each lecture, plus our 5 full-length practice tests.

• 12-page cram sheet. Key takeaways from each of our lessons to help you study more effectively.

• 1:1 customer support. Get support from our Student Support Manager via phone and email when you have questions or experience issues.

• Learning / Help Center. We’ve rounded up the top questions from past students along with our answers and organized them in a searchable database. This is an additional study resource for you.

Enroll in Training for $299 $249
Use code ENROLL50 for $50 off and get instant access to our self-paced test prep course.

Inside a Typical Lesson
People learn and absorb information differently. That’s why most of our lessons allow you to:

• Watch or listen to the video. Each lesson begins with a dynamic, instructor-led video with illustrations.

• Read the lesson. If you prefer to read, below each video is a detailed text lesson that includes the full video transcript plus additional information and resources.

• Quiz yourself. At the end of each lesson, take a quiz that immediately tests your understanding of the content.

• If you prefer, work offline and take notes. Use our downloadable, printable PDFs to read offline or print out, highlight and mark up as you wish.

• Access 24/7 at home, work or on the go. View the course materials on your desktop, tablet and phone.

Full Curriculum
Welcome to Drone Pilot Ground School

• 5 Quick-Start Tips for New Students
• Download Your Test Supplement
• Meet Your Instructor and Student Support Manager
• Common Drone Industry Terms (Glossary)
• Need Help? Contact Us.
• Browse our Drone Pilot Knowledge Base

Drone Rules and FAA Regulations

• The Basics of Part 107 Regulations
• Crew Member Definitions
• Registering Your Drone
• Reporting an Accident or In-Flight Emergency
• Operating Limitations: Height, Speed, Minimum Visibility and Cloud Clearance
• FAA Compliance: Flight Logging, Inspections and Required Documents
• Flying From a Moving Vehicle
• Flying at Night
• Flying Over People and Moving Vehicles
• Flying Visual Line-of-Sight
• Alcohol, Drugs and Physiology
• Airspace Authorization and Waivers

National Airspace System (NAS)

• Class B Airspace
• Class C Airspace
• Class D Airspace
• Class E Airspace
• Class G Airspace
• Special Use Airspace
• Military Training Routes (MTRs)
• TFRs and NOTAMs

Reading Sectional Charts

• What’s a Sectional Chart?
• Latitude and Longitude
• VFR Checkpoints
• Notification Boxes
• MSL vs. AGL
• Airports and Radio Frequencies
• Isogonic Lines
• Maximum Elevation Figures
• Victor Airways
• Advanced Sectional Chart Interpretation

Airport Operations

• Reading a Chart Supplement
• Runways and Traffic Patterns
• Right of Way
• Towered vs. Untowered Airports

Weather and Micrometeorology

• Standard Conditions and Density Altitude
• Wind and Currents
• Moisture, Fog and Frost
• Reading a METAR Report
• Reading a TAF Report
• Operating in Extreme Weather
• Clouds, Ceilings and Visibility
• Stable vs. Unstable Air (Understanding Air Masses)

Drone Flight Operations

• Hazardous Flight Operations
• Emergency Operations
• Lost Link Procedures
• LiPo Batteries
• Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)
• Crew Resource Management (CRM)
• PAVE, IMSAFE & DECIDE Models
• 5 Hazardous Attitudes
• Radio Communications
• UAS Loading and Performance
• UAS Maintenance and Inspection
• Pre-Flight Checklist

Practice Tests, Cram Sheet & FAA Exam

• 5 Full-Length Practice Tests
• Cram Sheet // Am I Ready to Take the Test?
• Finding Your Test Center
• Test Day Checklist
• Using IACRA to Apply for Your Remote Pilot Certificate
• Flight Proficiency Challenge // Course Diploma

Getting Recertified // FAA Recurrent Knowledge Test

• Recurrent Knowledge Test Prep
• 3 Full-Length Practice Tests (Recurrent Exam)

Bonus Lectures

• Flight Simulator and Basic Proficiency Training
• How to Conduct Airspace Research
• [Guide] Airspace Authorization and Waivers
• [Guide] Drone Liability and Hull Insurance
• [Guide] Pricing Your Drone Services
• [Interview] Using Drones to do Real Estate / Property Marketing
• [Interview] Ask a Drone Lawyer: Key Legal Considerations for Starting a Drone Business

 

[mailboxpimp]

Im taking this class now. My nephew took it & he passed.

 

[baboss2212]

Im taking this class now. My nephew took it & he passed.

So how was it?

 

[baboss2212]

I need in on this deal

 

[HotNixon36]

I might try it out.

 

[baboss2212]

@mailboxpimp any updates? Have u took the test?

 

[mailboxpimp]

@mailboxpimp any updates? Have u took the test?

Ooooh ok. It's not hard. I don't do it for money it was just to have the license to possibly do some sort of work later in life.

 

[conspiracy_brotha]

Can you really get a job with this?

 

[footloose]

What job do you do with a drone license

 

[mailboxpimp]

What job do you do with a drone license

you can be hired for various video recording jobs you can sell footage / b-roll........

Below are just a few of the many exciting drone jobs that are being created today. Which one is right for you?

• Drone Farmer: Use unmanned aircraft equipped with infrared imaging cameras to created detailed maps of crops. Then use drones programmed with GPS coordinates to fertilize the plants that need it most.
• Wildlife Conservationist: Monitor, protect and collect data on fragile species in danger zones across the planet using drones.
• Delivery/fulfillment Pilot: Pilot unmanned aircraft to deliver packages and supplies to the homes of private customers or between company warehouses.
• Search and Rescue Worker: Save lives after disaster strikes by using drones to survey damage and locate people in need of help.
• Energy Inspector: Use drones equipped with thermal cameras to detect leaks along oil pipelines or to monitor and inspect turbine blades on wind farms.
• Drone Journalist: Capture breaking news footage from above with camera-equipped unmanned aircraft.
• Geographic information Systems Mapping Technician: Use drones to map out remote or hard-to-reach areas of the Earth for scientific studies and commercial research.
• Police Drone Operator: Track fugitives, monitor large crowds, and keep people safe using drone technology.
• Drone-Assisted Property Manager: Inspect and survey the hard-to-reach exteriors of homes with unmanned aircraft; or create dynamic real estate listings with drones.

1. Drone photographer and filmmaker
Let’s lump all aerial photography and filmmaking jobs under one item, just because describing all types of jobs under this category would be long enough to make a separate list. Being one of the most enticing fields for drone pilots, drone photography and filmmaking has the biggest market and also the largest number of pilots who offer the service.

There are probably more than a dozen ways for drone photography to be profitable. You can take photos and sell them online, provide event coverage, offer your services to print advertisers, or take aerial photos for real estate agents. It’s an easy field to get into, mostly because there are already a lot of photographers with professional-level skills.

Drone filmmaking is a similarly lucrative field that’s perfect for those who already have filmmaking experience. Aerial videos captured by drones has pretty much become a standard element of modern film. If you could hook up with a film producer, then you have a chance to earn hundreds to thousands of dollars capturing a few minutes’ worth of aerial footage.

If you can capture aerial photos of news-worthy events, then there’s also the chance that it can catch the eyes of a news agency or a documentary producer. Even private companies typically employ the services of a drone filmmaker to shoot corporate videos. There are also the usual advertising companies and private events that are looking for aerial video coverage.

The market for drone filmmaking may not be as large, but drone filmmakers can typically charge higher rates than drone photographers.

2. Precision agriculture surveyor
Precision agriculture is a niche application of drone technology, which is precisely the reason why you should consider it. It’s quite advanced just because it requires a third-party accessory – a multispectral sensor. This is a sensor that can detect energies at different frequency bands, particularly in the near-infrared region.

The principle behind the use of multispectral sensors is that the data they collect can be used as indicators for crop health. More specifically, the presence of chlorophyll pigment in crops affects how much near-infrared energy they absorb and reflect.

By flying a drone equipped with a multispectral sensor over a farm and capturing geospatial data, a map of multispectral data can be generated. This map can then be used for crop health management. By identifying areas of the farm with less than ideal health levels, farm owners can more efficiently allocate resources like irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides.

Precision agriculture using drones is a relatively recent development in the agricultural industry, so finding a client may prove to be difficult. It also requires specialized equipment and special software to process the data. However, getting into precision agriculture is a good way to stay ahead of the curve as far as professional drone services go.

3. Drone 3D modeler
Creating 3D maps and models using drones is a job with wide applications. Any industry that requires heavy construction such as mining, urban planning, and civil engineering can benefit from a 3D terrain model. A good, detailed model can help these companies plan how much excavation needs to be done, the slope and length of roads that need to be done, or the mitigating measures for identified geological hazards.

There are two major techniques for creating 3D models using drones. The simpler and more commonly practiced one is called photogrammetry, which is basically a method for generating 3D models using a series of overlapping aerial images. Its strength lies in its simplicity – all you need to have is a drone with a good camera and a special photogrammetry software platform. If you can get software that can also help you plan the scope of your survey and make a flight path for your drone, then you can make your life so much easier.

The one drawback of photogrammetry is that the accuracy and resolution of its generated models are often limited to a 1 to 2-meter range. If you need something more accurate, then you’ll have to use a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor. This type of sensor is much more expensive but can come up with models that have accuracy levels several orders of magnitude compared to those from photogrammetry.

In any case, taking a job as a drone 3D modeler or mapper is easily one of the most lucrative you can get as a professional drone pilot. The fact that there are so few pilots that can offer this service means that you can charge premium rates.

4. Power line inspector
Power lines get damaged over time and require regular maintenance so they can remain in working condition. The challenge lies in having to inspect miles’ worth of power lines just to look for damaged sections, which can be very short. Having to do this manually takes a long time, not to mention the hazard that power line inspection teams get exposed to if they have to work at heights.

Drones take this hazard away and can even do the job faster. Since power lines typically run through narrow corridors, drones can easily fly along them and cover several miles on just a single battery cycle. There’s also the matter of having to identify damaged sections – a problem solved by a special device called a thermal camera.

Thermal imaging relies on the infrared energy radiated by all objects. This infrared energy is stronger when objects emit heat. With this principle, the heat buildup due to disrupted current flow in damaged power lines can be easily identified.

By flying a drone equipped with a thermal camera to inspect power lines for damage, the work that would normally take a few weeks can be done in several hours. It’s also safer and logistically simpler – all you’ll need is a crew consisting of the drone operator, a visual observer, and possibly someone to drive a vehicle. This can be a very lucrative job for a drone pilot since it would be mostly utility companies who will request for this type of service.

5. Rooftop inspector
A service that combines drone photography and 3D modeling, a drone rooftop inspection will prove to be useful to real estate agents, roof repair crews, solar panel installers, insurance adjusters, and homeowners. It’s easy to imagine how the appearance and condition of the roof plays a huge role in the value of any house, making this a high-demand application of drone technology.

It may seem surprising to some, but a job as a drone rooftop inspector can be one of the best opportunities for a drone pilot. Rooftop repair crews and solar panel installers typically have to check the condition of a roof and make numerous measurements before they can move in and do the actual work. In the event of a natural disaster, insurance adjusters have to check the condition of a roof to confirm the insurance claims of a policyholder. Even homeowners can request a quick inspection of their roof as part of regular maintenance.

The benefit of using a drone for these jobs is that it doesn’t expose anyone to the hazards of working in heights. It’s also logistically simpler – all you need is a good camera drone, instead of the ladders and other measuring devices that an old-fashioned inspection crew would have to deploy.

More than just taking photos, the best way to conduct a roof inspection would be to take advantage of the photogrammetry technique. This generates a 3D model of the roof which can be inspected and measured an infinite number of times. This is a great way to make sure that you don’t miss anything and that you will not need to do a repeat survey.

6. Search and rescue team member
Law enforcement agencies and emergency responders worldwide have taken to using drones to help augment their capabilities. For situations that require search and rescue, a drone is a perfect tool. It can cover a lot of ground quickly, provides a bird’s eye view of the search area, and can be deployed at a moment’s notice.

The same thermal camera that is used for inspection of industrial equipment and power lines can prove to be valuable in search and rescue operations. Unlike normal eyesight which can be obscured by darkness or vegetation, a thermal camera can identify high-temperature anomalies even at night or under a canopy cover.

Some drones can be outfitted with a spotlight and a speaker, which can be used to draw out lost people. In this regard, the drone acts like a “mobile spotlight, playing the same role that a helicopter would under different circumstances. Flying a drone, of course, is simpler and a lot cheaper than flying a helicopter.

Law enforcement agencies would likely prefer to have an in-house drone pilot among their ranks, which will allow them to engage drone-aided search and rescue at a moment’s notice. Should your local law enforcement agency want an officer to act as a drone pilot, you may still offer your services to provide training to their department.

7. Drone flight instructor
Speaking of providing training, how about being a full-time drone flight instructor? For those with a knack for teaching and talking to people, this may sound like a very good idea. You may ask, however, if there’s a separate certification you need to earn before you can be a drone flight instructor.

The short answer is – no, there are currently no certification standards for those who want to teach drone flight. The only certification that the FAA grants is for those who want to teach manned airport flight. This is a point worth remembering, especially if you come across online courses or training institutions claiming that they are “certified” for drone flight instruction.

In place of this lack of certification, most organizations have set their own standards for drone flight instructors. For instance, one site that offers online courses may accept only those who have a manned pilot’s license. Others may require a minimum number of years of experience in drone flight, particularly in commercial operations.

Experience, of course, is a given if you’re looking to become a drone flight instructor. Get those flight hours in and you may be good enough to teach other people in a few years.

 

[rltaz]

bump