Are Drone Pilot Schools Worth it?
It depends on how you plan to use your drone. The question most people ask is: Do you need a pilot’s license to fly a drone? No. Unless you use it for commercial purposes. If you’re going to use it for a commercial venture, it requires the pilot of the drone to meet the requirements of the FAA Part 107 rules for flying small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAV).
Drones are a wonder piece of technology that can give you a bird’s eye view of the world around you. They are easy to find and extremely affordable. You can drive down to the nearest Best Buy and walk out the door with a brand-new drone! For less than $500 you could have a drone that will open your world to endless possibilities – from private fun seeing the world from a new perspective, to professional business purposes.
But, with great opportunities come with great responsibilities.
Flying a drone for private purposes is fun and exciting, just follow common sense laws – stay away from airports, do not fly higher than 400 feet, and make sure you always have clear eye contact with your drone. Flying a drone for commercial purposes changes the game entirely. The FAA has a Fact Sheet with more information on the laws here – FAA Fact Sheet
Most drones are extremely durable, but they CAN be damaged and can CAUSE damage. If you don’t know how to fly a drone, I would highly recommend you think about attending one of the drone pilot schools so you learn how to fly the drone safely and legally.
Drone pilot schools are ideal for the first-time flyer who wants to have courses on the law, techniques, flight skills and other vital aspects of flying drones.
I could talk about several benefits that come with drone pilot schools, but I’m going to focus on three: Added Skill Sets, Career Opportunities, and Enjoyment.
Added Skill Sets
When you take drone pilot lessons, and get your sUAV license, you are adding a new LICENSED skill to your resume that can be beneficial for companies. When people see that you have taken lessons in how to fly a drone, they may be more likely to hire you for various jobs. We have an article on how to make money with drones here – 20 Ways Entrepreneurs Are Making Money With Drone Video in 2019 – drones are wonderful pieces of technology, but there are ways they can be used unsafely and they even can be a safety liability.
With proper lessons, you will know how to fly a drone in a safe manner and will know all the applicable state and federal laws governing their use.
Career Opportunities
So, yes, people can hire you to take pictures of a job site, but we are talking about full career opportunities with this one. Drones are one of the fastest-growing parts of the aviation industry. Drone pilots are required to operate drones for aerial photography, monitoring by air, disaster response, and search and rescue missions. With Amazon Deliveries in the rise, many people are talking about drone deliveries for packages.
You have drone operator jobs for public safety, insurance, agriculture, energy, telecommunications, journalism, investigations, filmmaking, and even construction and mining aggregates.
The average drone operator earns between $50,000 to $60,000 working for a company. According to the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, some operators can earn as much as $100,000 or more.
The industry is just getting started. They say:
AUVSI’s The Economic Impact of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration in the United States report shows the economic benefit of UAS integration. AUVSI’s findings show that in the first three years of integration more than 70,000 jobs will be created in the United States with an economic impact of more than $13.6 billion. This benefit will grow through 2025 when we foresee more than 100,000 jobs created and economic impact of $82 billion
Enjoyment Purposes
Maybe you do not want to fly drones for a living, and instead, you want to fly them recreationally. No problem! I would still recommend you attend a drone school since they will teach you how to fly your drone to its full capacities. Flying for fun does not have as many regulations. As I mentioned above. You must fly under 400 feet and with a visual line of sight. However, even if it is just for fun, you will benefit from having lessons, so you know how to use your drone. After all, when you spend several hundred dollars on your drone, it is worth some lessons so you can use it to its full capabilities.
So – are they worth it? It all depends on how you plan to use your drone. We highly recommend taking a drone class. There are dozens of drone schools across the country, I would say to check out some of the drone lessons available in your area. Learn to fly a drone legally, and have fun!
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