3 Things You Should Know About Drones
Drone operation is an aspect of Klein Media that we like to promote. Drones are becoming more popular these days, but the manufacturers aren’t showing the full story of what it’s like to own and operate one. If you’re thinking about buying a drone or hiring someone to fly a drone for you, here are 3 things you should know about drones.
1 - The Regulations
In order for someone to fly drones for payment, they have to complete what’s called ‘The Part 107’ exam. This test is provided through the FAA and is designed to promote safety for flight and helps introduce non-pilots into aviation and where drones fit into the aviation ecosystem. There is even an exam the FAA requires all people who fly a drone recreationally called the ‘Trust program’, which is a 30-minute course that tells you all the regulations you must follow even if you’re a hobbyist drone flyer. Not only do we have to follow FAA regulation, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation has its own regulations as well. So if you’re thinking about buying a drone, take into consideration the time and cost of training and passing the Part 107 exam. If you’re thinking about hiring a drone pilot, make sure that they have the proper credentials and training to be flying a drone commercially.
2 - Safety
As I mentioned in the previous point, safety is important when it comes to flying a drone. It’s easy to get caught up with the fascination of what drones can do without taking proper precaution to ensure a safe flight. Part of the preparation for a safe drone flight is checking airspace restrictions, weather, and the time of the flight. These things among others is what the drone operator has to consider as they prepare for each drone flight. When I can, I like to have someone with me to spot my drone while I’m flying it. Don’t overlook safety and a responsible drone operator should know.
3 - Composition
At the end of the day, a drone is a camera with wings and like any camera you cannot forget about composition with your shots. It’s fun to fly hundreds of feet in the air and see what your town looks like, but the shots you take need to make sense in context of the video you're making. What could the subject of your shot be? Well, anything from a building, to a moving car, even a person. Knowing what the subject is for your shot will determine what altitude you need to fly at and it may be 85 feet instead of 300 feet. Using natural landmarks like hills and trees in the foreground or background can add depth to your shot as well.
There of course is more to flying a drone than what I’ve listed here, but I just wanted to highlight some aspects of drones that many people may not have considered. The legal and safety aspects of drone flight is important to know if you’re looking into needing drone services and hopefully this shed a little light on the subject for you. If you have any questions about drones or if you’re interested in our drone services, feel free to contact us at kleinmediallc.com/contact