I get it. Your first drone job can be kinda terrifying. Mine was. Even though I knew my drone well, had flown over 200 hours, and was quite familiar with the client's required camera settings, I was still a bit nervous about putting it all together. There's something quite unnerving about maneuvering the equivalent of a $1700 flying DSLR camera 400 feet over buildings, parking lots and traffic.
As if accidental airspace infractions, myths of rogue flyaways, major drone malfunctions, or self-induced anxiety of being a newbie pilot/photog isn't enough, being put on the spot by a demanding client can be incredibly stressful for the up-and-coming drone pilot extraordinaire. However, there are a few easy steps you can take to truly turn your first drone gig from ZERO to HERO.
1. CHECKLISTS
You need to know that you're hardware is ready to go long before time to leave for the job site. I like to use checklists for nearly everything I do - grocery shopping, backpacking, job tasks... Begin with a preflight checklist similar to THIS ONE. If you're new and don't know, Heliguy is a well-respected source in the drone world. Use this checklist to make sure you've done all the things necessary so there are no "day-of" on-site surprises.
2. KNOW THY MISSION'S DELIVERABLES
Whether you're shooting photos for a realtor, ortho-mapping a crop for a farmer, or inspecting a cell tower, if you know the client's expectations for the deliverables, you can def prepare FAR better for the mission. Make sure you get clear-cut directions on specs, settings and acceptable file types for your deliverables and you'll be able to better prep your equipment the night before.
3. SCOUT THE LOCATION, IF POSSIBLE
Much of a newbie pilot's anxiety stems from not being familiar with a job site's surroundings. Let's face it, it's uncomfortable enough being in an unknown place WITHOUT the pressure of flying your expensive drone and handing over numerous proprietary files to a complete and total stranger. SO, whenever possible it's a great idea to scout the job site prior to the gig and familiarize yourself with lay of the land - powerlines, busy streets, tall obstructions or buildings, a safe take-off and landing zone... These are things that take time to analyze. If you can do it ahead of time, you'll sleep better and your blood pressure will remain lower when you show up for the bucks. Even if it's just using GoogleEarth, at least you'll know what it looks like before you arrive.
4. GEAR PREP
So it may sound austere to the novice 107-er, but you really ought to prep all your gear the night before. Charge your batteries. Charge your controller. Charge your iPad, iPhone, Android or whatever controller device you use. Check for firmware updates. Got your cords? Got a portable hotspot? Required camera settings adjusted? Lenses cleaned? If now, you're asking for an embarrassing disaster at some point. You'll do much better work when you're well-prepared and less stressed. Prep your gear ahead of time and you'll reap the rewards while you're listening to Buffalo Springfield's A Carefree Country Day.
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