I just got my Part 107 certification recently, and now I’m wondering if there are any good entry-level opportunities in Indiana or the Midwest for someone who doesn’t own a drone yet. Any advice or suggestions?
I’ll be honest with you, you’ve only taken a test.
You don’t have a drone yet, which means you haven’t built up any skills.
Every bit of work I’ve done, I had to get all of my own equipment.
Lane said:
I’ll be honest with you, you’ve only taken a test.
You don’t have a drone yet, which means you haven’t built up any skills.
Every bit of work I’ve done, I had to get all of my own equipment.
Next, he’ll want a $100k salary
DM me. Depending on my company’s needs this summer, we have entry-level work during the ag season in Indiana. Drone and training provided.
Sky said:
DM me. Depending on my company’s needs this summer, we have entry-level work during the ag season in Indiana. Drone and training provided.
This sounds both wholesome and potentially sketchy.
Do you have any other professional skills? Are you a qualified inspector or surveyor of any kind?
Kaius said:
Do you have any other professional skills? Are you a qualified inspector or surveyor of any kind?
I’m a photographer and I also have a private pilot’s license.
Kaius said:
Do you have any other professional skills? Are you a qualified inspector or surveyor of any kind?
I’m a photographer and I also have a private pilot’s license.
You’ll need to have your own drones, and even after that, there’s a lot of competition for work.
Kaius said:
Do you have any other professional skills? Are you a qualified inspector or surveyor of any kind?
I’m a photographer and I also have a private pilot’s license.
I thought you didn’t need Part 107 if you already have Part 61?
@Bowie
You don’t need to take the written test if you hold a PPL or higher and have completed a BFR in the last 24 months. You just need a course on FAST.
What exactly are you hoping to do without even owning a drone?
Check with local drone operators in the spraying business. A lot of them would gladly accept the extra help. You’ll need a medical class 3 license and possibly a pesticide applicator’s permit depending on your state, but it’s good experience and decent seasonal pay.
Do you have any RC (remote control) experience?
If you have a bit of money, it would help a lot to buy an inexpensive drone and just start stacking hours. Also, read up on ANSI UASSC.
Without a drone and experience, you’re pretty much starting with nothing.
And unless you’re really determined, lucky, tech-savvy, or can offer some unique services that set you apart from others, it’s going to be tough to make money in this field.
If you don’t have the funds to buy a drone, I’d suggest focusing on learning useful skills that go hand-in-hand with flying a drone, so you can offer other services like editing, geo-spatial visualization, and more.
Look into online tutorials about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) like ESRI ArcGIS or open-source QGIS. These can help you work with drone footage (like geo-referencing, overlaying mapping data, visualizing data in maps, etc.).
Just be aware, you won’t be able to offer surveying services in most areas unless you have additional qualifications. But you could offer geo-spatial visualization services to businesses in forestry, land use, agriculture, or real estate.
If you have access to a thermal drone, you could consider entering the “technical inspections” field, as that’s where the serious money is.