What does LAANC stand for?

LAANC : Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability

What is LAANC?

LAANC is a collaboration between the FAA and the drone industry. LAANC allows UAS pilots to fly in controlled airspace with real-time authorization when they are flying below approved altitudes of up to 400 ft. above the ground. Depending on the software application used to obtain a LAANC authorization, LAANC also provides drone pilots with the ability to view live air traffic information and receive notifications when a manned aircraft is approaching their flight area.

Do you have to be a Part 107 drone pilot to use LAANC?

Planning on flying in controlled airspace? Now, both Part 107 and recreational pilots are required to submit an airspace authorization request. Read more about LAANC for recreational use airspace authorization, here.

What software providers offer LAANC?

Below is a list of companies that have completed the technical steps required and entered into an agreement with the FAA to provide LAANC services:

• AirMap
• Airspacelink
• Airbus
• Aloft
• Avision
• Skyward
• UASidekick
• Wing

How to use LAANC to fly near airports

While the specific steps will vary depending on the LAANC provider you select and the software interface they provide, the general steps for obtaining a LAANC authorization include:

1. Identify the flight area on a digital map and within a specific “grid” as shown on the FAA’s UAS Facility Map overlay.
2. Provide required information such as date and duration of the flight, planned maximum flight altitude (must be below the maximum “grid” area altitude shown), expected or known visibility at the time of take-off, sUAS pilot contact info, sUAS model, speed of the drone, and weight of the drone.
3. Answer a series of questions to confirm that the flight is being conducted by the holder of an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, the drone will remain within visual line of sight of the operator, the aircraft is equipped with anti-collision lighting visible for at least 3 statute miles (civil twilight flights only), you have completed a preflight airworthiness check, and the sUAS is appropriately registered with the FAA.
4. Review the information for accuracy prior to submission
5. Submit your request
6. Receive a text message with your LAANC authorization confirmation and information.
7. Go Fly!

The post The LAANC System: How to Fly Your Drone Near Airports appeared first on DARTdrones.

For most commercial organizations and sUAS pilots operating under Part 107 regulations, we will actually be filing an official FAA notification known as an Unmanned Aircraft Operating area or “UOA.” UOA’s can also be converted into official NOTAMs if needed; however, this must either be done by calling Flight Services and filing a Distance NOTAM with a Flight Data Specialist over the phone; or online, if the organization is conducting their sUAS flights under the provisions of a specific FAA issued Certificate of Authorization (COA) and not general Part 107 regulations only.

In many situations, converting a UOA to a NOTAM is not necessary because both UOA’s and Distance NOTAMS for sUAS flights appear on Flight Briefing Reports provided to manned aircraft pilots via Flight Services. In this way, as long as the reason for filing a NOTAM is to alert manned aircraft to the presence of your sUA in the area, the standard UOA filed online via Flight Services will suffice.

To file a UOA online, begin by visiting the Flight Services website at www.1800wxbrief.com 

If it’s your first-time using Flight Services, you will need to quickly create an account.

After creating your account and logging in, you will be taken to the primary Flight Services homepage. Click on the UAS tab at the top of the page, followed by the “Planning” section in the submenu.

Complete the form that follows and submit it. This is what will ensure that your UOA appears on Flight Briefings requested by manned aircraft pilots flying in the vicinity of your sUAS flight area. If you are unclear on what information should be included in any of the requested fields, or how it should be formatted, simply click on, or hover your mouse over the field title for more information.

Once you click Submit, you will be asked to verify the position of the UOA when depicted on a map or Sectional Chart.

Once verified, you will receive a confirmation notice of your UOA submission.

It is recommended that you file your UOA more than 24 hours before your planned flight. Once filed, you can view your Pending UOAs, as well as edit or cancel them as needed.

For individuals or organizations NOT operating under a specific COA, but who still wish to file a traditional NOTAM as opposed to a UOA, you must call Flight Services at 1-877-4US-NTMN. You will provide all of the same information that you provided in the UOA online form to a Flight Data Specialist over the phone. You will also need to know both the Latitude and Longitude coordinates of your flight area, as well as it’s linear distance from the nearest public-use Airport, Heliport or Radio Navigation Aid (VOR/VORTAC) indicated on the relevant Sectional Chart.

As a Part 107 operator, if you are questioning whether filing a UOA, or a full NOTAM, for a specific flight is most appropriate, you should contact your local FAA Flight Standards District office and ask to speak with the Area or Regional UAS Specialist.

The post How to File a NOTAM: Step By Step Guide appeared first on DARTdrones.

Parrot Mambo ($130)

At last, the days of poor performing, low priced drones may be coming to an end! The Parrot Mambo is a self-stabalizing quadcopter that uses proximity sensors to maintain position for fun and easy flights in indoor and outdoor (low wind) environments. The primary features of the Parrot Mambo include:

• Low cost, high performance recreational drone
• 10-minute flight time
• High definition video and photo capture
• Fun attachments including an aerial cannon and claw grabber
• Autonomous flight modes and “Learn to Code with Drones” software available

Expert advice: The past few Christmases have typically featured drones given as gifts that were more likely to break into pieces following a crash on their first flight then anything else. That was because reliable stability and positioning sensors were only available on drones costing well into the hundreds of dollars, but not anymore! The Parrot Mambo, as well as a few other similar systems have recently hit the market and are now bringing the true magic of aerial imaging and FPV flight to new enthusiasts, both young and old. For $100-$150, it’s my opinion that every home should have one under the tree this year!

DJI Spark ($399)

The Spark is a mini drone perfect for beginner drone enthusiasts. The aircraft has intelligent flight control options, a mechanical gimbal and a camera with great image quality. Here are the top features to consider:

• Quickly launch the Spark right from your hand with face recognition
• Take aerial photos using hand gestures
• Quickly edit and share videos to social media using the DJI Go 4 App
• Intelligent flight modes help create aerial videos in just a few taps
• 16-minute flight time
• 50 km/h speed

Expert advice: The Spark is excellent for the recreational pilot looking for better range, a more intelligent system, and better camera performance compared with cheaper “toy” drones. Make sure you purchase the optional remote control unit as well; otherwise, your flight distance will be limited to the WiFi range provided by your phone or tablet. The gimbal on the Spark will provide camera stabilization on 2-axis, but not all 3, so you if are looking to create or capture true professional aerial imagery, you should probably spend a few more dollars on a more advanced system.

DJI Mavic Air ($799)

This portable drone is as tall and wide as a smartphone when folded; making it a great option for travelers. It’s easy to fit in a backpack and launch to capture numerous adventures. The aircraft features high-end performance such as:

• Take aerial photos using hand gestures
• 21-minute flight time
• 3-axis gimbal camera
• 32 MP sphere panoramas – The Mavic Air stitches 25 photos together in 8-seconds to create panoramas
• 4K and slow motion video
• 8 GB internal storage
• ActiveTrack follows up to 16 targets even when they’re running, jumping or cycling.
• FlightAutonomy 2.0 offers flight safety and ease

Expert advice: The Mavic Air offers many of the same capabilities as the Mavic Pro or Mavic Pro Platinum, and even a few that those models don’t have. The biggest downside is the reduced endurance with most users reporting maximum in-flight times of approximately 15 minutes before the low battery indication is given; however it’s compact design and 3-axis stabilized gimbal make it fantastic for travel, and it can still deal with roughly the same maximum wind speeds and environmental conditions as it’s more expensive counterparts.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 ($1,499)

The DJI Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 is the most current evolution of the iconic DJI Phantom Series, and arguably the best and most widely used all-around multi-rotor drone for professionals and serious recreational users:

• 30-minute flight times
• 72 km/h speed
• 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor with a mechanical shutter capable of shooting 4K/60 fps video
• Visual Navigation system includes 6 vision sensors and 2 infrared sensors for 5-directional obstacle sensing and avoidance capabilities
• Remote controller with built-in screen option

Expert advice: If you are looking to give the ultimate gift to an aspiring professional drone pilot, look no further than the Phantom 4 Pro V2.0! The imaging payload is second to none in its size-class and is suited for both professional aerial photography and videography, as well as aerial mapping/modeling and general infrastructure inspections. Useable flight times can reach up to 25 minutes before the low battery warning is heard giving plenty of time to get the job done!

Looking to pair one of these systems with drone training? Use the coupon code ‘BlackFriday18’ to receive 25% off all DARTdrones drone training classes and workshops. Offer ends Sunday, 11/25. Call the DARTdrones Team at 800-264-3907 with any questions.

The post Best Drones for Christmas 2018 | Holiday Drone Gift Guide appeared first on DARTdrones.

Now, we’re two years into a more regulated industry where we’ve seen this “flexible framework” allow operational transformations across numerous industries. We’ve seen hundreds of proposed legal bills, changing requirements and guidelines, combined with continuous innovation and emerging commercial use cases. So, what are the major components that have happened over the past two years and what can unmanned aircraft pilots expect for the future?

What the Drone Industry Has Accomplished Since 2016

As we approach the 2 year anniversary of Part 107 sUAS operations, the FAA has announced that over 100,000 Remote Pilot Certificates have been issued to qualifying individuals. This is the single fasted growth rate that has ever been seen for an FAA Airman Certificate type, and says a lot about where the industry currently is, and where it is going.

Bill McNeil, a Contributing Editor at Direction’s Magazine, shared with DARTdrones a study he conducted on Part 107 Certificate holders. McNeil geocoded and then thematically color-coded the database of Part 107 certificate holders that the FAA released on June 1st, 2018. McNeil’s study provides us with a comprehensive look at where Part 107 certificate holders are located by state and by county.

Along with these findings, McNeil also conducted research on the Part 107 waivers the FAA has granted. Through his research, McNeil found that although the San Francisco Bay Area may be the US epicenter for UAV work, Southern California appears to have the highest concentration of commercial work. While the exact details of how the evolution of commercial and official UAS flights in the United States will continue is unclear, we do know a few things that are starting to give us a better picture of the future.

In 2012, the FAA’s “Federal Modernization and Reform Act” that was submitted to Congress indicated that the FAA planned to work towards full integration of our National Airspace System (NAS) for UAS by 2025. We are almost halfway to that deadline and most experts agree that the Part 107 regulations are merely a “starting point” with many more developments to come. More recently, the DOT sUAS Pilot Program that was announced and implemented in 2017 was designed to “speed up” the sUAS integration process by providing the DOT and FAA with data from wider scale, authorized operations that go beyond the scope of Part 107 so that they can best determine how to make operations involving things like Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS), flight over non-participants, high altitude flights, and routine flights in areas of controlled airspace, accessible through the creation of permanent regulations.

To date, the FAA has nearly completed the roll out of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) framework that allows Remote Pilot Certificate holders to obtain instant authorization for sUAS flights in many areas of controlled airspace. In addition to this important development, the FAA is also finalizing ongoing efforts to officially transition from a radar based air traffic control system, to a satellite (GPS) based system in 2020. In fact, virtually all manned aircraft are required to have new equipment installed to facilitate this change by 2020, otherwise they will no longer be certified as “airworthy.” This new GPS based system will allow even small unmanned aircraft to integrate a piece of technology known as an ADS-B transmitter so that both ATC and other manned aircraft will know the location of the sUAS at all times. If an ADS-B transceiver is installed, the remote pilot will also be able to see the location of other manned aircraft via a flight display at their ground control station. Many believe this planned switch in 2020 is a key component for new regulations that will allow for standardized BVLOS operations with UAS.

At DARTdrones, we have seen the benefits of these changes and are anxiously preparing for the future. Our clients have already begun moving from the “Test Crew” phase to scaling their internal sUAS operations for nationwide system use. The release of LAANC has been a big part of that, and the results of their initial feasibility and impact studies have conclusively shown the benefits of sUAS in terms of cost savings, safety improvements, and overall operational efficiency.

Tyler Dobbs, Government Affairs & Public Relations Representative at Academy of Model Aeronautics states, “This Part 107 anniversary is an important reminder of how far the UAS industry has come, as well as how rapidly this technology is growing. Part 107 is an opportunity for recreational UAS operators, many of which are AMA members, to turn their hobby into a profession and fly commercially. We are proud to partner with DARTdrones to educate pilots about the two legal ways to fly safely, a goal which AMA shares. We look forward to the future and to discovering the new ways that technology can be used to improve our lives.”

This Part 107 anniversary also marks the first round of Part 107 Recurrent Knowledge Testing.

What Does the Future Look Like?

One of the first questions new students in a DARTdrones Training Course usually ask is “so what’s going to happen with drones in the next few years?” While the the answer to this question may vary slightly depending on which of our drone training flight instructor’s you ask, and our own individual areas of interest or specialty within the UAS industry, a few common themes always tend to emerge in the subsequent conversation.

First, we all agree that unmanned aircraft systems, or “drones” if you prefer, are not simply a passing fad that will eventually join other examples of formerly hyped and now defunct technology like LaserDiscs or Palm Pilots. The ability to virtually instantaneously collect high definition aerial imagery or other data in a given area has proven immensely valuable to individuals, corporations, and public safety agencies alike, and the number of Remote Pilot Certificates issued by the FAA is a testament to that fact.

What we can expect in the coming years, beyond the general continued adoption of UAS seems to be coming down to the needs of larger companies that are influencing governmental action on the topic. For example, many energy companies have expressed interest in using unmanned aircraft to conduct routine inspections of long stretches of power lines, pipelines and other linear infrastructure, leading many to believe that more pathways for BVLOS operations can be expected in the coming months and years. In addition, the use of sUAS in populated areas had caused challenges related to rules prohibiting flight over “non-participants” or members of the general public. The FAA has been supporting and closely following testing efforts to determine the risk posed by sUAS of various weights, as well as the effectiveness of emergency recovery systems necessary to ensure safety in these environments.

Another desire of many current and potential UAS users is the ability to conduct completely autonomous flight operations in virtually any flight environment. The reality of attaining this goal will be based on both technology advancements and regulatory developments, but we have already seen tremendous improvements in proximity sensor technology and the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of onboard flight computers and command and control software utilized in unmanned aircraft systems. While the ability to deal with every eventuality associated with the chaotic real-world is still not possible with your average currently manufactured sUAS, certain high priced, custom systems have demonstrated an ability to operate with full autonomy in very complex and dynamic environments.

It is no doubt that as we continue down the path towards full integration of our skies to unmanned aircraft, many new benefits associated with UAS and industry will be unlocked. Although it may be hard to imagine, with multi-billion dollar companies like Amazon and Google influencing new regulatory and system development efforts, there will come a day when your next online order is transported to its destination along a specially designated airway by a completely autonomous unmanned aircraft. You may even soon be able to request a ride share from a company like Uber and hop into a self-flying air taxi that will whisk you to your destination in record time, high above the congested streets and highways below. Regardless of the speed at which these Sci-Fi promises may occur, one thing is for certain – the future of UAS is very bright indeed.

The Success of DARTdrones Part 107 Alumni

On this Part 107 anniversary, DARTdrones reflects on their thousands of successful Part 107 students and their accomplishments in the drone industry.

Art Aldrich | A few years back, Art became curious about the drone industry, saw what was possible, and was very excited. Art took DARTdrones In-Person Part 107 Test Prep back in 2016, and currently flies for his own video production business, Drone201. Art stated that the Part 107 Test Prep course helped with his certification which enabled him to perform commercial work.

Cheri Gagné | Cheri was a manned aircraft student pilot training for her private pilot certification. She was interested in adding drones to her knowledge base and went looking online for a school that could not only teach her the ground school portion, but also provided hands-on flying. Cheri wanted something more than just an online course. Cheri states, “DARTdrones was one of the first schools to come up in my search that fit the bill. I love that the instructors are manned aircraft pilots, in addition to being drone pilots and very knowledgeable about aviation in general. Being with like-minded people made all the difference.”

Cheri currently flies commercially and has been for a little under two years. She started her own drone services company called The Fly Girls, Inc. that specializes in aerial photography, videography, roof and home inspections, construction, special events, marketing, search and rescue, training and more. Cheri hopes to expand her business to include mapping, modeling and thermal imaging.

Elyse Cosgrove | Elyse attended DARTdrones Hands-On Drone Pilot Training and In-Person Part 107 Test Prep in 2018. As the owner of a photography/videography company, Elysees Eye Productions, LLC, Elyse was interested in utilizing drones to support her business as well as storytelling. With utilizing an aerial perspective, Cosgrove plans on helping our government and other supporting businesses create powerful imagery that can create change.

Jonathan Blandino | Jonathan completed DARTdrones In-Person Part 107 Test Prep Course in the beginning of 2018. He successfully passed his FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Exam just 6 days after the prep course. Jonathan is an insurance property adjuster and is currently using his certification for property inspections.

Where Does DARTdrones Fit In?

DARTdrones Flight Instructors, Curriculum Developers, Executive Team, and other staff members work together to offer their 8,000+ students a solid and buildable foundation to enter the sUAS industry in a safe and manageable way. DARTdrones offers Part 107 Test Prep, Hands-On Flight Training, a comprehensive Wings Program, Aerial Roof Inspections Workshop, Mapping and Modeling Workshop, public safety specific training, private on-site training, consultation services and more. The DARTdrones Team continuously works on new curriculum with the future possibilities in mind.

Questions? Call our team of experts at 800-264-3907 or email us at info@dartdrones.com.

The post Two Year Part 107 Anniversary and Mapping Out the Possibilities of the Future appeared first on DARTdrones.

What is a Blanket COA?

A Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) is an authorization issued by the Air Traffic Organization to a public operator for a specific UAS activity. A Blanket COA is a granted authorization that includes the following:

• The drone must operate within the visual line of sight of the pilot
• Visual observers must be used at all times
• Operations must occur during the day
• The drone must remain below 200 feet above ground level (AGL)
• The drone must stay 2-5 nautical miles away from all public-use airports or heliports
• The drone must be registered and display its aircraft registration number
• A Notice to Airmen must typically be issued for each operation

If a government entity wants to fly outside of their granted Blanket COA, they must apply for a separate COA for that specific operational change.

A Blanket COA sounds like a great option, right? Here’s the catch:

Now that a Part 107 certification is an option; your organization would actually be more restricted under a Blanket COA than the standard Part 107 regulations in the majority of cases. Part 107 is a better option in uncontrolled airspace since the majority of airports in the country are located in regions of uncontrolled airspace and the standard Blanket COA requires a minimum distance of 2 miles be maintained from all of these facilities. Also, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has indicated that since the Part 107 regulations created a new Airman Certificate type in the form of the Remote Pilot Certificate with sUAS Rating, they now prefer that public safety departments adopt the Remote Pilot Certification standard if the scope of their proposed operations falls within the parameters of most Part 107 rules.

As we mentioned above, the term “COA” simply stands for Certificate of Waiver or Authorization. These documents are issued for a variety of “special situations” for which standard Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) do not apply in many different areas of aviation. In virtually all cases, the COA is meant to be a temporary solution until suitable FARs are developed. Once they are, the FAA will begin to phase out the applicable COA. We have already seen this happen to the Section 333 Exemption and its COA (the Commercial sUAS equivalent of the Public Use Blanket COA) in cases where the scope of the proposed operations would now largely fall under Part 107 regulations. It is also now happening with Public Use Blanket COAs since the implementation of Part 107 covers all of the same operational areas; again, provided the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) intended to be used falls under the classification of “small unmanned aircraft” or sUA. If your sole reason for pursuing a Blanket COA and utilizing an internally developed “self-certification” plan for your operators is to avoid having to take an exam, and is not based on a definitive operational requirement that cannot be met using Part 107, the FAA will most likely challenge your request and your proposed sUAS training and certification plan very strongly.

Let’s discuss the bottom line:

Ultimately, we predict that in the not-so-distant future, Blanket COAs will no longer be given at all for true sUAS operations and everyone will be pushed to either Part 107 and/or a Jurisdictional COA if necessary. Also, contrary to former practices that were in common prior to the adoption of Part 107, it is not necessary for a Public entity to initially receive a Blanket COA and then request a Jurisdictional COA in order to enhance operational effectiveness associated with airspace and other “waiverable” items. It is currently an option to petition directly for a Jurisdictional COA for sUAS use by a Public/Government entity if appropriate.

Why does this matter:

For public safety departments or any other government entity pursuing a sUAS program, it’s crucial to take the correct steps to certifying and training your team. It’s important to know that although COAs are usually know as being the flexible option, a Part 107 certificate is what the FAA is pushing, and all sUAS operations falling under the FARs is the ultimate goal.

Interested in sUAS Training?

DARTdrones is the national leader in drone training and consulting. Our expert flight instructors will use their real-world experience to get you trained and launched in the drone industry. If you or your organization are interested in public safety UAS training, Part 107 test prep, online UAS courses, UAS consulting, or any other information and resources, visit www.dartdrones.com or call us at 800-264-3907!

The post Why a Blanket COA is No Longer a Good Option for a Public Safety sUAS Program appeared first on DARTdrones.

1. Updated sUAS Drone Industry Regulations from the FAA

The FAA’s publishing of Part 107 was HUGE news for unmanned aircraft operators in 2016. In addition to opening the door for integration of sUAS into the National Airspace System, it also established the first ever Airman Certificate for drone pilots that did not already possess a manned aircraft pilot’s license. Because it was designed to be a “first step” in the integration process, Part 107 understandably placed several heavy restrictions on when and where small unmanned aircraft could be flown. Thankfully, the FAA has continued to work with sUAS manufacturers and drone industry experts, and we can expect to see some modifications and loosening of these restrictions in the coming year. It may mean some additional training and certification requirements, or outfitting your drone with specific safety equipment if you want to fly within controlled airspace, at night, or over members of the public; however, we anticipate that some of the initial safety barriers will start to be removed in 2017. Learn more about the FAA drone rules and drone laws. 

2. Forget the sUAS Remote Control Transmitter

More and more drone manufacturers are leaving behind the traditional handheld, dual stick, controller that has been common place and are instead making their newest and most consumer focused sUAS controllable using just a smartphone, tablet, or sleek minimalist device. Personal action/adventure filming has become a primary use for these new compact systems like the DJI Mavic, Yuneec Breeze, or TEAL, and it’s pretty lame to try and star in your own thrilling cinematic adventure with a bulky radio controller in your hands! In fact, many of these same manufactures are including features that allow your drone to follow you, or one of your friends, without the need for a controller at all. Using either object recognition programming or a radio frequency identification bracelet, your drone will stick by your side and capture all the action along the way!

3. The Rise of Fixed-Wing Drones

Fixed-wing, or airplane, unmanned aircraft designs have been available to commercial users for quite some time; however, they have historically demanded a very high price because of their specialized target industries (agriculture, GIS aerial mapping, etc.) and nearly fully autonomous flight profiles. With more and more small companies and individuals looking to capitalize on the use of sUAS for a variety of specialized purposes under Part 107, expect to see more fixed-wing designs with lower price tags appear in the market place. Parrot has already released their Disco drone at a price point below $1,000.00, but featuring capabilities that match other fixed-wing designs costing five times as much. For operators in need of an aircraft that can cover large areas in a short amount of time and don’t require the ability to hover to capture the data they require, the nearly 1 hour flight times associated with fixed-wing sUAS operating on a single LiPo battery pack will be very desirable.

Interested in learning more about fixed wing drones versus multirotor drones?

4. Aww…Aren’t They Cute!?!

Pocket drones, nano drones, or folding drones (call them what you will) have been in the consumer spotlight for past few months and you can be sure they will remain there for the coming year. Much like the “smaller is better” trend with cell phones in the early to mid 2000s, drone users are embracing these micro machines for their portability and unique, “pet-like” abilities to stay by their side without the need for constant hands-on control. Not only will models like the DJI Mavic, Yuneec Breeze, and GoPro Karma continue to sell, expect newer and smaller models like the AirSelfie and Nixie to find success in the marketplace as well.

5. Mission Specific Drone Training is a Go!

Anyone that has spent even a short amount of time flying a “prosumer” level drone like the DJI Phantom or Yuneec Typhoon can tell you that getting them in the air and maneuvering them from place to place is pretty darn easy…and that’s the whole point of their technology! Small unmanned aircraft are designed to gather data in a convenient, reliable, and efficient manner; not require a pilot that has trained for hundreds or thousands of hours to master their trade. However, while the act of flying an sUAS is easy and may not require hands-on training for many individuals, the process of utilizing the aircraft to obtain the quality images, film, and data needed for the specific commercial or personal requirements you or your clients demand most certainly will. Even if you go by the call sign “Maverick” and fly like a Top Gun Ace in your backyard, chances are you will waste many an afternoon and lose multiple clients if you attempt to enter the commercial drone field without learning how to command your aircraft in the specific ways necessary to gather the data needed for the job at hand. As drone continue to prove themselves in a variety of capacities, expect to find specialized training courses being made available, and be sure to take advantage of them…your competition certainly will!

6. Watch Out!!…Don’t Worry, They Will

Nothing is more frustrating and demoralizing than a drone crash, let alone the high price tags to repair or replace your small unmanned aircraft. In order to provide drone pilots with a greater level of protection against these unfortunate situations, more and more manufacturers are incorporating obstacle detection and avoidance technology into their sUAS. These sensors and software not only serve as a built-in insurance policy of sorts, they also go a long way in enhancing the usability of the aircraft in real-world environments where obstacles are plentiful and operators need to focus on “getting the shots” without worrying about running into the side of a building. Expect to see virtually every new “professional capable” drone released to incorporate, or offer as optional equipment, some level of obstacle detection and avoidance system in 2017 and beyond.

7. And The New Drone Industry Ruler Is!…still DJI…

It’s inevitable that in the coming years, new rivals will whittle away at the commanding market share for prosumer level drones that has been held by DJI for the last few years; however, don’t expect much to change in 2017. With superior range for both aircraft control and live video feed signals, combined with excellent camera performance and workload-reducing autonomous flight modes, DJI aircraft will still be the drone of choice for professional and serious recreational drone pilots in the coming year. Further proof of this can be seen in their last 3 new aircraft releases, which all came within a two-month span in late 2016. Notable technology improvements included an even further extension on their already unmatched flight range, cameras capable of capturing up to 20 megapixel still photos and 5.2K video, 5-way obstacle detection and avoidance systems, and single battery flight times approaching 30 minutes for a multirotor drone. These enhancements clearly illustrate DJI’s continued position at the leading edge of the industry while all other competitors continue to play catch-up.

2017 is going to be another huge year for drone pilots. Have a safe and happy New Year and remember to fly safe!

DARTdrones is a national flight school for drone pilots offering online and in-person classes throughout the country. Learn how to properly operate and fly your drone, how to pass the FAA Part 107 Airman Knowledge Exam, and how to start your drone business. 

About the Author – Colin Romberger

Colin Romberger is a DARTdrones Flight Instructor and sUAS Implementation Consultant for DARTdrones’ clients. Colin holds a Masters Degree in Unmanned Aircraft Systems from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is a FAA Certified Ground Instructor, a Private Pilot, and a skydiving instructor with over 1500 jumps.

The post 2017 Drone Industry Predictions and sUAS Forecast appeared first on DARTdrones.