Maybe you couldn’t fulfill the aspiration of becoming a pilot. You may have come a long way since, but you still regret not being able to sail through the clouds. Well, the encouraging news is, even without any formal training in the field of aviation, you can earn the tag of a pilot. Thanks to the increasing popularity of drones, you can seriously consider becoming a pilot when you buy one such UAV.
But, that raises your eyebrows, as you are clueless on the procedure. Don’t worry, as it wouldn’t take long for you to adapt the necessary skills of becoming a drone pilot. After reading this article, you can conveniently operate the drone and have a grasp of the federal rules that you need to follow.
Begin practicing with a cheap drone
Of course, you need a drone at first, and since you are commencing your piloting experience, start with the cheap beginner-friendly drones. You should easily find drones under $100 to kick start your journey. If you have the cash to splash, you may consider buying a high-end drone, chances are, it would be an unworthy investment.
Firstly, these drones are not designated for the novices, and you will find its features too tough. Secondly, the possibilities of crashing the drone during the initial practice stages are high, and you will rue that the expensive investment goes for a begging.
On the other hand, cheaper and user-friendly drones have many advantages. Some of the essential features like the headless mode or the beginner mode can assist you in the learning curve. For instance, headless mode makes it easier operating the drone via the remote controller, and soon you learn how to move the drone.
Then drones featuring the beginner mode precisely throttles the speed. It ensures you are controlling the drone precisely. Furthermore, it efficiently enables a virtual geofence, and the drone will always fly near you.
Gradually, as you build confidence, you can try the normal mode. Here is a word of warning. You should not fly the drone consistently with the assistance of the headless and beginner mode, as you will become dependent on those features. After practicing for a month or so, you should move over to a more advanced drone. Its self-assessment time, depending on your level of confidence, you can decide which drone to buy next.
You necessarily do not have to spend tens of thousands of dollars for the new drone. You will find a wide array of drones that are well below the $1000 price bracket. These drones pack some incredible features along with a high-quality camera for you to explore the skies. If you are seriously considering using the drones for enhancing your profession, try the high-end drones that come with intelligent features and 4K quality cameras. No wonder, you can take your professional career to the next level.
Register the drone
It hardly matters if you are buying a drone for practicing or for performing professional work. Your first task should be checking the weight of it. Drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds require registration with the FAA. Don’t worry; the registration procedure with the FAA is cheap and quick. Soon enough, you will receive the unique registration number, and your drone must display it when on the flight.
Time to learn the various advanced aspects of the drone
Now, it is time to take your piloting experience to the next level. At first, you should become familiar with the various terms associated with the drones. You will need them consistently when you are trying to gather more experience as a pilot. Additionally, this is the best time to learn about flight fundamentals. The things you should keep in mind include, the functionality of the propellers, the role of the weather when you are flying, and how you can control the drone via the settings.
The next most important aspect is safety. Here, we are talking about the safety of both the drone and the people and property in the surroundings. You should make it a habit to go through the safety drills before flying the drone. Some of these include pre-inspecting the drone each time before the flight, ensuring to keep the drone within sight, study the obstacles around, and not flying the drone over the crowded areas. Then there are the federal regulations which you must abide.
Time to earn your Part 107 remote pilot certificate
After learning the advanced aspects as mentioned above, you are all set to prepare for earning the Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Once you obtain the said certificate, you are now an official drone pilot. You must undergo a knowledge test. It is a 60-item multiple-choice exam that covers various aspects related to aviation, your ability to interpret sectional charts, and how you understand the weather forecasts. You must obtain 70% to become eligible for the drone pilot license.
You must undertake the preparations for this exam seriously. It is not only about obtaining the certificate, but the things you learn will eventually help you when you fly the drone. It is a matter of great pride and honor, that the FAA approved certificate signifies you as a prestigious member of the air fleet. It also means you vow to maintain the safety of the airspace.
After crossing the hurdle of the knowledge test, there is one final step. You need to undergo a background check by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration). The TSA will check your aviation history and mainly search if you have practiced any unlawful acts. The procedure can take up to two months. Once they give you a clean sheet, FAA will e-mail you the drone pilot certificate.
Wrapping it up
Doesn’t it sound exciting, that you can officially become a drone pilot, that too recognized by the FAA? Yes, the procedure can take time, and some of you might find it a hard nut to crack, but it is definitely worth a try. After all, you are finally going to fulfill your long term desire of becoming a pilot.