Drones: Expert Guides and Resources

Drone piloting is for fun . . . and profit, if you want to go that route! It can start out as a hobby and become a side hustle or even a full-time job in a particular industry. From giving you tips about buying a drone, to flying it safely, to taking the Part 107 exam, to cranking up a freelance business, this cheat sheet can help you get your drone piloting goals off the ground.

Drones are high-technology devices that are constantly evolving thanks to a burgeoning community of enthusiastic technologists. Technology has made it possible for multi-rotor drones to be controlled by beginner pilots. But don’t be fooled; while modern drones are much easier to control, they are still dangerous and require the user to pay attention to even the smallest of details.

The term drone is thrown around in a haphazard manner these days. Originally, drone referred to an unmanned aircraft preprogrammed with a flight plan, in which the aircraft would fly in either a straight line or around in circles until the engine would run low on fuel, and then the drone would land. Credit: ©iStockphoto.

Many pilots will tell you that takeoff and landing tend to be where the majority of accidents happen. You can minimize this with your drone by ensuring that your takeoff location is clean, dry, level, and stable. However, even with the best launch pad, landing can be tricky because of the turbulence that you may experience during a descent.

Using forums and social networks to connect with other drone users is a great way to not only get help with your drone and meet people, it’s also a great way to stay informed on drone news. One major issue on the minds of most drone users is how the FAA’s ruling in September 2015 will affect drone flying in the United States and around the world.

Some drones offer advanced flight controller applications that run on a smartphone or tablet. The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 works exclusively with their tablet application. Here is the Parrot AR drone control interface. Credit: Courtesy of Andrew AmatoParrot’s control interface is high-tech and slick! The DJI drones can work with an app in conjunction with an RC.

Flying your drone with a remote control (RC) transmitter means that you will be limited to flying line-of-sight, meaning you can’t fly what you can’t see! Flying with an RC transmitter also means that you won’t have the benefit of advanced communication that comes with smart devices like phones and tablets. Flying with an RC Check out this DJI transmitter.

The only way to master flying a drone is to put in hours flying, crashing, and tinkering with it alongside educating yourself about the ins and outs of drones and drone flight. Your drone’s manual can help get you started, but in time, you will find that you need access to many more resources to help you excel at flying your drone.