I work as an engineer managing material inventory for 18 sites across 3 states. Here’s my flight record for 2024. Curious to know if these flight hours seem typical for someone with my role.
400.3ft? The FAA might have something to say about that…
Jensen said:
400.3ft? The FAA might have something to say about that…
.3 Right to jail.
Jensen said:
400.3ft? The FAA might have something to say about that…
I don’t think that’s a problem unless it’s measured from sea level or near a structure.
Top distance 66,000 feet? Does that mean you flew it over 10 miles away and back?
Val said:
Top distance 66,000 feet? Does that mean you flew it over 10 miles away and back?
No, I do area surveys to create 3D models with photogrammetry. The drone always stays within the boundary I set and within visibility. That top distance is probably from my 345-acre site.
@Sky
Ah, that makes sense.
Val said:
Top distance 66,000 feet? Does that mean you flew it over 10 miles away and back?
No, it’s just grid flights.
Boo those are rookie numbers .
So, you only fly for 11 minutes a day?
Pax said:
So, you only fly for 11 minutes a day?
The drone isn’t my full-time job. I fly quarterly and when requested for a survey. The flights usually last anywhere from 15 to 53 minutes. I just thought the stats were interesting.
@Sky
Fair enough. Calculating the average speed would be interesting.
Pax said:
@Sky
Fair enough. Calculating the average speed would be interesting.
For the quarterly flights, I fly about 12 hours over five days, not including drive time and setup.
Pax said:
@Sky
Fair enough. Calculating the average speed would be interesting.
I actually know that! I set all the parameters for the survey flight. The speed is usually 25-27mph depending on site size and altitude.
I did that in less than a month last summer during peak photovoltaic inspection season. Hope you’re enjoying it!
Parker said:
I did that in less than a month last summer during peak photovoltaic inspection season. Hope you’re enjoying it!
What do you do if you don’t mind sharing?
Parker said:
I did that in less than a month last summer during peak photovoltaic inspection season. Hope you’re enjoying it!
Is PV inspection a major commercial application for drones? I’ve also heard about using drones for O&G well monitoring with gas sensors. What other commercial applications do you think are promising for current drone tech?
@Lex
Right now, it’s a good entry point for new pilots because you can fly them with a Mavic 3T without needing anything expensive. It pays well and you can make a decent profit. But there are other jobs that pay better, like LiDAR, though it’s costly. So, there are many options to consider.
Parker said:
I did that in less than a month last summer during peak photovoltaic inspection season. Hope you’re enjoying it!
Lol I just noticed some people are upset about my reply. Is it a crime to fly more hours than others?
@Parker
Maybe it came off as bragging? I should check my M300’s stats. 