Maximizing Drone Battery Life: Essential Care Tips for LiPo Batteries

Are you a passionate drone pilot like me who is a drone hobbyist or a drone professional who uses drones almost daily, and has spent a fair amount of money on drone equipment over the years, including batteries? I fly drones for a living now, and my biggest concern is to have equipment that I can rely on during a professional shoot, which I want to conduct in the most efficient and productive manner.  So, if you're an owner of DJI drones like me (Inspire, Mavic Pro, Mini, Phantom series, etc.), you know that your drone's performance heavily relies on its LiPo (Lithium Polymer) batteries. These batteries power your drone flights, but they aren't immortal.  As the battery's capacity decreases, the runtime of devices that use the battery will be reduced and the battery will eventually need to be replaced. Since my goal as a drone pilot and a business owner is to maximize my drone flight time per battery, and minimize my battery replacement cost, prolonging the life of the batteries is of utmost importance to me.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve deep into the world of LiPo batteries, exploring essential care tips to maximize their lifespan and optimize your drone's performance. We also have a YouTube Video on this topic for those who prefer visual learning.

Understanding LiPo Drone Batteries

LiPo batteries have transformed the drone industry, thanks to their outstanding energy density. These batteries excel at storing a significant amount of energy in a lightweight and compact package. This incredible power-to-weight ratio makes LiPo batteries the perfect choice for powering DJI drones. Whether it's capturing stunning aerial shots, performing rapid ascents, or compensating for challenging weather conditions during flight, LiPo batteries are the backbone of your drone's capabilities.

Fun Fact: LiPo batteries can typically endure between 200-400 charge cycles if they receive proper care.

Factors Affecting Drone Battery Life

To ensure your DJI LiPo drone batteries remain in prime condition and serve you faithfully for an extended period, it's essential to understand the various factors that can influence their lifespan:

Overcharging/Over Discharging

Arguably the most critical aspect of LiPo battery care is avoiding overcharging or leaving your batteries fully charged for prolonged periods. Overcharging places undue stress on your batteries, leading to capacity loss and potential safety hazards. To maintain optimal battery health, it's crucial to store your LiPo batteries at around 50-60% charge in a cool, dry environment.

Monitoring Cell Voltage

Modern DJI drones are equipped with advanced technology that allows you to monitor individual cell voltages through the DJI GO flight app. This feature empowers you to land your drone promptly if any cell voltage approaches an unsafe level, ensuring the longevity of your batteries.

Smart Batteries

DJI's "smart batteries" come equipped with technology that monitors various battery parameters, such as temperature, voltage, and capacity. While these built-in safeguards enhance safety, they should never be fully trusted. It's imperative never to leave LiPo batteries unattended while charging to mitigate potential failures.

Overheating/Over Cooling

Extreme temperatures can wreak havoc on your battery's internal components and pose safety risks. For optimal performance, ensure your batteries are at the right temperature (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Celsius) before launching your drone. This is particularly critical when flying in cold weather.

Physical Damage

Batteries displaying any signs of physical damage, such as punctures, swelling, or cracks, should never be used. Such damage compromises the integrity of the battery's internal components and heightens the risk of accidents.

Safe Storage

For safe storage, always keep your LiPo drone batteries in a cool, dry place away from flammable materials. Consider investing in a fireproof container designed explicitly for battery storage to enhance safety further.

For those who prefer visual learning, here's an informative YouTube VLOG that delves deeper into the topic of maximizing drone battery life:

Essential tips to maximize the lifespan of your DJI drone Lipo batteries

Advanced Tips for Extending Drone Battery Life

If you're a committed drone pilot looking to take your battery care to the next level, consider implementing these advanced tips:

Optimize Charging Practices

Select a charger explicitly designed for LiPo cells when charging your batteries. Avoid using chargers not meant for LiPo batteries, as they can lead to overcharging and other issues.

Battery Maintenance

Incorporate regular battery inspections into your routine. Even if your batteries appear to be functioning correctly, early detection of issues can prevent more significant problems down the line.

Storage Voltage

For extended storage periods, maintain your batteries at a storage voltage of around 3.8 volts per cell. Many DJI drones offer a storage mode that automatically sets the batteries to this level.

Transportation

When traveling with your drone, always remove the batteries and transport them in a fire-resistant bag explicitly designed for LiPo batteries. This extra precaution can mitigate risks during transportation.

Manufacturers' Guidelines

Always adhere to the manufacturer's guidelines and recommendations regarding battery care and usage. These guidelines are meticulously crafted to ensure safety and optimize battery life.

Battery Cycle Management

Keep meticulous records of the number of charge cycles each of your LiPo batteries has undergone. This knowledge will help you plan for replacements as batteries approach the end of their lifespan.

Conclusion

Your DJI LiPo drone batteries are more than mere power sources; they are key to the reliable performance of your drone while capturing breathtaking aerial shots and should be cared for accordingly.  By understanding their characteristics, and limitations, and diligently following the tips and best practices outlined in this guide, you can significantly extend the life of your batteries.

Maximizing drone battery life isn't just about saving money on replacements; it's also about ensuring the safety and reliability of your drone flights. With proper care, your LiPo batteries can serve you faithfully for several years, delivering countless hours of flight time, capturing unforgettable experiences, and increasing your drone business customer satisfaction.

I hope you found this drone battery care guide helpful, consider commenting, subscribing to our Drone Training newsletter, and following us on YouTube and Instagram channels. If you are in the Cleveland, Ohio, area keep an eye on drone meetups for North Coast Drone Alliance which I also attend as one of the board members and founders, during which members share their drone experiences and tips, and come together to fly at local parks.

Drone Mapping Advantages vs. Conventional Mapping Methods

Drone mapping is becoming a popular use case for drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles. There are several reasons why it is getting so much traction with various industries:

1.    Cost-effectiveness: Drones can cover large areas quickly and at a lower cost than traditional survey methods, such as using manned aircraft or ground surveys.

2.    High-resolution imagery: Drones can capture high-resolution images and data that can be used for detailed mapping and analysis.

3.    Safety: Drones can access areas that are difficult or dangerous for humans to reach, such as steep terrain, hazardous sites, or structures.

4.    Speed: Drones can cover large areas quickly, reducing the time required to complete a mapping project.

5.    Flexibility: Drones can be easily deployed and controlled, allowing for mapping in a wide range of conditions and environments.

6.    Data collection: Drones can be equipped with a variety of sensors, such as cameras, LiDAR, and thermal imaging, to collect a wide range of data for various mapping applications.

7.    3D mapping: Drones can generate 3D models of landscapes and structures, providing more accurate and detailed information than traditional 2D maps.

8.    Regular updates: Drones can be used for regular monitoring and updating of maps at a fraction of the time and cost vs. traditional methods, which enables tracking changes over time possible for organizations that couldn’t afford it before.

9.    Accuracy: Drone mapping can provide just as accurate maps as traditional methods, as it can use GPS and other technologies (such as including ground control points) to ensure precise GIS information.

Most of the drone mapping can be performed using drone photogrammetry, but other technologies such as lidar can also be used with the drone technology for certain use cases.

If you want to learn more about drone mapping, its uses, how much it costs, and how it is performed, read more details in our What is Drone Mapping blog post, and view V1DroneMedia drone services for AEC industries.

V1DroneMedia is a drone services provider in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. We service midwestern states, and our drone services include drone mapping, drone videography (including FPV drones), drone photography, full video production, virtual tours, drone construction services, and drone training.

V1Dronemedia’s Chief Drone Pilot has 20+ years of experience in commercial airlines, and 30+ years in remote control aviation. If you are interested in contracting drone mapping services and are looking for a quote, contact us!

What is DJI Fly Safe? Is unlocking a Geo Zone in DJI Fly Safe the same as getting an FAA Authorization?

I am a commercial drone pilot, drone services provider, and drone educator based in Cleveland, Ohio, and I get a lot of questions concerning drone operations from drone hobbyists, drone training students, and those that read and watch my drone education content. Recently I noticed that there is some confusion concerning DJI Fly Safe Geo Zone Unlocks to remove flying restrictions that prevent the aircraft to fly vs. getting an FAA Authorization to fly in controlled airspace.

In this blog post I explain the following:

·       What DJI Fly Safe is

·       How unlocking DJI Fly Safe Geo Zones differs from getting FAA Authorization to fly in a certain airspace

·       Clear up the confusion between unlocking DJI Fly Safe Geo Zones vs. getting an FAA authorization

·       How to unlock DJI Geo Zones through the DJI Fly Safe website

You can also watch my Vlog/Video Tutorial on this topic below if you prefer getting your information audiovisually.

What is DJI Fly Safe?

DJI Fly Safe is a drone flight geofence system implemented by DJI for the drones they manufacture. It uses GPS coordinates to create flight restrictions (Authorization or Restricted Zones) in certain areas to keep everyone safe and compliant with existing FAA flight restrictions for drones. This system will restrict your DJI-manufactured drone from taking off, flying, and landing in such an area.

Is unlocking a DJI geo zone the same as getting FAA Authorization to fly a drone?

No, they are 2 different things and are both necessary to obtain in order to legally fly your DJI-made drone within controlled airspace.

Can I get an FAA Authorization through DJI Flysafe?

No, you can only obtain FAA Authorization to fly in controlled airspace through LAANC or the FAA Drone Zone. Even if you self-unlock your DJI Drone to fly in an area that requires FAA Authorization, you shouldn’t do so until you also receive FAA Authorization to fly there.

How do I know which area requires an FAA Authorization?

There are several ways to check what type of airspace you are intending to fly in.  The easiest way is with an app that was developed in conjunction with the FAA, called B4UFLY.

Commercial drone pilots are required to learn all about these airspace restrictions for their planning and decision-making in everyday operations, and such education is included in most Part 107 Test Training for those who want to take the Part 107 Exam, as well as some basic knowledge is included into the FAA TRUST test for recreational drone pilots (hobbyists), see my VLOG on the TRUST Test for more information on this.

There are also many other apps developed by 3rd parties to help plan drone flight missions, and some with the ability to request FAA airspace authorizations (LAANC) through the app (such as Airmap, UASidekick, and Aloft, to name a few).

How to unlock a Geo Zone in DJI Flysafe?

I have step-by-step instructions on how to do this in my Video Tutorial at the beginning of this post. Check out the timestamps in the description below the video (in the YouTube view) to get to the tutorial you are looking for.

Does unlocking a Geo Zone in DJI Flysafe transfer to my drone automatically?

The unlocking license should transfer to the DJI app once you are connected to the internet/wifi with the phone/tablet that you intend to fly with.  You may then have to add the license to your aircraft using the DJI App. I show how to do this in my Video Tutorial as well.

How do I apply for an FAA Authorization to fly drones in controlled airspace?

A few years ago, I recorded a video tutorial about how to get FAA flight authorization for controlled airspace through the LAANC and DroneZone. Check it out for step-by-step instructions!

I hope I was able to clear up some confusion and equip you with the knowledge on ‘how-to’ get permissions to fly your DJI-manufactured drone from both FAA and DJI.

As usual, I encourage you to go out and practice flying if you are an aspiring drone pilot, and only to do so safely.

If don’t’ have your Trust certificate yet, please get one before you fly your drone (even if you only intend to fly for recreational purposes). If you want to take the FAA Part 107 Certificate Exam to earn your commercial drone pilot license, or to get more hands-on flight experience, check out drone training classes I teach in the Cleveland area, including Part 107 Prep Class and Drone Operations Class.

Feel free to Contact me if you have any questions or suggestions for more content like this!

Ohio Drone Laws

As a commercial drone services provider located in Cleveland, Ohio, we know a thing or two about flying in this state. One of the questions we get asked often is whether you can fly at a specific location in Cleveland. See our blog post Where to Fly Drones in Cleveland for that information.

Drone flights in Ohio are subject to FAA regulations for operating in the national airspace. Some municipalities are enacting their own ordinances for drone use, but these should only apply to launching and landing locations, as local municipalities don't control airspace. We recommend checking your city/county for any such drone restrictions.

FAA Part 107 Regulations

Under FAA regulations you must have either a TRUST Test Certificate (for hobbyists) or a Part 107 Drone License Certificate (for commercial drone pilots) to fly drones in Ohio. We offer Part 107 Prep classes locally as a 2-day in-person class that prepares anyone to take and pass the test. See our event schedule for the next available class and read our student testimonials (over 95% of students pass the Part 107 Test after taking our classes!).

Are There Drone Flight Restrictions in Ohio?

It all depends on what type of airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). You may have to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain area, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for more detailed information and tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during any sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place.  A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL and MLB games from one hour prior to the game start to one hour after the game ends. These rules do get enforced, see this article about drone pilots pleading guilty to illegal Ohio stadium flights in 2023.

Can You Fly a Drone in Ohio State Parks and Cleveland Metroparks?

As a rule of thumb, national parks do not allow drone use on their properties. Some Metroparks have enacted the same ordinance, so you should check with the specific Metropark system. There are several designated areas where you can fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see details in their Drone Policy.

Municipal parks don't have the same restrictions usually but check with the specific park and municipality before flying your drone.

Drone Registration

If you want to fly your drone in Ohio (and anywhere else in the United States), you are required to register your drone if it is 0.55 lbs or larger if you fly as a hobbyist, and all drones (regardless of weight) if you operate commercially (under Part 107). You can register your drone on the FAA DroneZone website. The cost for registration is $5 and is valid for three years.

So, if you have checked off all necessary registrations, FAA Airspace Authorizations, and hold an appropriate FAA certificate, you are ready to fly. Now to the fun part, where can you fly your drone in Ohio? We've compiled some of our favorite locations in Cleveland where we frequently fly, see them in the Where to Fly Your Drone in Cleveland blog post.

Why hands-on drone flight training is important for drone pilots

As a new year begins, many of us are making New Year resolutions. V1DroneMedia's resolution is to bring the most up-to-date and simple-to-understand drone knowledge to you: information about drone regulations, drone industry, equipment capabilities, flight skills, and other drone information to those interested in learning more about drone technology and getting started in flying drones safely and legally.

A lot of drone pilot schools are focused on education and compliance with the FAA drone laws and regulations and getting the Part 107 Remote Pilot License. And this IS where you should start your drone journey if you are thinking about getting a drone or just purchased one because you want to be aware of where and how to operate your drone safely and legally, avoid any negative law enforcement or 'well-wisher' attention, and can intelligently answer any questions about how and where you can legally fly.  We have covered all these subjects in our blog post A Beginner's Guide To Drones and have regularly scheduled Drone Training Courses that you can attend to learn this information and get ready for the FAA Part 107 Drone Certification Test.

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot teaching Traffic Patterns during an FAA Part 107 Drone License Prep Course

However, learning safe drone operations or procuring your Part 107 Drone Pilot Certificate is only a starting point (one should walk before they run). The essential part of your drone training should be getting hands-on time flying the drone. That means being comfortable with operating the drone apps (such as DJI, Litchi, etc.), performing takeoffs and landings, learning to maintain and calibrate the drone, performing routine flight maneuvers, operate the camera to take pictures and video. These skills cannot be taught in a classroom, and you need them to fly the drone proficiently if you are serious about becoming a drone pilot. You must get out there and learn to fly your drone, just like manned aviation pilots spend hours flying in a simulator or with an instructor before flying on their own (I spent hours and days in simulator sessions during my training as a commercial pilot, and had to do recurrent training every year in a simulator as well).

While flying a drone doesn't come with the liability of flying an aircraft worth millions of dollars with people on board, it is still very important to understand the systems that make a drone work and be proficient with your equipment to ensure safe operation.

A drone is usually needed to shoot an aerial photo or video of a certain subject matter or an object on the ground or even high up in the air, and you need to have skills to fly the drone to focus on a subject, position the camera of the drone to shoot video or photo from different angles while flying around the subject, maybe even track the subject and shoot continuous video or photographs.

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot with students during a drone flight session

Many of these flight maneuvers are built into intelligent flight modes in the apps nowadays, but you would still need to know how the different intelligent flight modes work and become proficient at setting them up and incorporating them into your workflow (if needed). Learning to fly in a manual mode is also very important and can be beneficial in many situations – especially if you would have to manually take control of the aircraft for any reason.

To help fill the gap in hands-on drone flight experience for aspiring drone pilots V1DroneMedia is now offering Drone Operations classes with both classroom and outdoor time for learning the drone apps, flying procedures and hands-on time, and Hands-on Flying Sessions for individuals and groups tailored to individuals' skill levels and goals. If one of your resolutions this year is to explore a drone as a hobby, learn to fly a drone proficiently, or learn advanced drone flying skills to further your drone industry career goals, Contact Us to schedule your session today! And get on an e-mail list to stay informed about our group class schedules.

Top Drone Applications in Construction Project Management

Many people don't think of drone uses beyond military applications or taking aerial pictures and video for professional photographers, videographers, and filmmakers. The truth is many industries are adopting this multi-use tool at very fast rates, and using drones for construction project management and site visualization is a top trend in the construction industry, according to Project Manager News.

Here are the top 4 drone uses for construction projects

1.   Construction Project Management via Construction Site Visualization

Drone photos and videos taken and shared at regular intervals for construction monitoring to verify progress, changes, and comparison vs. design documentation can improve communication and decision-making between the construction project management team members. When they are looking at the same pictures or video vs. written or verbal reports from several people walking the construction site at different times, there is a lot more clarity and agreement on the state of the site's progress, leading to faster problem identification and decision-making.

360 video and photo technology, when combined with drones can help produce virtual construction site tours (with interior and exterior of the building, see our example here) that can be used for touring the site virtually by team members, customers, or owner's reps, which gives transparency on the project progress, can help resolve conflicts, and speed up decision making.

Site mapping using drone photogrammetry software can be performed in all stages of construction, overlaying processed drone site maps with site plans for utility, wastewater, equipment location, etc.), helping with planning and managing the site.

2.     Drone Inspection (Building, Façade, roof, Equipment)

Remote drone inspections performed by qualified drone pilots can replace hours of human time spent inspecting and tracking the state or location of equipment, structures, and critical assets, decreasing the likelihood of employee accidents and human error when gathering this data visually by walking the site or climbing structures, leading to a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective operation.

Proven drone photogrammetry scanning software such as Drone Deploy, Pix4D, AgiSoft (and others) offer tools to upload and process point cloud data gathered by a drone pilot in a matter of hours, giving real-time actionable information in form of hi-res images and digital twins of structures (3D aerial photogrammetry models) for someone to conduct an inspection in the safety of their office, and provide collaborative tools for the construction team to document photographic evidence and make notes on "problem" areas.

3.     Construction Site Documentation

You can document as-built conditions upon the completion of the project via panoramic photo and video virtual tours, site maps, and 3D model creation that can be integrated into BIM (Building Information Management) and MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) documentation.

Many photogrammetry drone software tools also offer integration of processed data (aerial maps, 3D models, etc.) with leading construction management software platforms, making the incorporation of this technology into existing workflows easier.

4.     Construction Services Marketing

It is well-documented that aerial photos and videos of construction sites are some of the best ways to market construction services. Construction site drone photos and videos can be used in customer presentations, websites, and social media to showcase progress and finished projects that give the firm credibility and get prospective customers excited about a potential partnership. What can be more gratifying and exciting than seeing a building which took months, if not years to build, go up in a Hyperlapse video in less than a minute?

Finally, the ability to provide construction site visualization and progress reports via photos, video, and virtual tours can be an additional way to make your construction company stand out among competitors when bidding for a construction project, as that's an additional value you are providing with multiple customer benefits.

We at V1DroneMedia specialize in providing safe, legal, and high-quality aerial drone services in and around Cleveland, Ohio, to various industries, including construction. Check out V1DroneMedia Drone Construction Services and Contact Us for a consultation or a project quote.

What Drone Footage Will Do For Your Videos

What are the benefits of aerial drone video?

What industries can benefit from aerial drone video?

How are drones used in the film industry?

What do drone photography and videography cost?

What do I need to know before hiring a drone pilot?

Who doesn't want to wow their clients and audiences? Well, the use of aerial video can help you do just that and stand out from your competition. It can help you grab attention, leave a lasting impression, and make your good video, commercial, or film even better.

Until recently, if you wanted to have aerial footage included in your video you had to rent expensive equipment (helicopter or an airplane), hire a pilot to fly it, and a videographer to shoot aerial footage, so this was out of reach for many businesses and filmmakers. In 2016 commercial drone use became legal when the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) started regulating and licensing drone operators. Affordable, but high-quality drone equipment also became available, which made this type of footage accessible for smaller budgets.

Here are several reasons why you should think of including aerial shots into your video content or film:

For starters, it gives any video that wow factor. Humans are visual beings, and when you see anything from a different perspective (especially aerial), it elevates the visual experience to a completely different level. In simple terms though, you see more from the bird's eye view and this perspective can be mesmerizing, so you are instantly able to grab attention and get an emotional response from the viewer, regardless of what you are showcasing. Watch the short downtown Cleveland drone video below, you will see what kind of mood and tone can be set with some aerials and music!

In addition to arousing an emotional response from the viewer, many products and services are best showcased from an aerial perspective. Companies now realize that marketing content in video form works best (we cover this in detail in Why Video For Your Marketing Content blog post), and adding aerial video for those industries adds a lot of visual value.

For the real estate and hospitality industries, aerial photos and videos can instantly provide information not available from the ground perspective. With a couple of shots, you can showcase the location, property size and amenities, backyard features, proximity to transportation, leisure activities, and more. Most real estate customers and event planners do their research online nowadays, and beautiful and informative aerial views can help them evaluate the property and help visualize themselves in these locations. Here are examples of commercial and residential real estate videos produced by V1DroneMedia that do just that.

Aerial views are also best for documenting the work of companies in Construction, Roofing, Landscaping, Paving, Lighting, and other industries. This type of footage can give tools to not only share the progress of work and results with clients, but also content for marketing to prospective customers via print materials, website, and social media. Here is a paving company marketing video that V1DroneMedia fully produced. Drones make even dirty work look cool!

And here is a hyperlapse construction progress video that showcases the project to the client or prospective clients with a lot of powerful imagery, almost making the customer feel like they are on the site watching it happen!

Companies that manufacture and provide transportation and recreation products and services also can benefit from the aerial shots, as they can highlight their products and services in action. Such products are cars, boats, travel services and experiences, and many more. There isn't a car or a cruise commercial nowadays that doesn't have an aerial shot included!

Drones are also being widely used for outdoor event coverage, including live streaming. Aerial view of the event allows organizers to highlight attendance, show action on the field from a different perspective, convey the atmosphere and attractions of the event, as well as highlight sponsors. Sporting events, outdoor concerts, community festivals, business events, and weddings regularly use drone footage for their event videography and broadcasting. Here is the Sunnyside Chevrolet outdoor car show event video, and Quaker Steak & Lube franchise corporate video, combining traditional ground and aerial footage from V1DroneMedia.

In film and TV, drones are often used to showcase locations, buildings (i.e. establishing shots), time of day (sunrise, sunset, nighttime), weather conditions, and beautiful scenery with many of these shots being used for transition between scenes. Also, motion and tracking shots are very popular (we've all seen chase scenes from the bird's eye view) and showcasing remote locations and the expansive size of the subject matter (battlefield scenes, forests, deserts, bodies of water, etc.). Therefore, almost every movie and documentary have drone footage nowadays. As an example, here is a 30 second Cleveland Cavaliers commercial with Cleveland downtown aerials shot by V1DroneMedia throughout the spot, and below is the opening sequence of the NFL Draft 2021 shown on the NFL Network with the Cleveland drone footage shot by V1DroneMedia.

In short, drones will elevate your video value to the viewer and help you grab attention, whether you are making a corporate video, highlighting office or factory location, showcasing your product/service, showing a different perspective of your subject matter, or documenting an event.

What will drone video services cost? A simple short video clip can be as low as a few hundred dollars, with a short fully produced video with original footage starting around $1500-$2000. If you don't need original video footage, a fully edited video from existing video clips is a good budget option. Overall pricing depends on the level of complexity: type of drone equipment used, length of the video, location, flight authorizations required, ownership rights to the footage, and level of video editing services needed.

So, you have decided to get some drone shots, now what? If you are looking to hire a drone pilot or production company for aerial drone video, you should make sure that they are qualified to perform the work. Here are the top 5 things to consider:

1.   Is the pilot licensed?

2.   Is the operator insured?

3.   Are they knowledgeable about airspace, flight restrictions, and authorizations?

4.   What is the pilot's experience level?

5.   Do you like their previous work/portfolio?

We cover this subject in more depth in our article Hiring a Drone Pilot

V1DroneMedia started providing aerial media services as soon as the use of drones became regulated by FAA and since then we have gained a lot of experience helping to sell residential and commercial real estate, produce corporate videos, TV commercials, document and Livestream events, provide aerial footage for TV, news and documentaries. See our Portfolio and YouTube channel for more customer projects.

Our drone pilot, Jason Damman, is a commercial airline pilot by trade who has been passionate for aviation since his teenage years, flying radio-controlled airplanes before going on to the airline career where he has now spent over 20+ years flying the friendly skies. You can get more details on our pilot and his credentials on the About page. Besides technical and flying expertise, Jason has also developed a keen cinematographer eye and always provides excellent customer service, for which he is constantly praised. You can see our customer reviews here.

V1DroneMedia video services range from raw video clips to include in your video, to fully produced and edited video, including traditional ground videography and post-production services such as color grading, licensed music and subtitles, complete with digital file delivery. We also have Cleveland aerial drone stock footage available for purchase.

If you are interested in a consultation or getting a quote, call us at 419-699-6010, or get in touch with us on the Contact page.