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Recent content by SethB

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    Can you sell drone footage shot on US Forest Service as stock footage?

    There are two forms of employment - if you are working as an independent pilot, as a freelancer, contractor, etc. then you will need your own “tools”. This is per the IRS regulations on who is an employee and who could be a contractor/freelancer. IRS steps in because they want to assure...
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    Starting part 107 high school class, reg question

    Awesome news! All the best for your program in 2024 - I hope your students get a lot of learning and inspiration out of it.
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    Starting part 107 high school class, reg question

    OP, have you had any success with finding a CBO for this? Are there local colleges that articulate any of their courses with high schools? This is common; what we found is that HS students could take a class in their school from a HS teacher who was also approved as a college instructor, under...
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    Starting part 107 high school class, reg question

    I started one U.S. college program, helped start another, and consulted with other colleges on their programs. The regs were indeed clear that live flight operations instruction needed to be performed by instructors holding a current Pt. 107 certificate. When we started, prior to the 2018 FAA...
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    Step 1, Complete the Part 107 UA General - Small Exam: Complete

    I recommend *not* starting out with commercial clients for no pay. * It zeros the value of your own work and the work of others. * You’ll find low-market and/or unscrupulous realtors - they know they should be paying for aerials if they want them. * It’s very difficult to later bump up a...
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    Can I fly here?

    As the landowner, Vermont State Parks determine what uses are allowed from their properties. This includes drone operations from parks. Contact them for info! (What’s a DCR?)
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    UAS High School Class

    Programs at my college: We have HS early entry and adjudicated youth engagement programs. There, they are building and flying fpv drones - looks way fun and engaging! In my CTE digital media photo/video courses students are learning to fly on Tellos with controllers in the gym, before we go...
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    Survey Signs (hi rises, billboards, building signs, etc)

    RTK advertised as 1 to 2 centimeter accuracy. It’s very helpful with photogrammetric approaches to 3D modeling to have one known measurement to provide scale.
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    Survey Signs (hi rises, billboards, building signs, etc)

    One of the main differentiators between most consumer and pro drones is the ability to integrate different sensor payloads, such as cameras, rangefinders, thermal, etc. Maybe somebody has a standalone recording laser rangefinding sensor that could be strapped to a consumer drone… but how do you...
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    Contracts

    If you go out as a services provider, contractor, or day-rate freelancer I would consider a minimum of double your regular rates for exclusive rights. Employers typically own the work output of their full-time employees, when images / video were created in the normal course of performing the...
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    Operations Over People- What would you do if you could?

    It can be done with a Mini 2 and propguards at under 250g. But you’d have to read the article @Vic Moss linked, or the article I linked in the first post to learn how. @chasco how would you use a Category 1 drone if you had access to one? They *do* exist!
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    Operations Over People- What would you do if you could?

    @Ajkm sorry, I don’t know how to take your comment. Would U.S. pilots and/or residents flee the intrusive drones, or are you saying that OOP is more readily and legally accomplished in Canada? Please excuse my ignorance of Canadian drone regs! Thanks @Vic Moss - a most interesting read! I have...
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    Operations Over People- What would you do if you could?

    There are a few obstacles before we get to legal operations over people. Category 1 drones (under .55 lbs, don’t lacerate skin) are difficult to come by in a useful form, and Category 2 and 3 drones won’t be with us until manufacturers certify impact, apply to FAA, and Remote ID is up. (See...
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    Droners.io bid question

    My understanding is that new businesses that claim expenses but do not realize a taxable profit by year three or so invite audit attention. Disclaimer: Not a tax pro, not an attorney.
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    Droners.io bid question

    This discussion very much reminds me of the for-client video market. There will always be a low market, a mid market, and a high market. Someone needs a $100 drone job done, and there is someone willing to provide that service. I do not believe that market’s existence impacts the mid and high...