An Interview with a Professional Drone Pilot

Discover the world of drone videography with Byron, our drone pilot and camera operator at Shot Blast Media. 

In this exclusive interview, Byron shares insights into drone technology evolution, memorable flight experiences, and the meticulous planning behind each shoot. 

From tackling challenges to prioritising safety, Byron offers a glimpse into capturing breathtaking aerial footage. 

Whether you’re an aspiring drone pilot or curious about aerial magic, join us as we soar into cinematic exploration with Byron.

How did you get started as a drone pilot?

I wanted to be a drone pilot after watching lots of films with drone videography in them! I researched how I could go about doing this, bought a drone, got my licence and now I’m a drone pilot!

How has drone technology evolved since you started flying?

I don’t think drone technology has evolved hugely since I started flying, however, I have developed more understanding of droning over the years. 

When I first started flying, I didn’t realise there were FPV drones (first person drones), that there were mini drones, that there were drones with 6 propellers on and loads more! 

I use a Mavic 2 Pro, so it’s a little bit more junior compared to the big drones you see on TV. For football matches they use a drone operator and camera operator, so I’ve developed my understanding of drones by witnessing this!

What certifications or licences do you hold as a drone pilot?

With drone flying, I hold a basic operator and flyer ID for the UK. This is open to anyone, and you can easily do it online. It’s very cheap, I think it’s about £11, and that’s the main licence you need in order to fly a drone. 

I also now hold an Irish licence, as in Ireland, you need a different flyer ID to the UK, which is very important information to know. 

I also hold an A2 COC certificate which means I can fly commercially and I can get restrictions lifted easily. It’s simple to give your certificate to whoever needs to see it so that they can see you have completed all your exams. 

It also means they will be a lot more flexible with you if you have this certificate, as well as the flyer ID.

What is your most memorable drone flight experience?

My most memorable drone flight experience is definitely a shoot I did in Wales recently, with our client ENGIE.

We shot in a powerstation in Dinorwig from the outside. We had to go to all different sides of the mountain to film, and we had to change the schedule around a little bit due to the forecast rain the next day. 

This meant we had to go to Ffestiniog, which is about 45 minutes away, as we had to do all the drone work in one day due to the bad weather.

Everything that day took a good 10 hours, including climbing up mountains and filming all the drone shots, but it was very enjoyable and I think the final work is beautiful.

How do you approach planning a drone shoot for a new project?

Well, planning is very important, because if something does go wrong with droning, it’s always good to refer back to the paperwork you originally did. 

I completed my drone course with UAVHUB, and they supplied a basic planning guide that is very simple to use. This planning guide has all your risk assessments and method statements (RAMS) in it so you’re ready to go!

I have adjusted the planning guide quite a lot, and I’d be happy to send a link to anyone if you’re interested to see it, so feel free to get in touch.

It basically has all the operation procedures on there, onsite surveys, presite surveys, and anything else you could possibly need for a drone flight. 

You just fill that out before the drone flying takes place, which takes about 20 minutes, print out the document and then you’re ready to fly!

How do you handle unexpected challenges or obstacles during a shoot?

There’s always a new challenge, but I will highlight one that happened to me recently. I went to Ireland to shoot a film for a company and I didn’t realise you needed a separate flyer ID to fly in Northern Ireland. 

So, my challenge at the airport was to quickly complete a flyer ID test for Ireland, which took a while to get approved. I had to get air traffic control approval as well during a short time frame as we were filming close to a flight path. It was a very complicated shoot. 

I would always look into everything you need to fly at least a couple of weeks beforehand. For me, it was challenging as this shoot came up very quickly, so it was hard to sort out in a short timeframe. 

Just remember, air traffic control is always there to help you, and that was the first time I reached out to them, but it all worked out well for us, fortunately.

What safety measures do you prioritise during a drone flight?

People are always prioritised. You can always get a new drone, a new building, a new whatever. Yes, it would be incredibly annoying, difficult and expensive, however people are the only thing you cannot replace. You can’t replace fingers! 

So, I always try to prioritise the safety of everyone on site. I always tell everyone around me that I’m flying a drone, and if anything was to go wrong, I would shout out ‘drone going down!’

Make sure you keep everyone safe, that they are at a comfortable distance away from the drone, and that they are happy with what is being filmed.

How do you see the role of drones in videography evolving in the coming years?

Drones are already doing a pretty big job in the film industry. Everytime I see them on TV, I always admire the drone work!

You can get good quality cameras, like we use at Shot Blast Media, but a lot of people now can just film anything they want on their phone. 

However, not everyone can send a drone up to get a wonderful shot! It’s going to be one of those things in the future that stands out a lot more than your average phone/camera shot.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a professional drone pilot?

Do it! That’s my main advice! Following on from this, I would always try to start off with a small drone. DGI mini’s are usually quite good for that, and they’re cheap too.

It’s also better to start off with a small, light drone as using heavy drones means that you have to get even more licences and certifications.

I’d always advise that you get the right help. Like I mentioned earlier, I use UAVHUB for all of my licences, and it’s a very simple way of doing it. 

Lastly, make sure you enjoy it! Take the drone out, shoot lots of fun stuff with it and always take lots of batteries as they run out very quickly! 

If you enjoyed this interview with Byron, our drone pilot and camera operator, make sure to check out some of our other blogs!

Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you with your drone videography needs:

+44 (0)113 288 3245 | [email protected]