Today, we talk about setting up your drone business. Should you offer free services when you are starting off your business? Is offering free footage a good marketing strategy?

Our caller, Ryan has received an opportunity to shoot the Vulcan, a colossal statue in Birmingham, Alabama. Because this is a prestigious project, Ryan is considering offering free footage in order to get his foot in the door. Is this advisable?

We would advice Ryan to reconsider his position. It is important to have confidence in your work in order to get the rates that you rightly deserve. What are some ways for building confidence? What negotiation strategies can Ryan use to get the best possible deal? Tune in and get some great insights from Rob and Paul. Thanks to Ryan for the question. Fly safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

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Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today's question is about offering free services to attract a new client

Rob and Paul answer today's question

Cultivating the need to develop a confident mindset

Learn to find your niche in order to develop confidence

Is it wise to offer a hefty discount if you are starting out in the drone business?

Is it difficult to get permission to shoot a public place?

Discussing various negotiation strategies to eke out a good deal from a client

Today, we talk about external hard drives. Which are some cost effective options to store your drone data? What are some of the best practices for ensuring safe data storage?

Because data safety cannot be compromised, it is important to go for a quality storage solution. We discuss two alternatives: Synology and Drobo. While Synology is good for networking, Drobo is suitable for archiving data. How much will these drives cost you? What is the upload speed that you can expect? Are these reliable storage solutions?

We also discuss compatibility issues, USB-C docks by OWC and External SSD's by Samsung. Thank you for the question. Stay tuned and fly safe!

Also, the folks over at Energen are offering a special discount on their amazing portable chargers for all Drone U members.  Use one the following promo codes at checkout, depending on which battery you buy, to get a great deal on a killer battery:

Energen A40 Model:  DRONEUA40

Energen M10 Model:  DRONEU M10

Energen P40 Mode:  DRONEU P40

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

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Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

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Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Drobo 5d3 for newer computers using USB C - http://amzn.to/2F58ROq

Drobo 5c for older computer users using USB - http://amzn.to/2FJl3Bs

Timestamps

Today's question is about the best external hard drives to store drone footage

Paul recounts his experience which highlights the importance of backing up data

We discuss drives by Synology and Drobo; we talk about applications, upload speed, cost and data security

Learn why Drobo 5C and 5D3 drives are so well suited for archiving data

We talk about the importance of backing up your data, especially in case of unforeseen emergencies

Why should you avoid overloading your drive with data?

Are Synology and Drobo cost effective solutions?

What is the advantage of using the USB-C dock by Other World Computing?

Reviewing the Samsung Evo T5 SSD

Today, we talk about Certified Flight Instructors. Is it mandatory for a drone school to have Certified Flight Instructors (CFI's)? Is there any value at all in getting trained from a Certified Flight Instructor?

A certification does not guarantee good training skills. Wouldn't you rather learn from someone who has some real world flying experience? We also talk about Drone U Elite. Because our vetting process is based on real world parameters such as experience and revenue earned, Drone U Elite trainers are among the best in the industry. We thank Ken for the question. Stay tuned and fly safe!

Also, the folks over at Energen are offering a special discount on their amazing portable chargers for all Drone U members.  Use one the following promo codes at checkout, depending on which battery you buy, to get a great deal on a killer battery:

Energen A40 Model:  DRONEUA40

Energen M10 Model:  DRONEU M10

Energen P40 Mode:  DRONEU P40

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

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Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

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Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Contribute to Energen's Kickstarter Campaign - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1931326714/dronemax-360-portable-drone-and-multi-purpose-powe?ref=470f3d

Timestamps

Today we question whether a drone school needs to hire CFI's as trainers

We discuss why it is better to learn from a trainer with real world experience

Are CFI's experienced in flying drones?

Learn about the rigorous vetting process at Drone U Elite

Is there any merit to getting a flight instructor certification?

Paul shares how a need to offer better education led him to start Drone U

Today, we talk about waivers. Can you apply for a night waiver as a LLC? Is there any benefit to applying for a waiver as a corporate entity?

Because you might have multiple drone pilots working in an organization, it is better to apply for a waiver as a LLC. Who is responsible for safe flight in case a waiver is granted to a LLC? Should the responsible person be present during flight operations? Tune in to find out. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

Site - http://thedroneu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu

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Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today's question is about applying for a night time waiver as a LLC

Is there any benefit in applying for a night time waiver as an entity?

Does the responsible person in an entity have to be present during flight?

Today, we talk about the average life expectancy of a drone battery. What are some of tips and tricks for getting maximum battery life?

Because batteries are prohibitively expensive, it is important to care for them in the best manner. Deep cycling your batteries is critical to ensure a long life. What is the correct way to deep cycle your battery?

We also discuss why you should avoid letting your batteries sit idle for too long. Paul also shares a great hack for fixing a DJI battery with a bad cell. We thank our caller for the question. Stay tuned and fly safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

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Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

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Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today's question is about the average life expectancy of a LiPo battery

How many cycles can you expect from a drone battery?

Tips and tricks to prolong your battery life

How will your flying habits affect your battery life

What is the correct way to deep cycle your battery?

Learn how charging can affect the life of your battery

Should you set your battery on auto-discharge?

How many cycles can you expect from your drone battery?

Will a Mavic battery last as long as a Phantom battery?

Paul suggests a hack to fix a drone battery with a bad cell

Today's question is about zoom lenses and Pix4D. Can you use a zoom lens if you are processing data with Pix4D? How do you ensure that your dataset is not compromised?

Our caller is using Pix4D for processing his mapping data. He wishes to use the Inspire 1 with an X5 camera and a Panasonic Lumix 1442 lens. Is the X5 ideal for mapping jobs? We also discuss if you can use variable zoom on a mapping mission. Thanks to the caller for the question. Stay tuned and fly safe!

Also, the folks over at Go Professional Cases are offering a special discount for Drone U members. GPC designs the highest quality professional cases for your drone and GoPro. And they will even custom design a case for you. Use the promo code DRONEU15 to avail a killer deal.

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

Site - http://thedroneu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Check out our Drone Maps - https://sketchfab.com/models/e9c198e166ce4f92a7eb0a085ba83d1a

Timestamps

Paul shares information about Drone U's upcoming webinar

Today's question is about using a zoom lens when processing data with Pix4D

How can you use a zoom lens with Pix4D?

Can you use variable zoom on a project?

How does focal length vary if you are using a crop sensor?

Why should you always set your zoom to maximum?

Should you use the X5 camera on mapping jobs? And, can you capture better detail with a zoom lens?

Today, we talking about flying your drone above clouds. Can you fly above clouds if you mantain visual line of sight at all times? What does the FAA say about flying above clouds?

It is illegal to start your flight below clouds and then go above them. However, our caller presents a different and interesting scenario. Since he wishes to start his flight from a mountain top, he is always flying above clouds. This enables him to mantain visual line of sight.

Is this legal? Does flying your UAS above clouds pose a greater risk to manned aircraft? We also discuss flight visibility requirements that are applicable in this scenario. We thank our caller for the question. Stay tuned and fly safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

Site - http://thedroneu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today we question if you can fly your drone above clouds

Are you likely to endanger manned aircraft if you fly your drone above clouds?

Is it legal to fly above clouds if you cannot maintain visual line of sight?

Can you take off below clouds and then fly above them?

What does FAA say about maintaining flight visibility in Section 107.51 (C)?

Today, we talk about pricing strategies for drone footage. How much should you charge if you have multiple clients interested in using the same footage? Should you offer a discount? How much should you charge for exclusivity?

Our caller has multiple realtors interested in using the same drone footage. Business acumen dictates that he attempts to strike a deal with each of these clients. We discuss pricing strategies and a need for a tight, ironclad agreement. Should you consider giving the client full rights of ownership? Stay tuned and fly safe!

Also, the folks over at Go Professional Cases are offering a special discount for Drone U members. GPC designs the highest quality professional cases for your drone and GoPro. And they will even custom design a case for you. Use the promo code DRONEU15 to avail a killer deal.

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

Site - http://thedroneu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today's question is about establishing a fair price if your footage is used by multiple clients

Discussing the need for having iron clad agreements

Can you make more money by offering the same video to multiple realtors?

Should you consider giving a realtor full rights to your drone footage?

Rob and Paul share some details about Drone U's forthcoming business course

Today, we talk about flying your drone near a hot air balloon. It is tempting to fly your drone near a hot air balloon and get some awesome footage. However, flying irresponsibly can pose a serious risk.

What are the consequences of crashing your drone into a hot air balloon? Is it mandatory to yield to a hot air balloon?

Remember that you should always maintain a safe distance at all times. Can you get good footage by filming from such great distance? We also discuss whether it is possible to fly your drone at events such as the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Stay tuned and fly safe!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

Site - http://thedroneu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu

Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today's question is about flying your drone near a hot air balloon

Do you need special permission to fly during a balloon fiesta?

Which source should you refer to for checking TFR's?

Paul shares details about the Drone U Fly-in

Which are the FAA regulations you need to be aware of while flying near a hot air balloon?

Precautions to be observed while flying near a hot air balloon

Is there a significant risk if a drone crashes into a hot air balloon?

Does a drone pilot need to yield to a hot air balloon?

How much distance should you maintain between the hot air balloon and your drone?

Is the X7 camera a good option for shooting a hot air balloon?

How can you negate any investigation action while shooting a balloon fiesta?

Today, we talk about oblique aerial imagery. What are oblique images? When should you shoot oblique images?

Our caller is wondering about the difference between obliques and orbits. We also point out the difference between nadir and oblique imagery. Do weather conditions affect the quality of your mapping data? Drone U members can learn more about this topic in our Intermediate Mapping class. Thanks to Cord for the question. Fly Safe!

Make sure to get yourself a Drone U landing pad!

Get your questions answered: http://askdroneu.com/.

If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us really quick? While you're there, leave us a 5-star review, if you're inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832.

Follow us:

Site - http://thedroneu.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/droneu

Instagram - https://instagram.com/thedroneu/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/thedroneu

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Get your copy of "Livin’ the Drone Life" - http://amzn.to/2nalUDH

Get your copy of our Part 107 Study Guide - http://amzn.to/2omQatT

Learn about our In-Person Mapping Course in Houston - http://bit.ly/HoustonMapping

Timestamps

Today's question is about oblique imagery

Defining oblique imagery

What is the benefit of using oblique imagery?

Can weather affect the quality of your mapping data?

How can Drone U help build up your mapping skills?