Cashing in on the drone revolution

[Pedro's Klinefelter]

A tiny unmanned aircraft is hovering quietly above a green field in Buckinghamshire, offering its owner, Joby Stephens, an "eye in the sky".

The drone is kitted out with a tiny high-definition camera that sends crisp images via wi-fi to a phone clipped to the drone's remote control unit.
"The ability to film with a drone adds another string to my bow," the professional cameraman and producer says as he pilots the aircraft towards some nearby trees.
"Being able to legally and safely deliver drone footage should be a great addition to many projects."
Mr Stephens runs production company Jam96, which specialises in making behind-the-scenes videos on movie sets - places where there will invariably be lots of people.
"In the environments I operate in, I need to be 100% safe," he says.
So he has completed a training course for commercial drone operators.

Reducing risk

The course was run by Whispercam's Alistair Johnson, a former Royal Air Force pilot with a degree in aeronautical engineering and a day job as a commercial pilot with British Airways.
"At the moment, anybody can buy a drone online or from a retailer and use it as part of a hobby or for fun," he says.

Joby Stephens plans to use drones to make films

"But if you want to do it in any commercial capacity, or in a congested area, you'll have to get a Permission for Commercial Operations licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)."
This requirement is not universally understood, and neither are the risks posed by drones, Mr Johnson explains as he goes through safety procedures before take-off.
Whispercam's training field on the outskirts of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire might seem safe to an amateur, but Mr Johnson is quick to point out risks. There's a private air field to the south and a military helipad to the north, as well as kites being flown overhead and curious people entering the field.
"It's all about situational awareness," Mr Johnson says, as he checks a "Notice to Airmen" app on his phone, which contains alerts from the aviation authorities about potential hazards in the area.

'Automation-induced complacency'

Flying a drone can be both surprisingly easy and extremely complicated, depending on the circumstances. Controlling its pitch, roll and yaw is simple even for the uninitiated, but knowing what to do if something goes wrong is another matter altogether.
"There's very much more to commercial drone operations than flying the aircraft," says Mr Johnson.

Drones are useful for capturing aerial footage

"In aviation, things can go wrong very quickly."
Pilots cannot simply rely on the automated safety systems included in some drones, such as GPS controls that prevent the aircraft from drifting with the wind, he explains.
"There's always a risk of what we call 'automation-induced complacency'," he says.
Having passed his flight test, film maker Mr Stephens is determined not to fall into that trap.