which drone / camera?

[BlueRidge20]

Hello, I'm seeking your advise for a drone application.

I fly an EMS Helicopter in an area with limited weather reporting, and we are surrounded by tall trees which limits our sight lines.

I'd like to use a drone, both day and night, to evaluate the weather.

Is there a modestly priced solution for this application? I don't think I need thermal infrared, just visual infrared for identifying clouds at night.

Can you recommend a drone and camera(s) for this?

Thanks.

 

[PhantomFandom]

I think there is a lot more complexity to the issue than just the capabilities and price of the drone itself. As to that, I don't think you will find anything modestly priced to do the job. I'm not a meteorologist but I think you may need more than simple infrared to be able to ascertain weather conditions at night.

Beyond the technical aspect, here are the other issues (assuming you live in Iowa):

• Since this would not be a recreational endeavor, you would need to obtain your FAA Part 107 license in order to be able to perform these flights.
• Unless you obtain the proper waivers from the FAA you will be limited to:
  • Flying within visual line of sight.
  • Flying no higher than 400 feet.
  • Flying only in daylight.

Those waivers are not easy or trivial to obtain. With those limitations, I don't see what good the drone would be to accomplish what you want to do.

 

[BlueRidge20]

The intent of the flight is not commercial.

I am not being paid to operate a drone, nor would I be compensated in any way for it's cost or operation.

The images would not be stored, placed online, or distributed in any way, or paid for in any way ... they would be solely for my personal use.

The purpose of the flight is for my education and recreation ... there is no compensation for the flight ... hence its a recreational flight.

Oddly, recreational pilots are allowed to fly at night if properly equipt with position lights. Commercial pilots are not, as PhantomFreedom pointed out.

As to the particulars of the drone flight:

Tall trees obstruct my vision in all directions.

Remaining in one place, the drone would climb vertically 100-200 feet, to be above the trees, it would scan the horizon from a hover for approximately 5 minutes, looking at clouds and visibility, and then return vertically to the ground. I am not near an airport.

I would use the camera to assess clouds and visibility. Something I would do on the ground, if I could see beyond the tall trees.

Daytime flights alone would be a benefit. Seeing clouds at night would be even better.

I gather from PhantomFreedom, that an expensive thermal imaging camera would be required? A visual infrared camera would not suffice?

thanks guys, I'm a manned pilot, this is outside of my area.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Hello, I'm seeking your advise for a drone application.

I fly an EMS Helicopter in an area with limited weather reporting, and we are surrounded by tall trees which limits our sight lines.

I'd like to use a drone, both day and night, to evaluate the weather.

Is there a modestly priced solution for this application? I don't think I need thermal infrared, just visual infrared for identifying clouds at night.

Can you recommend a drone and camera(s) for this?

Thanks.

Your best bet is to look into the Mavic 2 Dual Enterprise if you can make use of the Infrared , as limited as it might be .
Sent you a Pm with more details.


Phantomrain.org
Gear to fly your Mavic in the rain.

 

[BlueRidge20]

Got your PM Phantomrain, thanks I'll check it out.

 

[Phantomrain.org]

Got your PM Phantomrain, thanks I'll check it out.

The problem with the mavic 2 dual is that the Infrared is barely able to spot cold spots on the roof , you have to be within about 150 ft and
I dont know if its worth it to use on the clouds.

I would strongly recommend you get the Air 2 and the Wet Suit as that really provides the Best of what DJI has to offer in nice affordable package.
the only thing you miss out on is the Search and Rescue Ability that you have with the Mavic 2 as you can see on our Rescue Drone.

Spot lights the laser up front and the auto drop for rescue Vest .

 

[lannes]

Hello, I'm seeking your advise for a drone application.

I fly an EMS Helicopter in an area with limited weather reporting, and we are surrounded by tall trees which limits our sight lines.

I'd like to use a drone, both day and night, to evaluate the weather.

Is there a modestly priced solution for this application? I don't think I need thermal infrared, just visual infrared for identifying clouds at night.

Can you recommend a drone and camera(s) for this?

Thanks.

The Mavic Air 2 would suit this use case

 

[Deleted member 114292]

Hello, I'm seeking your advise for a drone application.

I fly an EMS Helicopter in an area with limited weather reporting, and we are surrounded by tall trees which limits our sight lines.

I'd like to use a drone, both day and night, to evaluate the weather.

Is there a modestly priced solution for this application? I don't think I need thermal infrared, just visual infrared for identifying clouds at night.

Can you recommend a drone and camera(s) for this?

Thanks.

There’s really no such thing as visual infrared.

I think if you’re a licensed pilot getting your 107 is easy there’s an online test for that.

I have to agree the enterprise dual won’t do what you want.
Just about any drone would be fine for popping above the trees in daylight and looking around.

You should do some more research on infrared.

 

[PhantomFandom]

The intent of the flight is not commercial.

I am not being paid to operate a drone, nor would I be compensated in any way for it's cost or operation.

The images would not be stored, placed online, or distributed in any way, or paid for in any way ... they would be solely for my personal use.

The purpose of the flight is for my education and recreation ... there is no compensation for the flight ... hence its a recreational flight.

This does conflict with your original statement, which was...

I fly an EMS Helicopter in an area with limited weather reporting, and we are surrounded by tall trees which limits our sight lines.
I'd like to use a drone, both day and night, to evaluate the weather.

Part 107 licensing has nothing to do with compensation. It does not matter if you are compensated or not. If you are trying to have a look at the weather conditions in order to evaluate the efficacy of an EMS helicopter flight, then that is not a recreational flight. Really should not be a problem since you are current on your Part 61 license, you only need to take a short and easy online exam for your Part 107 license.

Oddly, recreational pilots are allowed to fly at night if properly equipt with position lights. Commercial pilots are not

Very true and just one of the oddities of the current UAS regulations. In fact it is even questionable if a recreational pilot is required to have the same 3nm visibility beacon as a commercial pilot needs during twilight hours. The regulations don't seem to require those either. However based on the scope of the EMS weather gathering mission, your flights would be deemed as falling under Part 107 and thus not allowed at night.

 

[Deleted member 114292]

This does conflict with your original statement, which was...


Part 107 licensing has nothing to do with compensation. It does not matter if you are compensated or not. If you are trying to have a look at the weather conditions in order to evaluate the efficacy of an EMS helicopter flight, then that is not a recreational flight. Really should not be a problem since you are current on your Part 61 license, you only need to take a short and easy online exam for your Part 107 license.


Very true and just one of the oddities of the current UAS regulations. In fact it is even questionable if a recreational pilot is required to have the same 3nm visibility beacon as a commercial pilot needs during twilight hours. The regulations don't seem to require those either. However based on the scope of the EMS weather gathering mission, your flights would be deemed as falling under Part 107 and thus not allowed at night.

Based on his application and Remoteness of the location he would have no problem getting a daylight waiver.