Operator spotlight: Sky View Photography

Tell us a bit about your business and your use of drones? 

Sky View Photography was established in early 2015 when I acquired a DJI Phantom 2, allowing me to combine my love for photography and flying to start capturing low level aerial perspectives. Initially I shot some promotional material for local businesses in Auckland, and with demand for more of the same quickly spreading through word of mouth, over nine years later we’re still going strong!

We offer aerial photography and videography to a wide range of clients. Amongst other things, our flying tripods capture progress at construction sites, farm flyovers for rural real estate advertisements, viewpoint photography for architectural planning, and eye- catching marketing material for the likes of the tourism, live entertainment and marine industries.

These days we utilise a DJI Mavic 3 Pro with its triple lens Hasselblad camera for the majority of our imagery, along with a DJI Phantom 4 Pro for aerial survey work, backed up with a smaller DJI Mavic Air 2 for locations where we either need to fly indoors or carrying a full gear case in isn’t a practical option.

What sets the business apart is having the ability to legally operate our drone equipment in close proximity to airports in accordance with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Part 101 regulations, thanks to my commercial pilot’s licence qualification. 

How do you ensure safety during your drone operations, and what are some of the biggest safety challenges you face? 

Coming from a background of flying full sized aircraft, hazard avoidance and mitigation is second nature.

Before we even leave the office, we check all airspace designations around the location we wish to fly using a combination of AirShare, IFIS and the AIP website to review NOTAM’s and the monthly supplement.  
 
Often engagement with local aerodrome management is required to request permission to fly unshielded within a 4km distance of their location – and after nearly a decade of making such requests, we’re now on first name terms with many operators and air traffic controllers! 

Before each planned drone flight, we recce the site to identify if potential hazards exist and select the safest area for launching and landing. We utilise in-house job safety analysis sheets, which include a comprehensive list of common risks and related mitigation strategies. Additionally, we run a final pre-flight checklist to ensure that nothing has been overlooked before takeoff, and that appropriate PPE is being used. 
 
One of the biggest challenges on the day of the shoot can be dealing with inquisitive members of the public who may approach and ask distracting questions while the drone is in flight. The best way to handle this situation is to have a crew member designated as an observer to monitor for aerial hazards and manage any unexpected interactions. 

How do you see the role of drones evolving over the next five years, especially in your area of expertise?

From my own observations, I have noticed a significant increase in the use of drones for spraying operations in the agricultural sector. Large spray drones have now evolved through several generations, with payload increases, technological kinks ironed out, resulting in more reliable and user-friendly operation. 
 
In my area of aerial photography, battery life and camera quality are the primary drivers of progress. Thinking back to the DJI Phantom 1 which had a flight time of just 10-15 minutes with a GoPro attached, it’s amazing how far consumer level drones have come already.

“Using AirShare has been extremely helpful for the business.”

How long have you been using AirShare to log your flights?

I have been using AirShare since 2014, before CAA Part 101 even included references to remotely piloted aircraft! I was fortunate enough to be working in the aerial survey industry as a manned aircraft pilot at the time, and witnessed the introduction of drone technology to the New Zealand skies in its infancy. 
 
I attended several symposiums and conferences where the CAA presented the idea of a regulatory framework, as well as seeing Airways launch its AirShare platform as a digital link between drone operators and Air Traffic Controllers and thought it was a great idea.

How has your use of AirShare supported the safety and success of your business?

Using AirShare has been extremely helpful for the business. Having an interactive digital map of New Zealand’s airspace that I can access on both my computer and phone allows me to quickly check the airspace classification of any site as soon as I receive a work enquiry. This helps me determine the applicable CAA Part 101 compliance requirements. 

Reviewing the shoot location on AirShare is usually my first step when preparing a quote. It helps me determine if I need additional permissions from aerodrome operators or restricted area administers, and whether I’ll be able to work solo or need an observer present. 
 
Additionally AirShare can provide me with the contact details for those who decide whether or not some drone flights can proceed, allowing me to quickly communicate my intentions and streamline the approval process. 

What advice would you give to new drone pilots, around ensuring safe drone operations in New Zealand?

As a Part 141 CAA examiner with Flight Test New Zealand’s DroneTrust subsidiary, I often get to meet new drone pilots. A frequent issue I hear about is the perceived complexity of New Zealand drone regulations, especially for those coming from outside the aviation industry who struggle with the double negative language used in CAA rule parts. 
 
To better understand these regulations, I recommend enrolling in a course with a CAA-approved training provider, where you’ll be able to have these rules explained with context and shown everyday examples- as well as earning a RPAS qualification upon the completion of a practical flight test.