How to become a professional drone pilot

The truth about the job of a drone pilot: not an apprenticeship, but an additional qualification with limited prospects. Our article explains why it takes more than just flying skills and how you can use drones sensibly in your job. ...

A career as a drone pilot - a trendy profession?

This article originates from our German site, Kopterflug.de and is now in its fourth version with the update from 13 January 2025.

There are always trendy professions. Drone pilot is one of them at the moment, it feels like it's right behind influencer. I think this is because people think that flying drones is a fun, easy and extremely well-paid job. This is an absolute fallacy that couldn't be more wrong. Most of the time during a Drone inspection you're under a lot of pressure in terms of time and success, you have long travelling times and the customers have extremely specific ideas. It's a very binary matter. Right or wrong. That's all there is to it. The work is not held in high regard. The customer is only interested in the result.

In 2025, we will still frequently be asked the question: "Should I become a drone pilot?"

... and then we always say: "Yes boy, why not?" (Just kidding.)

But now seriously:

An inconvenient truth about the drone industry:

Today, drones almost fly themselves.
In future, even complex inspections will be carried out autonomously by drones.
One example of this is drones from Skydio - although there is little or nothing to buy from Skydio in Europe.

Currently (as of 2024), there is hardly a drone service provider in Germany that employs several people on a long-term basis and has well-paid and lucrative contracts on a permanent basis.

Update January 2025:

Many companies are now training their engineers to become drone pilots. However, lateral entry into this field is rather difficult.

One should not forget: "Drones are tools, and being a drone pilot is an additional qualification - not a profession in its own right!"

Of course, there are exceptions: For example, surveying offices, roofers or other companies that usefully integrate drones as tools in their actual business. For these companies, the use of drones can be economically worthwhile.

Yes, on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube it often seems as if it would be easy to build a successful drone company. However, our experience shows a completely different reality. Even companies that use high-priced industrial drones often receive them directly from the manufacturer as a "demonstration unit". (We haven't yet, by the way.)

Update July 2022:

The statement about the "demonstration units" in particular has proved to be extremely true in some areas.

Now to the actual article:

The use of drones is having a disruptive effect on many established industries. Starting with aerial photography and videography. What makes a professional drone pilot and how to become one. Today's drone pilots therefore come from a wide variety of industries or are career changers, for example with a background in model making or model flying or the respective industries in which they now work.

To date, there is no classic training programme consisting of theory and practice for drone pilots. The proof of knowledge, which is offered in many places and is required at least for drones with a take-off weight of more than 2 kg, provides at least the necessary basic theoretical knowledge to be able to legally operate a drone.

What are the requirements to become a drone pilot?

There are professional fields in which it makes sense to fly drones, for example in the industrial sector. Maintenance in power stations and Industrial plantsas a site manager on construction sites or as a surveyor in road construction.

Professional drone pilots should:

If possible, not be particularly defective-sighted or have good vision correction.
Be physically and mentally fit and able to work under pressure (as assignments can sometimes take place in difficult terrain or in confined industrial facilities).
Have above-average fine motor skills.
Have above-average mental capacity.
Have perfect written and spoken English (most specialised software is in English).
Have a proof of knowledge (drone driving licence). This can be obtained from Copteruni or U-ROB, for example.

Unlike in manned aviation, drone pilots in Germany do not yet need a medical examination. However, this could change in the future, possibly for the operation of larger and heavier drones.

UPDATE July 2022: We are not yet aware of any such regulation, but it is very likely that an LAPL Medical or similar could become mandatory for the operation of (much) larger drones in the future.
UPDATE March 2024: There are no medicals yet, but it would not be inconceivable for STS later on.

The specialised qualification of the drone pilot

The bad news first: Drone piloting is not an independent profession!

The majority of modern drones today fly largely autonomously. The real difference lies in whether the pilot has specialist knowledge of the inspection object or can create special added value for the customer.

So it's not enough just to control the drone - what matters is how well you use the technology to solve specific problems or deliver precise data.

Here are some possible applications for professional drone pilots:

Inspection of photovoltaic systems
Inspection of wind turbines (WTG)
Inspection of power lines
Surveying work
Aerial photography and videography
Digitisation of structures and buildings

With the right specialist qualifications and a sound understanding of the industry in question, drone pilots can offer real added value and operate successfully in a variety of industries.

The practical training to become a drone pilot

Even though there are only a few flight schools for practical drone training, our experience shows that practical training is not a clearly defined process that begins and ends at a fixed point in time. Rather, it is a continuous learning process that grows with experience.

Many talented drone pilots come from fields such as FPV racing or model aircraft construction. They often know the technical details and operating limits of their equipment down to the smallest detail. If you want to learn the ropes, you should start with a simple "toy drone" - such as a Hubsan X4 or similar small, inexpensive drones. These drones are often more difficult to fly than the larger, professional drones that will be used later. However, this is exactly what makes them ideal for practising basic control skills.

80 % of drone flying takes place in the mind - and the mind wants and needs to be trained. After some practice, controlling the drone becomes almost subconscious, similar to riding a bike. There are numerous model flying sites that are suitable for practising, and in winter people often fly in sports halls.

The speed at which pilots acquire practical skills varies greatly. Some learn quickly and reach a high level, while others have difficulty controlling the drone safely in every situation, even with a lot of practice.

Ultimately, practice makes perfect. If you train with patience and perseverance, you will become safer and more precise in handling the drone in the long term.

How long does it take to become a drone pilot?

If you have previous experience and are ambitious, you can complete your drone pilot's licence within 2-3 weeks and acquire your first practical knowledge in around the same time. There are many potential areas of application for drone pilots. Starting with aerial photography and aerial videography, through surveying and cartography to Thermography and inspection flights. Each area of application requires specialised knowledge, which must be acquired either independently or through courses.

The A1 + A2, A2 and STS drone pilot licences always serve as a basis.

What are the job opportunities as a drone pilot in 2024?

With prior knowledge and an ambitious approach, you can obtain your drone pilot's licence within 2-3 weeks and gain your first practical experience in around the same time. But becoming a drone pilot means more than just mastering the controls - it opens up a wide range of potential areas of application.

The areas of application range from aerial photography and aerial videography, surveying and cartography to thermography and inspection flights. However, each of these areas requires specific expertise, which must be acquired either independently or through specialised courses.

The drone pilot licences of categories A1 + A3, A2 and - for advanced operations - STS certifications serve as a basis. These qualifications are the first step on the way to becoming a professional drone pilot.

Conclusion

In the future, there will still be people who use drones to carry out meaningful and specific tasks in their field of work. However, the increasing level of automation of modern drones is reducing the need for "experienced" pilots. Instead, specialised knowledge in the respective industry in which the drone is used is becoming increasingly important.

Our tip: Use drones in the field in which you already work. Whether you are a civil engineer, architect, roofer, building contractor or energy consultant - use drones to make your work more efficient and innovative.

Do you fly drones because you enjoy it? Stick with it and enjoy the fun of flying!
However, the prospects of gaining a professional foothold as a drone pilot without a specific specialist qualification in the next five years are virtually nil.

You should always bear this in mind: There are risks involved in mixing hobby and profession. It's all too easy to be tempted to buy too much equipment that you don't really need in the end.

It is better to look at everything from a professional distance and react to the actual requirements of the market. Only then will the use of drones make sense in the long term.

Drones are tools, not career prospects. Their successful utilisation always requires a sound specialist qualification - the drone alone is only a means to an end.