It all started when I
left
I went home to Michigan for Easter to visit family and then
my business partner and I drove to Las Vegas in two days. The first day we
drove out to meet with T.J. Diaz for the Drone Pavilion field trip out to El
Dorado mine. We followed the GPS to a dirt turn off and we drove and drove and
drone, heading to a canyon and the road started getting softer and more
difficult when we came around a bend and saw two pickups with their drivers and
we let them know where we are? They responded “Are you with those broadcasters?”
They told us to go back and to turn left and then right and we will see the
mine. We parked and there were about four different groups throughout the western
style town. We were told that the XFly group had left. Then Manny from UVU told
us that T.J. Diaz was down behind one of the barns. We went down and he
introduced me to his partner Ziv. We watched T.J. take one of his
cinematography student UAS pilot’s octocopter out for its shakedown flight. Then I stood next to a guy flying his Phantom
FPV, out almost two miles. Then someone else had an Inspire and it just
launched off of the ground at about a 45 degree angle. Then another gentleman
broke out a space aged looking quad-rotor called a “Yuneek” the operator
flipped it around trying to get it to synchronize with a GPS satellite, it buzzed
and whistled until all of the lights turned green. Then he flew it around and
it sounded as if it was a slower RPM than the Phantoms we have heard flying.
Then as we watched the octocopter flying around on its’ shakedown flight we
heard a load crashing sound and we saw the “Yuneek” crash into a mock plane
crash.
Suggestions
I would have liked to have seen a eight by ten foot, high
resolution video wall on a cart to be able to see what the Phantom that was out
nearly two mile flying FPV. I would also want to see a drone obstacle course
for those manufactures and pilots who want to show off their capabilities.
Monday
On Monday I introduced Michael Creamer of QCTV. I introduced
him to T.J. Diaz and we talked about data connectivity with a suitcase sized
case. Then we got to listen to Lisa Ellman the FAA Attorney talk about the FAA recommended
guidelines what was allowed and how applications which has been granted COAs
and exemptions were more apt to be approved. I always get hung up on how hobby
flight over land owned by the operator or where the operator has been given
permission, under 55lbs, below 500 feet, within line of sight and outside of
five miles from an active airfield is legal but operations conducted under
these same exact criteria are not authorized where there is financial
compensation. When it comes to Jurisdiction, I say that on private
property, with property owner’s authorization there is nothing the FAA can say
about UAS operations and she said that the FAA claims jurisdiction from six
inches and up. I countered with “Law enforcement doesn’t enforce guidelines. If
the FAA fines or prosecutes outside of airport runways and approaches, they
convictions won't hold to appeal, unless the municipality or agencies like the
parks department prosecute for violation of their ordinances. Afterwards I felt
bad about being confrontational and I wrote her an apology via email. Unlike
FAA cease and desist orders I hope she is able to recognize it. I have her
email and I will refer her to anyone who is attempting to file for exemptions
or COAs.
Then T.J. Diaz asked Michael Creamer to speak on his
suitcase sized, remote data transmission solution to the NAB Show Broadcast
Engineering Conference. He had all of the attendees sitting on the edge of
their seats. The funny part with me is that he wasn’t trying to hype or sell at
all, he was just stating the facts about the technology available. Well I will
promote and sell for him. Michael has a system called “Little Blue” remote broadcast
trailer. Michael is selling this technology for an extreme discount because
since he took his position with QCTV hasn’t been able to utilize his creation.
Tuesday
T.J. Diaz told me he wanted me to talk to someone, the
Provost for the Unmanned Vehicle University John Minor. T.J. introduced us and
John told me “We are getting a lot of demand to bring back the fixed winged
training program. We have centralized the VTOL training in Phoenix but we want
to offer the fixed wing training nationwide. Now I already had my team lined up
because T.J. had informed me that there wasn’t enough approved airspace
available for training. Right away I thought of my retired SEAL buddies who
have 100+ acres they use for range facilities. He asked me to help line up
facilities to conduct the UVU training program. After 3:30PM we left for San
Diego but T.J. Diaz participated in a panel with Lisa Ellman and several
experts.
Wednesday
I got into San Diego around 11:00PM, I got a good night
sleep and called all of my buddies from cross the country out the possibilities
of hosting the UVU fixed winged training at their facilities and they were all
receptive. I even picked up two others, one in San Diego and the other in
Arizona. The San Diego facility used to have a COA. Then I attended the
California Land Surveyor’s Association meeting in Carlsbad. I was to follow
Dave Woolley a well-respected and published surveyor. He started off talking
about how technology has caused reduction of survey jobs. I wasn’t feeling
loved but then he started ranting on how the model of the industry is effecting
it as much or more as technology. He made me think. He finished with
encouraging these surveyors to engage this new technology and master it. I got
up and told my story and promoted T.J. Diaz, XFly, X-Fold technology and UVU. I
talked about how Stampede Global has divided UVU into the pilot training, the
masters and doctorate program and research and development. I talked about
Pix4D and offered trial, seven day licenses to those surveyors who were serious
and would be willing to purchase the full license. I told them “If you just
want the monthly lease, go online and buy it!” Then I talked about how Boy Scouts
and 4-H have geospatial, aviation and surveying categories that drones are
being used now to achieve. I suggested that if I were a surveyor, I would
become a Scout master and host a Geospatial 4-H group and cultivate my own work
force. I would offer to UAS professionals who were only doing cinematography
and offer them my expertise for CAD and quality control of their data and get
paid on their hustle. At the end of the meeting eight surveyors lined up for
trial versions of Pix4D. I fell asleep that night sending them their licenses
and composing emails with links to Pix4D.
Thursday
I woke up and finished emailing my emails and followed up
with the surveyors and composed an email to John Minor describing the
relationships with the owners of the land and facilities I have lined up for
the UVU fixed winged UAS pilot training.
On the agenda Friday
I have some follow up on the business that has been lined up
for Pix4D for surveyors and the fixed wing training facilities. I have been
hustling for the last three years with very little monetary benefit for my
efforts but I can say that I can be considered a subject matter export. I
cannot claim all the positive developments are due to hard and persistence but
I have to give credit to T.J. Diaz with his knowledge and expertise, his competence
is unrivalled. His competence gives me confidence and that confidence is would
has my contacts ready to commit and except this technology.
