The Yuma, Hollywood connection

Sharing the knowledge

There was so much to learn when I first started in the UAS/Drone business. Well there has been a lot of water under the bridge and I have learned a lot, now I am seeing the benefit of what I have learned. Now industry is starting to consider where to start using UAS/Drone because of the recent 333 exemptions and the reduction in the requirements for a “Private Pilot’s license” to a “Light Sport License”. That means 20 hours vs 30 hours and no physical. The cost is only around $1,800.00 if you show around, the country. Now that industry professionals can see how to legally use this new technology, no it’s time to figure out what tools are the right ones for the jobs.

Fixed wing vs VTOL

I was asked by John Minor the Provost of The Unmanned Vehicle University (UVU) to locate training areas for the fixed wing UAS training program. The UVU wishes to conduct their fixed wing UAS training nationwide. I found several of my former Navy SEAL buddies who have range training areas who have from 100 to 300 acres who are interested in hosting this type of training but there are a couple of areas that have come online aside from the six FAA designated test sites. That makes eight so total.

Why fixed wing? There was a Crop Science/Ag Consulting firm that put a ton of money into a single rotor, mini-helicopter system capable of heavy lifting. The problem was that the longer rotors created a harmonic vibration that could not be masked. They couldn’t baffle it with rubber washers or software, this caused them to miss all of last year’s growing season. Fixed wing platforms do not have nearly as great problems with harmonic vibrations. The challenge is the payload capacity.

There is the AeroMapper by 3D Robotics, the Maverick by Peoria, the Precision Hawk not to mention the Aerovironment and Insitu systems for the military. The problem is the payload capacity, five to seven pounds max. Then there is the price between: $196,000 to $385,000.

Cinematography expertise and experience

T.J. Diaz the proprietor of XFly Systems and primary trainer for UVU helped design the X-Fold systems for cinematography. He designed the rotors to be coaxial which not only stabilizes the platform but gives it great lift. The Dragon system by X-Fold can carry 100 kilos for 21 minutes and the price point starting under $8,000. The cinematography UAV pilots understand the benefit of these systems with the heavy lifting, the stabilization of the coaxial rotors, the long duration of fight and the price points.

Yuma

UVU has centralized their VTOL training to Phoenix, AZ and they specifically asked me to locate a training area for the fixed wing systems in Arizona, I contacted the Yuma EDC and they sent me right to the  Yuma County Airport Authority which manages Rolle Field near San Luis, Arizona. This facility is set up specifically for UAS research and development. What makes it so appealing is its close proximity to Hollywood and the motion picture industry. They work with the weapons Naval Weapons testing range, they have major connection with the Arizona Department of Agriculture but the proximity of the UAS/cinema photography professionals in Hollywood is what is really exciting. Their expertise with the cameras coincides directly with photogrammetry, LiDAR, Multi-spectral and Hyper-spectral aplications.