Must-Have Accessories for Drone Pilots
From enhancing safety to boosting performance, these options are not just add-ons but vital components that ensure successful and efficient operations.
A high-quality drone backpack will protect your drone and equipment during transport. [Courtesy of Lowepro]
It’s no secret that the drone industry continues to grow. Every day brings about further adoption of drones in everything from industrial inspections to transporting organs.
If you love the drone industry as much as I do, your inbox is probably inundated every day by the latest drones to hit the market or leaks of what DJI has next up their sleeves (currently, the DJI Air 3S and Neo).
While drones get most of the attention—and why not with more than 785,000 registered in the United States alone—there is a lot more in the drone pilot’s quiver than just the Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In the rapidly growing world of drone technology, professional pilots know that the right accessories can significantly impact their operations.
Whether it’s about capturing the perfect aerial shot, ensuring safety during flights, or managing the logistics of transporting equipment, the accessories a drone pilot uses can enhance performance, safety, and efficiency.
With no disrespect to drones, let’s break from the aircraft and focus on some of the accessories every drone pilot needs. There are many accessories on the market, and there is no way to cover them all in a single article. So, we’ll focus on some of the most important and divide them into three categories:
- Flight safety
- Performance enhancers
- Productivity and efficiency
Essential Safety Accessories for Protecting Your Drone and Investment
Landing your dream job as a commercial drone pilot is not only about the quality of images you can capture or your skills on the sticks.
Professionals know that, above all else, safety should be at the top of every drone pilot’s list while flying. The best safety tool you have is your brain, but there are several products on the market to help make your flights that much safer.
- Propeller guards: Drone propellers spin thousands or tens of thousands of times a minute. That level of speed can cause serious damage or injury. The risk to people, in particular, is one of the reasons the FAA has so many restrictions around flying over people. Propeller guards are the best method for addressing this danger.
These guards protect the propellers from damage and reduce the risk of injury to people and property, making them indispensable in environments where the drone might come into close contact with obstacles.
- Landing gear and pads: Landings can be one of the riskiest portions of a drone flight. Landing gear and pads protect the drone's underside during takeoff and landing, especially on rough or uneven surfaces. These accessories help prevent damage to the camera, sensors, and other critical components, ensuring that the drone remains operational even in challenging conditions. I personally use and recommend Hoodman’s pad, but there are several on the market.
Examples: Hoodman Drone Launch Pad, PGYTECH Landing Pad Pro
- Drone insurance: Accidents can happen, even to the most skilled pilots. Whether it’s a sudden gust of wind, a bird strike, or an unexpected technical failure, having drone insurance is critical. I’ve logged hundreds of flight hours as a drone pilot and felt the sting of paying my insurance premium each month. That is, until I needed it. When a technical malfunction sent my drone deep into the Mojave desert with no hope of recovery, insurance covered all but the deductible.
Not only does it protect against the financial repercussions of accidents, but it can also cover legal liabilities, which can be significant in professional operations. Also, most people looking to hire drone pilots will require them to be licensed and carry $1 million in liability insurance.
Examples: SkyWatch.AI Insurance, Global Aerospace, BWI Fly
Enhance Drone Performance With Key Accessories
If you have ever wondered how professionals get those stunning images you can’t seem to capture with your drone, it’s probably because you aren’t using the right accessories. Basic drones lack some of the features professionals use, such as ND filters, to get those amazing shots. If your goal is to enhance performance and image quality, try these accessories.
- High-capacity batteries: For commercial drone pilots, flight time is money. High-capacity batteries extend the drone’s flight time, allowing for longer missions without frequent interruptions for battery changes. This is especially important for mapping, surveying, or long-duration filming projects.
You’ll find many drones have only one battery designed for them. In this case, you should purchase multiple batteries. Other drones, Like the DJI Mini, have standard and extended batteries. My rule is to always go out with at least double or, ideally, triple the batteries I need.
A word of caution when it comes to batteries. You’ll often find third-party batteries for sale at lower prices than those made by the manufacturer. I would avoid these in most cases.
- ND filters: Neutral Density (ND) filters are essential for controlling exposure in bright light conditions, enabling pilots to maintain the correct shutter speed for cinematic footage. By reducing the amount of light that enters the camera, ND filters help avoid overexposure and ensure that videos and photos have balanced exposure levels.
You can think of ND filters as sunglasses for your camera. While you may think this causes your images to look too dark, you will be surprised how much easier it is to edit your images in post-production and make them pop.
Essential Accessories for Maximizing Drone Efficiency
If you want to succeed as a drone service provider, operating your business like a well-oiled machine is essential. While you don’t need a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, you do need to think about how to make your operation as efficient as possible.
How do you plan to carry your gear? Do you have enough batteries or portable power for the flight? Where is your data getting stored? These are the types of questions every commercial pilot should ask themselves. Thankfully, the solution for these and many other questions can easily be purchased.
- Drone backpacks and cases: Transporting a drone and its accessories can be challenging, especially for professionals who often travel to various locations. A high-quality drone backpack or hard case protects your drone and equipment during transport, ensuring that the drone and its accessories remain safe from damage.
- Drone chargers and power banks: Keeping the drone and its accessories charged is critical for uninterrupted operations. When I started my career as a remote pilot, I made the mistake of not having enough power. Save yourself the trouble of sitting near an electrical outlet for several hours while you wait for your batteries to charge.
High-capacity chargers and portable power banks allow pilots to charge batteries on the go, ensuring they can continue working without unnecessary downtime.
- Data storage solutions: When you are on a drone gig, capturing large amounts of data is not uncommon. Most drones have a very limited amount of internal storage space. You never want to be in a position where you have run out or storage space.
Having reliable storage solutions is essential. High-speed memory cards and portable SSDs ensure that footage is safely stored and easily accessible for post-production work.
Examples: SanDisk Extreme 128GB microSDXC, Lexar Professional 1000x 64GB microSDXC, Samsung EVO Plus 128GB microSDXC
Elevating Your Drone Operations with the Right Accessories
In the ever-evolving landscape of drone technology, the right accessories can make all the difference for professional pilots. From enhancing safety with essential tools like propeller guards and drone insurance to boosting performance with high-capacity batteries and ND filters, these accessories are not just add-ons but vital components that ensure successful and efficient operations.
For those serious about their craft, investing in quality accessories isn’t just about convenience—it's about elevating your entire operation, ensuring that every flight is as productive, safe, and efficient as possible. As the drone industry continues to grow, staying equipped with the best tools will keep you ahead of the curve, ready to tackle any challenge with confidence.
FAQ
Why are ND filters important for drone photography?
ND filters reduce the amount of light entering the camera, which is crucial in bright conditions. They help maintain proper exposure and allow for slower shutter speeds, resulting in smoother, cinematic footage and well-balanced images without overexposure.
How can I extend my drone’s flight time?
To extend your drone’s flight time, invest in high-capacity batteries. These allow for longer missions without the need for frequent battery changes. It’s also advisable to carry multiple batteries during flights, especially for extended projects or when you’re far from charging facilities.
Is it worth investing in drone insurance, even if I’m a careful pilot?
Yes, investing in drone insurance is highly recommended, even for experienced pilots. Accidents can happen unexpectedly, and insurance not only covers repair or replacement costs but also protects against potential legal liabilities, which can be significant in professional drone operations.
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