A Guide to Becoming an FPV Drone Pilot

If you're looking for an exciting and unique hobby that combines technology, creativity, and adrenaline, then becoming an FPV drone pilot might just be the perfect fit for you. FPV, or first-person view, drone piloting involves using a remote-controlled drone equipped with a camera and goggles that allow you to see the drone's perspective in real-time. It's like being a bird in flight, soaring through the skies and experiencing the world from a whole new perspective.

FPV drones came into popular culture in a big way a few years ago with a viral video of an FPV drone flying through a bowling alley, and since then FPV drones have soared in popularity. V1DroneMedia also produces videos using FPV drones to bring a new aerial perspective distinctly different from a traditional drone shot. Check out a few of our videos below.

DJI FPV Drone Video with GoPro

Ohio Wheat Harvest Drone Video using DJI Inspire 2, DJI FPV, and DJI Mavic 2

But before you can take to the skies as an FPV drone pilot, there are a few things you need to know. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of getting started, mastering the basics, building your skills, and joining the community of FPV pilots.

Getting Started: Familiarize yourself with the FAA rules and get your TRUST Certificate

While this may seem mundane, you don’t want to get in hot water with the FAA just as you start to fly your drone, so learning the rules for operating unmanned aerial vehicles in the national airspace is important. If you are just starting out with drones flying them for fun (as a hobby), you should study for and pass the FAA TRUST Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) to get your free TRUST certificate, required to have on hand for any person operating drones as a hobbyist. You can read and watch our blog/vlog post-FAA TRUST Test for Drone Pilots Explained to learn more.

Onto the fun part: Choosing Your First Drone

If you are motivated and handy (you don’t have to be an electrical engineer), you can build your own drone. Check out an FPV drone building guide from a local Cleveland FPV drone pilot, Elliot Spaudie.

There are also a wide variety of FPV drones available to buy, ranging from simple toy models to high-end racing drones. For beginners, I recommend starting with a basic model that is easy to fly and affordable. A couple of options for beginners, depending on your budget, would be the Emax Tinyhawk II Freestyle RTF Kit, the BetaFPV Cetus Pro, DJI Avata, or DJI FPV.

Learning to Fly: Mastering the Basics

Once your drone is set up and ready to go, it's time to start practicing your flying skills. There are a few fundamental skills you'll need to master before you can start doing more advanced maneuvers. These include:

• Throttle control: Learning how to control the speed and altitude of your drone.

• Pitch and roll: These controls allow you to move your drone forward, backward, left, and right.

• Yaw: This control allows you to rotate your drone left or right.

To practice these skills, find an open and safe location to fly your drone. Often you can do this at a local park, but check the airspace you are in, and then municipal and park regulations to make sure they don’t restrict drone flying there.

Building Your Skills: Advanced Techniques and Maneuvers

Once you've mastered the basics of flying your drone, it's time to start pushing yourself and trying out more advanced maneuvers. Here are a few to get you started:

• Flips and rolls: These are basic aerobatic maneuvers that involve flipping your drone forward, backward, or sideways while maintaining altitude.

• Power loops: This is a more advanced maneuver that involves flipping your drone upside-down while maintaining forward momentum, then completing a loop before righting the drone.

• Racing: If you're interested in competing against other FPV pilots, racing is a great way to test your skills and see how you stack up against the competition.

It's important to remember that these maneuvers can be dangerous if not done correctly, so be sure to practice in a safe and legal manner. If you're not confident in your abilities, consider practicing in a simulator before attempting them in real life.

Joining the Community: Networking and Job Opportunities

One of the great things about becoming an FPV drone pilot is the sense of community that comes along with it. There are a variety of local and online communities of FPV pilots (check out Cleveland FPV Drone Racing Facebook Group), where you can share tips, tricks, and experiences with other enthusiasts. Joining these communities can also open networking and job opportunities.

If you are still a student, one great option for you to meet like-minded people of similar age may be to attend a Drone Racing camp, such as Spire Academy Drone Racing Camp in a Cleveland suburb of Geneva, Ohio.

One growing area where FPV pilots are in demand is in the field of specialized aerial videography. While drone videography has been around for a while, FPV drone cinematography has really caught on in the last couple of years thanks to its stunning aerobatic aerial footage that puts the viewer in the middle of the action (check out the use of FPV drone cinematography in the 2022 movie Ambulance). FPV drones are becoming an increasingly popular tool for filmmakers, ad producers, and content creators. If you have a knack for capturing breathtaking footage and solid FPV drone flying skills, this could be a great career path to explore.

Note that if you are planning to fly your FPV drone for commercial purposes (i.e. get paid to fly your FPV drone), you will need to get your FAA Part 107 Drone Certificate to be compliant with the FAA rules for commercial drone pilots. Learn more about it in our blog post Drone Pilot License, and check out V1DroneMedia’s Cleveland-based drone training classes which include Part 107 License Prep.

Another area where FPV pilots are in demand is in the field of drone racing. As the popularity of drone racing continues to grow, there are more and more opportunities for pilots to compete in local and national races. In addition to the thrill of competing, many drone racers also earn money through sponsorships and endorsements.

Finally, there are opportunities for FPV pilots in the field of drone education and training. As more and more people become interested in drone technology, there is a growing demand for experienced pilots who can teach others how to fly safely and responsibly. Whether through online tutorials, in-person classes, or private lessons, there are a variety of ways that FPV pilots can share their skills and knowledge with others.

Being an FPV drone pilot can be a thrilling and rewarding hobby and a career. Whether you're interested in racing, videography, or just flying for fun, there are a variety of opportunities to explore So what are you waiting for? Grab your drone, don your goggles, and take to the skies – the adventure awaits!

V1DroneMedia is a Cleveland-based drone services provider, including producing aerial cinematography and drone fly-through videos (we also fly FPV drones!) for a variety of industries, and providing drone training for groups and individuals. Contact us if you are need a consultation!

V1DroneMedia Drone Classes

V1DroneMedia offers a set of drone classes that V1DroneMedia’s Chief Drone Pilot (Jason Damman) developed and teaches regularly through local Cleveland community colleges and on-demand for individuals or organizations. Each class is geared toward a specific type of ‘drone’ knowledge need the students or organization is looking for, and we can develop custom classes by request.

Curious about the drone industry?

If you have heard of drones but are not sure how you can take advantage of this innovative technology, would like to learn about it, what it takes to work with drones legally, and what careers are available in the industries that are using drones, our 3-hour Introduction to Drones Class is for you!

What you will learn may spark an interest in a new career, or hobby, or inspire you to use the drone as a tool in your current job and will help you understand what to do if you want to get started. Since this is an in-person class with a drone industry professional, you will also have the ability to ask questions.

Want to learn to fly a drone with expert guidance?

Whether you are a drone hobbyist or an aspiring commercial drone pilot, the essential part of your drone training should be learning to fly the drone. That means being comfortable with operating the drone apps (such as DJI, Litchi, etc.), performing takeoffs and landings, learning to maintain and calibrate the drone, performing routine flight maneuvers, operate the camera to take pictures and video.

We have designed the Drone Operations Class to address this need for anyone who’s never touched a drone, and for those who know their way around a little, but don’t have the full confidence in operating it and want to advance their knowledge and skills.

This class consists of a 3-hour in-class portion that will introduce you to drone apps, how to calibrate, and maintain a drone, design a pre-and post-flight checklist, and introduce you to intelligent flight modes. The outdoor 3-hour portion will allow you to practice this knowledge with the guided expertise of a seasoned drone pilot.

We also have private 2-hour Hands-on Drone Flying Lessons that include only outside flying with hands-on practice, if you just want to practice flying.

While this class will equip you with the ‘know-how’ to operate a drone, it will be up to you to practice and hone your flight skills. That takes time and dedication, but it can pay off. Drone pilots are in demand in a variety of industries (as you can learn from us by taking our Intro to Drones class or watching the Drones for Business Webinar recording), and that demand is growing. A Drone pilot’s hourly pay rate can range from $50 - $250 or even more, depending on their skill set, experience, and the type of work they are doing.

Decided to get your commercial drone pilot (aka FAA Part 107) license?

You will need to get FAA Part 107 license if you intend to use drones for commercial purposes. That means even if you take aerial photographs to market your friend’s real estate listing, or if you want to do a flyover of a building for a roof or home inspection, regardless of the size and weight of the drone. Read my Drone Pilot License blog post for more details on this topic.

If you have decided to take the Part 107 Test, you will need to study FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test Materials and take the Part 107 Test which is similar to a private pilot test in the amount of knowledge covered. It costs $175 to take the test, so having proper preparation is important. You don’t want to have to spend that money again.

Our 2-day in-person FAA Part 107 License Prep Class breaks down the FAA prep materials (they are quite dense and full of aviation lingo) into easy-to-digest concepts for anyone. We cover only the information that is needed to pass the test and operate your unmanned aircraft safely. You will also receive additional resources such as materials to study and access to practice tests.

After that it will be up to you to study, take practice tests, and, when you feel confident enough, schedule and take the Part 107 test in a testing center.

Drone Classes Sign-up

If you’d like to stay up to date on our drone class dates and times, Sign Up to be notified when they get scheduled, and check out our Events page to register for upcoming drone classes.

Custom Drone Training for Organizations

If your organization wants to train its employees, we can design courses that suit your needs. Contact us for a consultation!

Ohio Drone Laws

As a commercial drone services provider located in Cleveland, Ohio, we know a thing or two about flying in this state. One of the questions we get asked often is whether you can fly at a specific location in Cleveland. See our blog post Where to Fly Drones in Cleveland for that information.

Drone flights in Ohio are subject to FAA regulations for operating in the national airspace. Some municipalities are enacting their own ordinances for drone use, but these should only apply to launching and landing locations, as local municipalities don't control airspace. We recommend checking your city/county for any such drone restrictions.

FAA Part 107 Regulations

Under FAA regulations you must have either a TRUST Test Certificate (for hobbyists) or a Part 107 Drone License Certificate (for commercial drone pilots) to fly drones in Ohio. We offer Part 107 Prep classes locally as a 2-day in-person class that prepares anyone to take and pass the test. See our event schedule for the next available class and read our student testimonials (over 95% of students pass the Part 107 Test after taking our classes!).

Are There Drone Flight Restrictions in Ohio?

It all depends on what type of airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). You may have to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain area, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for more detailed information and tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during any sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place.  A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL and MLB games from one hour prior to the game start to one hour after the game ends. These rules do get enforced, see this article about drone pilots pleading guilty to illegal Ohio stadium flights in 2023.

Can You Fly a Drone in Ohio State Parks and Cleveland Metroparks?

As a rule of thumb, national parks do not allow drone use on their properties. Some Metroparks have enacted the same ordinance, so you should check with the specific Metropark system. There are several designated areas where you can fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see details in their Drone Policy.

Municipal parks don't have the same restrictions usually but check with the specific park and municipality before flying your drone.

Drone Registration

If you want to fly your drone in Ohio (and anywhere else in the United States), you are required to register your drone if it is 0.55 lbs or larger if you fly as a hobbyist, and all drones (regardless of weight) if you operate commercially (under Part 107). You can register your drone on the FAA DroneZone website. The cost for registration is $5 and is valid for three years.

So, if you have checked off all necessary registrations, FAA Airspace Authorizations, and hold an appropriate FAA certificate, you are ready to fly. Now to the fun part, where can you fly your drone in Ohio? We've compiled some of our favorite locations in Cleveland where we frequently fly, see them in the Where to Fly Your Drone in Cleveland blog post.