They may look like something out of Star Wars, but Scott Goodkin’s drones are no futuristic toy. They are his business and are proving to be an increasingly popular way to get magnificent photographs.
His drones are equipped with high definition cameras, can take both still shots and video, are extremely agile and come a lot cheaper than hiring a helicopter, the only real alternative for aerial shots.
But to use them commercially, as Mr Goodkin does, he had to fulfil some stringent requirements set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).
First he had to get an unmanned operator’s certificate, which involved developing a set of operating, maintenance and training manuals to show how he would meet safety standards.
Peter Gibson, CASA’s manager of corporate communications, told the Gazette these are all reviewed and approved by CASA before a certificate is granted.
Mr Goodkin also needed to get a controller’s certificate, which meant passing the private pilot theory exams as well as clocking up a number of hours of practical flying. Fortunately, he already had a pilot’s licence from his native USA, but the whole certification process still took many months and was very costly.
Mr Gibson said it was necessary to ensure safe operating.
“The reason [for the regulations] is to make sure organisations and people operating commercial drones are capable of doing it safely and can follow the rules,” he said.
“Drones can pose a risk to people, property and aircraft. The requirements mean people engaging an approved remotely piloted aircraft operator can have confidence in their safe operations.”
Having jumped through all the hoops, Mr Goodkin’s Lentez now is a fully CASA-licensed company, the only one in the Blue Mountains area and the only operator between Parramatta and Bathurst. (There is one in Lithgow which only does work for mines.)
He has three drones: the biggest weighs nine kilograms and cost $15,000. The two smaller ones cost $6000 and $2000 respectively.
They are fitted with 24 mexapixel Sony cameras and full HD video which can revolve 360 degrees. They are controlled by radio from the ground monitors.
Mr Goodkin has loved flying since his school days. “I tried to convince my father to get my gliders’ licence when I was 14. He said, ‘if you get straight As [in exams]’ – but I didn’t!”
He eventually fulfilled his dream and got his pilot’s licence at 23. For many years he was a volunteer pilot with civilian search and rescue in the US.
He met his Australian wife, Barbara, in 2005 and in 2008 they moved to the Mountains.
With more than 30 years’ experience as a photographer and video producer behind him, Mr Goodkin had considered buying a helicopter and converting his pilot’s licence to a rotor wing licence. Then he came across drones.
“It was January, 2014, and the technology was beyond brand new — it was virginal. There was just a handful of people doing it,” he said.
“I thought, wait a minute, these drones are really going to be something big. I looked at Barb and she had to take a leap of faith because she knew nothing about it but she trusted my entrepreneurism.”
The pair (Barbara is the business manager) were “complete neophytes”, Mr Goodkin said, but quickly discovered the CASA regulations that apply to anyone who wants to use a drone for a commercial purpose.
That hurdle behiond him, he signed up to the “Drones for hire” website and within days had work.
“The very first job we got was for an architect... The old Caringbah High School was going to be redeveloped for townhouses. We flew the drone at various levels which let them see what view you’d get in two-storey, three-storey houses and so on.”
A lot of his work is such “visualisation” for architects and he has done many jobs for real estate agents who have discovered a drone can give literally a bird’s eye view, particularly useful for prestige properties set in bushland or among luscious gardens.
Mr Goodkin’s drones have also been used for marketing and promotions of resorts, to sell rural properties for stock and station agents, to create videos for businesses and even for a different view of a wedding.
Recently, they worked with Katoomba musician, Justin Hunter, at the ruined castle for his newest music video called Mountains Pass. The video will premier at Mt Vic Flicks on August 2.
And Mountains folk might have seen them at this year’s Anzac Day ceremony at Blackheath and Katoomba’s Winter Magic Festival.
And for each flight, Mr Goodkin has to fill out a checklist, just like a passenger flight, with safety assessment form, flight authorisation form, pre-flight checklist, possible interference, maps and charts and a log.
“They are not toys; they are potentially dangerous which is why CASA licenses us. And there are big fines if they catch you flying commercially without a licence,” Mr Goodkin said.
“But people can fly them all they want for fun and we hope they do. These drones are going to become the next big thing.”