My company is considering adding a Mavic Air to our fleet for commercial use. Has anyone had a good experience with using the Mavic Air in real estate and construction? What else have you been using it for? What types of deliverables are you creating?
I would not recommend it. Not really designed to do that sort of work with excellence. Get a P4 Pro. This air drone is designed for backpacking and adventures of life and is a great quad for that purpose. Perhaps the best so far. For your clients and their best interest stick to the Pro models of the phantom line. Or the inspire line if the wallet will allow. Just my two cents.
I think that a P4 is better for commercial purpose. The MA is very little..even if it is a fantastic drone..but depends on which type of operations you should do..
I am intending to use Mavic Air for commercial purposes particularly as it is that bit smaller and less intimidating that the P4. Anybody else considering this?
I use the mavic air for construction and it works flawlessly everyday it keeps up with the P4 pro just dont have some of the features but we turn our photos into ALLSTATE and they never can tell the difference
Yes, tv commericals (non hi end clients), social media ads, adventure filming for web distribution/social media. A better cam would be nice. If you can film well, that's a bigger difference than size, plus it depends on what the output is for. Sure, I would like a p4 cam or higher specs, but if I am running around a mountain with another camera, and general mountain running gear, I need everything to fit. In the past, we would just rent a p4 if needed.
Bill B Posted at 2018-4-18 01:25
I would not recommend it. Not really designed to do that sort of work with excellence. Get a P4 Pro. This air drone is designed for backpacking and adventures of life and is a great quad for that purpose. Perhaps the best so far. For your clients and their best interest stick to the Pro models of the phantom line. Or the inspire line if the wallet will allow. Just my two cents.
Having both P4P & MA I use the P4P when I want the best images. The MA is great for travel.
I work as the sole pilot on a video production team. The drone program was started as a way to supplement production and to solve common video production problems but evolved into something more substantial. I do mostly flyovers (nothing involving surveying) and also real estate walkthroughs. I was hired by the company to be trained as the pilot so my situation is unique. We already had relationships with some of these clients due to my boss's expansive network, and clients that come to our company for other services. We have got work through Droners.io before, but clients tend to low-ball since they don't fully understand what the drone services would entail.
JadeBrewerPhoto Posted at 2018-6-19 07:41
I work as the sole pilot on a video production team. The drone program was started as a way to supplement production and to solve common video production problems but evolved into something more substantial. I do mostly flyovers (nothing involving surveying) and also real estate walkthroughs. I was hired by the company to be trained as the pilot so my situation is unique. We already had relationships with some of these clients due to my boss's expansive network, and clients that come to our company for other services. We have got work through Droners.io before, but clients tend to low-ball since they don't fully understand what the drone services would entail.
I am not in this business but would not hesitate to start doing it with the Mavic Air. Image quality is excellent and the aircraft is flying very stable. Once the buiness grows and turnover is sufficient you can still consider going for something bigger. And if you have one month that you can still wait, I would recommend doing so and see what DJI will launch on 18 July. If it is what most of us expect, that might be an interesting alternative option for you.
I think for weddings and real estate an experienced operator could make it work with the MA to get into those areas where a larger drone can not.
Construction, 3D mapping and surveying - not really designed for any of that. The MA is a high tech, 4K consumer grade personal drone designed ultimately for portability rather than commercial UAV operations - you'll need a professional grade drone for that. Inspire, Matrice etc.
The one thing I've considered the Air would be great for is interior fly through if you're good enough and comfortable with it. I've flown it inside my house many times and it would be a cool way to get smooth walk-through video of a home or commercial property for sale since it's so compact.
HoosierT Posted at 2018-6-19 10:17
The one thing I've considered the Air would be great for is interior fly through if you're good enough and comfortable with it. I've flown it inside my house many times and it would be a cool way to get smooth walk-through video of a home or commercial property for sale since it's so compact.
yes. as long as you don't have anything lightweight on any countertop or anything. I was flying in my house and it would blow paper off of the counter, and blow plants around pretty good.
I have been in business now for 1.5 years, honestly I can say I could never quit my day job. On the other hand the business has paid for all my drones, editing software, Aviation Insurance, parts and accessories, internet and phone with a humble profit for tax year 2017. Great way to support the addiction but no way to pay the real bills. Hopefully 2018 will carry on.
A CW Posted at 2018-6-19 09:38
I think for weddings and real estate an experienced operator could make it work with the MA to get into those areas where a larger drone can not.
Construction, 3D mapping and surveying - not really designed for any of that. The MA is a high tech, 4K consumer grade personal drone designed ultimately for portability rather than commercial UAV operations - you'll need a professional grade drone for that. Inspire, Matrice etc.
Dear friend, for once I have to disagree with you. He is planning indoor flying as well to show the interior of the houses for sale. Honestly I do not see the Inspire or the Matrice as a good choice for doing that.
Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-19 12:47
Dear friend, for once I have to disagree with you. He is planning indoor flying as well to show the interior of the houses for sale. Honestly I do not see the Inspire or the Matrice as a good choice for doing that.
If you reread what I wrote I did actual state that the MA "could work as a commercial drone for weddings and real estate to get into those areas where a larger drone can not"...
For more specialised commercial work such as 3D mapping, surveillance, bridge inspections, professional film making productions etc you will be much better off with a drone specifically designed for that purpose such as an Inspire and Matrice.
A CW Posted at 2018-6-19 12:54
If you reread what I wrote I did actual state that the MA "could work as a commercial drone for weddings and real estate to get into those areas where a larger drone can not"...
For more specialised commercial work such as 3D mapping, surveillance, bridge inspections, professional film making productions etc you will be much better off with a drone specifically designed for that purpose such as an Inspire and Matrice.
Yes I have read that, I just tried to stick to what OP had asked for. Sincere apologies for apparently having offended you...
Wachtberger Posted at 2018-6-19 13:00
Yes I have read that, I just tried to stick to what OP had asked for. Sincere apologies for apparently having offended you...
So did I stick to what the OP was asking for - I gave him my impression of what the MA could be used for in a commercial operation - is that a problem?
A CW Posted at 2018-6-19 13:04
So did I stick to what the OP was asking for - I gave him my impression of what the MA could be used for in a commercial operation - is that a problem?
I am not trolling here, I know you are talking about the MA, but since you are asking about how to make money with a drone, you may consider this higher standard purchase as it would start paying for itself right away ( coronavirus ) and gvt money is pouring in right now for that issue.
If I were you and I had 2500 bucks company budget ( I guess you have ) , I would go NOW for the Mavic Pro Enterprise as it bring money in very quickly thanks to its loud speaker. Useful for the coronavirus now, and I guess every time a hurricane is coming ( flying before the hurricane of course :-) )
The infra-red one is more expensive but I suppose it is also a money maker for checking house insulation, which is great for real estate extra money.
Now be careful about the laws in your country. In France for instance, this is a real pain to get the license to play with a drone and aerial shoots business wise. Expensive insurance too, you need many spare batteries, spare props, maybe a second drone when things start moving ... This is an expensive venture.
We have in our fleet an Inspire 1, Inspire 2, and a Mavic Pro. The Mavic Air would be used for things such as real estate interiors or other applications where the other drones are simply too large to fly. There seems to be mixed opinions on using it for commercial purposes.