Fly Like a Pro: Top Drones for Commercial Applications

Their interest peaks when I tell them drone pilots can earn between $50 and $150 an hour or more. The conversation then switches to what drone they will need to buy.

There is a lot of variation within the drone market. The quality and capabilities of a drone don't always match its price. Unfortunately, there are many companies out there trying to sell drones for commercial applications that make false claims about their products. These ads typically compare a company’s drone to an industry standard like DJI and claim that its $200 drone is better than DJI's $3,000 drone.

As the saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you are looking to find a drone for commercial work, decent options are available starting at around the $1,000 range. However, there are many factors that go into selecting a commercial drone beyond its price tag.

Here are five recommendations from FLYING for drones that stick out as ideal platforms for specific industries, with a top pick for each of the following industries:

But before we get into our choices, let's discuss what makes a drone ideally suited for commercial work. 

If you are looking for a drone to fly around and take a few cool pictures with, you really don't need more than something that flies level and has at least a 12MP camera. If that is the case, you're likely not in need of an actual commercial drone.

Commercial drones are built to perform tasks far beyond capturing a few pictures from the air. They are robust and typically are designed with specific mission sets. For example, technically, you can perform some basic 2D and 3D mapping with a drone like a DJI Mini 4 Pro, but it doesn't have anywhere near the capabilities for you to map out a construction site with cm-level accuracy. It’s a great drone, but not for commercial applications.

True commercial drones should be selected because the specifications of them meet or exceed your needs and, more importantly, the needs of your clients. Camera type and quality are your top priorities. Look for large sensors with high resolutions. Flight times and flight range are also important.

Serious commercial work is not going to take place if your battery only keeps the drone in the air for a few minutes. You'll also notice that when selecting a commercial drone, the payload needs to match the intended use of the drone. If you are looking to conduct inspections of solar panels, for example, you aren't going to be very successful if you don't have a thermal camera.

At the commercial level, you'll also need to consider software integration. Commercial drone pilots often use platforms that aid in flight planning, data processing, and real-time analytics. It's too difficult and impractical for software designers to provide solutions that work for all drones. If the commercial work you want to be hired to complete requires the use of specific software, make sure the drone you purchase is compatible with it.

When it comes to commercial work that focuses on aerial photography and videography, our top choice is the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Fly More Combo.

The Mavic 3 Pro features a flagship tri-camera system, including a 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera, a 70-millimeter telephoto lens, and a 166 mm telephoto lens, enabling creators to capture stunning visuals across various scenarios. A single battery allows for a maximum flight time of 43 minutes, giving you plenty of time to capture the shots you need, even on large properties. 

If you are shooting in congested areas, such as large cities, you'll appreciate the drone's numerous safety features. Omnidirectional obstacle sensing can detect and avoid obstacles in all directions. The Fly More Combo includes additional accessories such as two extra Intelligent Flight Batteries, a Battery Charging Hub, an ND Filters Set (ND8/16/32/64), and a DJI Shoulder Bag. Professional photographers will really appreciate the flexibility of this drone and its powerful optics.

When it comes to industrial inspections, commercial drone pilots often find themselves in remote and rugged areas. For this reason, they need a drone that is built to withstand changing weather conditions and a wide range of temperatures from sweltering heat to frigid cold and rain.

The Autel Alpha by Autel Robotics is just such a drone. With an IP55 weather rating and a foldable design, it's robust and portable. When flying for utility inspections, you'll often need to maneuver your UAV into tight spaces. With the Autel Alpha, you can do this with ease, thanks to its millimeter-wave radar and dual-vision sensors for comprehensive obstacle avoidance, even in low-light conditions. 

It also includes the DG-L35T gimbal, which houses a 4K 35x optical zoom camera, dual thermal imaging lenses, and a laser range finder with up to 2 kilometers of detection range. If that wasn't impressive enough, the Autel Alpha supports A-Mesh networking. That means it's ready to operate with multiple drones and ground stations and can do so autonomously. It all adds up to faster, safer, and more detailed inspections, even in remote and difficult-to-reach locations.

If you want to work in agriculture as a drone pilot, you must have a drone with a multispectral payload. There is definitely some work you can do for the industry with standard RGB cameras, but the data you collect will never compare with what a multispectral drone can provide.

By collecting data in more than just the visible spectrum, pilots can provide everything needed for precision agricultural management. The DJI Mavic 3M is the ideal drone for this task.

This compact aerial surveying drone integrates a 20MP RGB camera with four 5MP multispectral cameras capturing green, red, red edge, and near-infrared bands. This combination can provide farmers with a wide range of crop health information.

The Mavic 3M has a max flight time of 43 minutes and can map 200 hectares in a single flight. It also features a built-in sunlight sensor, which is a key component needed for the proper calibration of multispectral cameras. Additionally, the Mavic 3M supports centimeter-level positioning with its RTK module, enhancing the precision of aerial surveys.

If you are looking into offering mapping and surveying services as a commercial drone pilot, you must have a drone that can provide centimeter-level accuracy. This means that if your drone doesn't have Real-Time Kinematic (RTK), it's just not up to the task.

RTK takes the GNSS (GPS in the United States) signal and makes it more accurate. An ideal drone for mapping with RTK capabilities is the DJI Matrice 300 RTK.

This powerhouse of a drone can operate in even the most challenging of environments. It's IP45-rated, meaning you can fly it in the rain. Unlike most of the drones on our list, the Matrice 300 RTK can mount up to three different payloads at the same time, with two underneath the drone and one on top.

You can map locations with RGB cameras, lidar, and even thermal cameras. The drone features six-directional sensing and positioning, enhancing safety by detecting obstacles in multiple directions. With so many features and configurations, this drone can map just about anything with incredible accuracy.

First responders look for a combination of portability, robustness, and a wide range of payload options when considering what drone to purchase. I've worked with several who have integrated drones into their operations, and many agencies across the country use and recommend the DJI Matrice 30T. 

The Matrice 30T combines wide-angle, zoom, and infrared cameras, along with a laser range finder, allowing for the data capture needed by first responders. The drone has an IP55 rating, a maximum flight time of 41 minutes, and an operational temperature range of minus-20 degrees Celsius to 50 C. The professionals I have spoken with love having the ability to analyze a developing situation with a standard RGB camera and switching to thermal when the situation demands it.

When it comes to commercial drones, pilots need to focus on quality and capabilities rather than just price. There are lots of drones on the market, but for serious commercial work, only the best will do.

FLYING’s five picks are well respected in the drone world and ideally suited for the specific industry we've placed each under. Whether you are looking to conduct power line inspections across the vastness of the Mojave Desert or find a lost child in the wilderness as a member of a search and rescue team, you can't go wrong with these UAVs. 

How often should I upgrade my commercial drone?

Most professionals upgrade every 2-4 years or when regulations or job requirements demand new capabilities.

Can I use the same drone for both mapping and photography?

Some drones are versatile enough to do both, but specialized work often benefits from task-specific payloads.

Is thermal imaging useful outside of public safety and inspections?

Yes, thermal cameras are also valuable in agriculture, wildlife monitoring, and even solar panel efficiency assessments.

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