Meet Carys who is a drone operator and hear her story of how she got there. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
Carys Kaiser - Drone operator
So what I really enjoy about being a drone pilot is going out and getting that shot. That might be a racing car going down the track or that might be something that is inaccessible to a normal crew with a camera and then when I see that go out on a TV programme it's really exciting.
A typical day for me will be flying a drone for TV; perhaps getting exterior shots or even flying the drone live for BBC Breakfast on an outside broadcast.
I left school with GCSEs. And then went on to do A-levels but A-levels weren't for me. I did an HNC in Business and Finance but really I knew I wanted to work in TV. So, eventually, I started as a runner for a small TV production company and I worked my way up through the ranks to an assistant producer.
Then I joined the BBC in the camera department and from there I went freelance as a filmmaker.
Work for a drone pilot is actually varied. It's not just TV and film, it includes all sorts of other applications such as search and rescue. So you might end up working with mountain rescue or fire rescue. Drones can also be used where it's unsafe for humans to go, like high structures such as wind turbines, communication towers or oil wrecks. So there's plenty of opportunities that are outside of the creative side of drones, and those industries are using drones more and more.
My advice for anybody who wants to become a drone pilot is, first of all, get a drone to start practising and learn how it works. Learn all about the drone that you've got and then obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority, which means you need to go on a special course.
What I really enjoy about being a drone pilot is going out and getting that shot.
- Carys’ job is really varied. A typical day for her could be flying a drone for TV - for example for a live on-location broadcast - or filming a racing car going down the track
- Carys did GCSEs and started A-levels before deciding to swap to do an HNC (Higher National Certificate) in Business and Finance. She knew she wanted to work in TV, so she started as a runner for a small TV production company, working her way up to assistant producer, and then working in the camera department of the BBC
- Drone pilots can also work with the fire or mountain rescue services. And there are opportunities to operate drones where it is unsafe for humans to go - on high structures like wind turbines, communication towers and oil rigs
- Her advice for anybody who wants to become a drone operator is to practice and learn how it works. You then need to obtain permission from the Civil Aviation Authority, which will involve going on a special course.
A similar role to a drone operator is a drone pilot. Drone pilots remotely operate aircraft used in work like surveying, filmmaking and aerial photography.
What to expect if you want to be a drone pilot
- Drone pilot average salary: variable
- Drone pilot typical working hours: 39 to 41 hours per week. You may work evenings and weekends
What qualifications do you need to be a drone pilot?
You could get into this role via applying directly or specialist courses run by private training organisations.
Sources: LMI for All, National Careers Service
This information is a guide and is constantly changing. Please check the National Careers Service website for the latest information and all the qualifications needed.
For careers advice in all parts of the UK visit: National Careers Service (England), nidirect (Northern Ireland), My World of Work (Scotland) and Careers Wales (Wales).
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