FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
With this unique application of technology, and the variety of productions that can be created, there are bound to be questions about my services.
Q: [Can the air photos, ground photos,
and GIS imagery be combined into a tour?]
A: [Yes, any source media I create can be integrated for a complete
tour...even interior photos, nearly continuous from space to the
kitchen sink!!]
Q: [What is the benefit of having your
photos presented in my slide show?]
A: [Quick and easy edits without third party
involvement, a consistent flow to the tour, and linking to
additional tours]
Q: [Is this aircraft a "drone or
long range UAV"?]
A: [NO it is not a drone or UAV, this is a
hobby model RC aircraft which
remains in close short range visual line of sight control, and
is covered
under a different FAA section (part 57) and category than the UAV Drones. A
UAV drone is controlled by computer and long range (miles) telemetry and
video links, and is capable of high altitude flight. The problem with them is that they can cause
interference with normal aviation activities. Citizens cannot
just go buy drones at hobby stores, nor are allowed to operate them
without FAA certification even if home built]
Q: [How far is the helicopter limited to
fly?]
A: [Less than 400ft above ground, and about 300feet side radius from
control point]
Q: [How is the helicopter flown for
photos?]
A: [Use the helicopter simply as a Tall Tripod to provide a platform
for the camera above my head. No aerobatics or wide area airplane style
flying around is conducted. See below for further limitations]
Q: [What limitations are there for the
helicopter?]
A: [Do not fly directly over open water, trees, vehicles, traffic,
people, inaccessible areas, or near aircraft activity and farm animals]
Q: [How large is the
helicopter?]
A: [Almost 3 feet long, much smaller than that which requires a
designated flying field to be flown, but large enough to have
excellent performance and flight characteristics]
Q: [How noisy is the
helicopter?]
A: [Being Electric, NOT gas, it is fairly
quiet. It cannot be heard (or at least be a nuisance) more
than about a hundred feet away. Certainly not as loud as a full
sized helicopter a half mile away!]
Q: [How long is a typical flight?]
A: [About 2 minutes]
Q: [How many flights can be flown at a
site?]
A: [Up to about 8 per hour, or around 25 in a day]
Q: [How quickly can the photos be made
available?]
A: [Often, later the same day, but usually a slideshow may take a
couple days]
Q: [What does a "Flight Plan" consist of?]
A: [Identifying safety considerations, the view, lighting, landing zones, aerial
hazards, access requirements, coordination with people involved, terrain and microclimate conditions.
Also an awareness of any nearby helipads.]
Q: [Can I, or a guest, see a real-time view from the Helicopter?]
A: [Yes, with video downlink and portable viewer. The "Pilot
View" is possible]
Q: [What are the usual file formats produced?]
A: [WMV, Flash, 3GP, and JPG, both hires for
printing, and lowres for the web.]
Q: [Some Real Estate Web sites do not
have provisions for uploading certain media and formats.
If the media and Google Earth cannot be posted on the website, can VTT host them?]
A: [yes, contact me about this.
See Sample]