By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A PAKENHAM photographer and videographer became Cardinia Shire’s first legal drone operator earlier this month.
Hilton Stone, who co-owns Brandsten Media with business partner Leigh Rogers, carried out his first aerial surveying job less than 24 hours after registration – and he said job offers have not stopped flying in.
“Realistically, if you want to do any form of aerial images, you have to get a massive bomber which costs a fortune or a helicopter and that’s not cheap either,” Hilton said.
“Drones produce high end production without costing a fortune.”
Hilton, who likened being a drone operator to becoming “your own airline”, went through nine months of Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approvals before taking to the skies.
“The training is very intense and you learn a lot,” he said.
Town planning and agricultural surveying are an interest point for the business partners who have already used their drone to scope out land for a proposed development in the city’s inner north-east.
“There is a lot of interest (for aerial surveying) in the engineering sector and town planning,” he said.
“Eventually when we get enough experience, we will start agricultural surveying and 3D mapping.”
Hilton said 3D mapping capabilities can help farmers understand where to plant crops based on the subterranean aspects of the land.
The photographer of 25 years said he has no immediate surveying plans in Cardinia Shire, yet alluded to exciting possibilities to come.
“We will have to wait and see,” he said.
According to CASA who approve drone licenses, there are no other current operators in the Cardinia Shire area.
