Dr. Nils C. Prieur

Dr. Nils C. Prieur

ML Engineer / Earth & Planetary Scientist

Drone License in the Pocket, Fieldwork in Death Valley, Drone Is Bought!

1 minute read

Published:

Hey folks! Big news: I’m officially a licensed drone operator in the U.S. 🎉 On December 9th, 2021, I took the FAA’s Unmanned Aircraft General (UAG) exam, and wow, it was no joke. It felt like cramming for an airline pilot’s test! The 100+ pages of dense regulations, airspace classifications, and emergency procedures were quite the mountain to climb. And, after a grueling 150 minutes, I passed—just barely, with the minimum 70%! Talk about a nail-biter.

Let me give you a quick rundown of what I had to learn (or should I say survive):

Airspace classification: Memorizing which airspace you can fly in without causing a national incident. Weather interpretation: Deciphering aviation weather reports like I was cracking the Enigma code. Physiological factors: Keeping myself fit and hydrated (coffee addiction not helping!). I can now say I have a newfound respect for the skies—and a drone pilot is practically a co-pilot! Now, for the less exciting part: I had planned to do fieldwork in Death Valley’s Mars Hill, a prime Mars analog location. Unfortunately, despite my polite emails and promises of eco-friendly, non-invasive drone use, the National Park Authority said no. Apparently, aerial research there must be conducted with planes. Yes, planes! If only I had a Cessna in my back pocket. I’m now scouting other field sites in the Sierra Nevada, which should still offer excellent boulder fields for my project. Stay tuned for more adventures in drone regulations!

On a brighter note, I’ve purchased the Phantom 4 RTK drone, an absolute beast for precision mapping. With programmable flight paths and altitude control, it’s perfect for capturing consistent images under varying light conditions. I’m itching to test it and see those crisp boulder shots.

That’s all for now! Fieldwork planning continues, and I’m ready to take to the skies (responsibly, of course). Until next time, take care and keep reaching for new heights!

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