So here’s how it is for me almost 2 years after getting my PfCO…
I’ve still not got around to renewing my PfCO yet, I was going to before the current situation and found myself out of work… I had let it lapse for around 6 months so the CAA wanted new PfCO money instead of renew PfCO money. The CAA’s way of discouraging anyone from discontinuing to pay into their hungry cash cow!
I primarily used my PfCO to extend my skill set for engineering surveys. But money in reality comes from the technical engineering reports that I right. I just enjoyed flying in work time. My engineering work also gave me leads every now and then. That said, I can still get the same money from doing other reports and engineering without paying for the PfCO, insurance, equipment etc.
The biggest down side to trying to become a drone pilot as your main job is if the weather is rubbish or leads slow for days, then so is the pay. Engineering outside of Corona-virus generally always pays and is consistent. There were periods that I’d not take engineering work to allow me to fly, then I’d get days of shocking weather and no work.
Currently the drone industry is massively saturated and its a fight to get continuous work. A lot of my friends in the circle have had to cut rates to compete over the last year or so.
I may renew before the change of regulations to EASA come into play which has now moved again to the 31st Dec 2020. It is currently understood that this may give additional so called grandfather rights to existing PfCO holders. But I believe this is still a bit up in the air.
In addition to the above, there is a massive shoot out going on for the airspace that we fly in by the likes of google, amazon etc, who will pay billions to make commercial use of this airspace. We are currently being thrown under a bus and appear to be getting no representation as both professional drone pilots or hobbyists. Only the likes of the CAA and big corporations are being involved in taking our airspace from us. In addition, the government officials that are making legislation have no idea regarding drones and are incompetent no nothings who don’t know the difference between one end of a drone and another… so who knows what the future will hold. Right now are uncertain times for the RC hobby and drones.
If you can get a low cost PfCO course and will not be loosing too much by doing so, then go for it, but I’d advise not to stick all your eggs in that basket right now! If the cost given uncertainty is too high, then I’d advise to hold off until sometime next year. Right now PfCO work appears to be slower than normal, some companies are holding off on some projects requiring drone surveys while waiting to see what the economy does so work is still scarce out there.
