By Sue White
Name: Peter Jose
The profession: Drone videography
The organisation: Drone Pilot Pete
The title: Chief Drone Pilot
The pay: Varies a lot. Jobs vary in scope and complexity. Clients might pay $600 for a short shoot not requiring edits, for up to $2000 for something edited is turned into a mini film.
For Qantas pilot-turned drone operator Peter Jose, there are times his job feels more high-stakes than flying a jumbo jet.
9am: Most people don’t realise the amount of work that goes into taking off a drone: meeting all the regulations and the cost of getting the drone in the air. It is heavily regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority – that’s a good thing for safety – and accredited, professional operators are so important.
I like to do a site check prior to filming or before an event. Every flying day is different, but mine always start with a coffee – soy latte please – then a pre-flight meeting to ensure everyone knows what’s happening during the day. I also have to complete the first stage of the regulatory paperwork – the Job Safety Analysis.
My schedule is flexible. I often drop the kids to school before I start work. We are an aviation family: My wife works fulltime as a Qantas flight attendant; my father was a Qantas pilot; and I was a captain with the Qantas Group for 25 years. I had to change careers after a neck injury made it difficult to retain my licence.
Being a drone pilot combines my love for photography and technology, and still draws on my decades in the aviation sector.
10am: Drone pilots film all sorts of things, and I’ve discovered my favourites. One is filming weddings. The couples are so happy they sometimes call me crying when they see the final product! I also make films for a luxury home builder, Latitude 37, which is great.
[Filming] moments like newlyweds at their wedding sometimes makes me more nervous than I was ever flying a multi-million-dollar airliner!
Peter Jose, drone pilot
The weather can really change my day. It’s so important for filming, particularly if you are filming construction sites. Blue skies are top of the list for clients, and luxury home builders want the wow factor!
Wind limits the use of drones so that’s important as well. Having decades of weather knowledge helps me. Being able to use the professional weather app NAIPS, which is full of pilot talk, is an advantage.
11am: By the day of a flight, I’ve already made sure all my equipment is ready. It’s not just about preparing and maintaining the drones but looking after the batteries. Sometimes keeping the batteries warm is just as important as stopping them from overheating. I’ll have my flight checklist in order, safety gear on hand and be wearing a high-vis vest.
Just like flying a plane, I make sure I have fatigue management plans in place for myself and my pilots, so nobody gets tired and makes a mistake. Where I can, I like to take a spotter with me for extra support or training. You can’t fly near a person; you have to be at least 30 metres away.
By the time I’m on my third coffee, we get to the part of the day I love – the capture. I really love the photography art that only a drone can provide. The aerial view is often the best as it sometimes shows off a remarkable view that is a total surprise.
Filling up the SD card with magic moments like newlyweds at their wedding sometimes makes me more nervous than I was ever flying a multi-million-dollar airliner!
1pm: The hard part comes after a flight: The editing. It takes time, even just to do a 55-second reel for Instagram, but it’s really rewarding. The final product is like a mini film.
3.30pm: When I’m finished for the day, I’m definitely ready for a cold beer. I often spend time reflecting on how lucky I am to be home. I have a beautiful wife and three boys under 16, and my drone pilot business has given me the chance to be home loads more than when I was an airline pilot.
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