There are several platform like this that I have flown for, and believe me if you are depending on them to make a living you’ll be broke fast. Now I never depended on these platform to make a living off of, but if I’m not doing anything and it in my area I may take the job. But they only call maybe once a month, if that. You’ll better off knocking on doors then waiting on these platforms
This is what I want to do. I currently have a full-time career I love, but I'll have the option to retire in the next few years and a drone-based career is one of my potential next steps. I currently shoot video and stills and want to get into mapping. I know these platforms don't pay much, but I will likely use to gain more practical experience to help with my future career decisions.
If you are looking to make a living, I would say it's not worth installing at all. You will NOT get many missions offered. Those that are offered are drastically underpaid & often wouldn't cover your gas money there & back. If any little detail is not right, you will not be paid at all. The list goes on...
I've done a lot of jobs for ZV and made a lot of vids about them. Idk how you can make 5 figures. I did about 70 jobs this year and only cleared 5K. And yeah, the RE/CRE jobs get snatched in seconds. It's a little longer for the mapping missions. For new pilots it's ok, but obviously not for anyone who makes real money already. Nice vid as usual! You've been an inspiration to me and many others. Keep it up! ✌🏾🚀
At our civil engineering company we process mapping missions using PPK methods which need a base station logging on site during the flight. We used to do GCP targets but its way more work with worse results. The end result is surveyors must fly the missions as the surveyor union requires it.
Thanks for your professional insight into this and confirming how few missions they really offer. I thought it was just me. It was months before I even was offered a mission (at 4am) and it was gone before it even hit my phone app. I have yet to even grab one successfully. Apparently they are leaning more towards Enterprise grade drones like the 3E now. Ive noticed also that DJI's lack of an updated SDK is also blocking the better drones from being used. Appreciate all your contributions to this profession.
@kjcroslin I've complained to them about Jobs coming and going instantly. I call BS on someone accepting job. Maybe if they don't read the requested job.
@@DylanGorman I have found Bees360 to be pretty busy and easy to get my feet wet. have been flying pretty regularly now for over a year with them. But flying my drone is only half of the job they want. But as you said, its still not a 60k per year level of income. FlyGuys basically told me, I needed a DJI Mavic 3E to be taken seriously. I use an Air 2s currently. 😁
I appreciate the video Dylan. I just got my Part 107 and have been curious about the drone job websites. Your videos have been an inspiration and have helped me get a decent idea of what I could possibly do.
Glad to hear that Brian. I posted a few other platforms in the video description. I recommend signing up for all platforms like Zeitview to get the most exposure to jobs!
I hate DPNs, they underprice jobs, under pay pilots, and devalue the whole industry. Great video Dylan, I know how uncomfortable it is to talk about how scummy these companies are, but we have to help our viewers get real project that actually pays them a respectful rate.
Just the video I needed. Thanks man. I have a DJI mini 4 pro so waiting for a job to come in has been a long wait. Learning how to use DroneDeploy still as well.
Well said. It's a bummer you couldn't get more missions, but I understand Tampa has a dense pilot network. Service providers aren't meant to be a pilot's full time gig. It's meant to be a supplemental bit of business that has a marketing, sales, operations and sometimes QC teams taking the load off and giving pilots a foot in the door.
Thanks, Dylan. I am looking to transition from standard photography/videography to jobs like this and am considering ZV as an option for gaining experience with low effort of entry. I have no delusions of getting rich (I still have a full-time career that I love and just want to set myself up for the next chapter) and I would be happy to cover my expenses as I learn on someone else's jobs. I need to start working with third-party drone apps and get the mapping basics down before signing up, but I feel like there's a good chance I can pick up one or three jobs to gain some hands-on experience.
Great video, I have a question. Have you flown the Freefly Astro Prime yet? I’m thinking about getting one. I love my DJi drones. But I’m just looking into the future in case the ban does come.
I would respectfully disagree that they are taking the risk. The pilots are. You have to provide your insurance and equipment. If something goes wrong you are liable, not them. They seem to be very poorly run. My badges showing that I completed their training keep disappearing from my profile and new training I took months ago, are still not there. I have had much better luck on other platforms. Thanks for the video, I enjoy your channel.
I appreciate you outlining your experience. I think all of the DPNs have a lot of work to do and I also see your point with “who” is taking on the risk, I should have worded it differently.
When it was drone base the customer service(for pilots) was pretty good. When Zeitview took over. Things take a little longer. I still do jobs for them when its convenient for me. Close to home and I am quick enough to get it. Builds my confidence to do jobs on my own. South East PA - look me up and hire me!
I noticed that you didn't mention or perform the required "Coverage Check" before you left the site. Is that not a requirement there? That adds a little time to the mission as well. As far as risk I am on my insurance and in my vehicle there and back. Unless there is a clause in their contract with the clients, I don't see where they're taking the risk.
I did miss the “coverage check” step in the video so I’ll own up to that mistake. As for risk I was more so referring to their reputation with the client where a pilot could mess up and it not effect them (other than Zeitview likely not hiring them for future projects)
@ Okay got it! I was curious about the coverage check because I have noticed some differences in mission requirements in other areas. I am just south of Chicago.
I always like to inform these companies that 60k in Ca. Is not like 60k in Florida. Cost of living has a lot to do with it. Don't be afraid to said no if it doesn't make sense to you. Great advice for beginners!!
From my experience, you need larger enterprise drones using thermal, RTK or LiDar to really get any decent paying work. Also, jobs using the Agras or fixed wing units like the eBee are much more likely to get higher paying work. The average pilot with a Mavic 3E is going to find a lot of those $60-150 jobs and that's about it. You might get lucky if your pilot network isn't dense in your area but with the affordability of drones these days, earning a living on Zeitview alone is setting yourself up for failure.
I guess I should make a follow up video if I am able to get into their enterprise side. I run my own services business so it’s not like I really need it but I do want to show people what that would be like since it’s very much an unknown!
Finally someone reviewing a company that isn’t sponsored with a bias opinion. Thanks! I’m a part 107 debating on where to start but these companies appear worse than they claim.
I applied to work with them in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas in Ontario many months ago, with the necessary qualifications and equipment, and never heard back. They didn't even have the decency to respond to say why. In my view they are a very unprofessional operation.
That’s hard to hear, I’m sorry they treated you like that. I’m not sure how they operate outside of the US so that may be why they don’t have the best support?
Back in the early Dronebase days there was some decent money drone jobs in the $175 - $350 range buy those days are over. These days, I won't consider taking a job for less than $250 which is my two hour minimum.
As someone who has been on Zeitview for a few years, I have never taken a single job but gotten several notifications about jobs. They range from $50-$80 and are ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH IT. As stated in this video, people grab them within seconds and I personally don't even understand why lol.
lol, they Zetiview/DroneBase have had that pasted claim for over 5 years, but no one has ever taken that credit. One would think that someone should have made more with in a year as one of their long term operators.
I personally only know 2 pilots that have gotten close to that amount, but this was 2 years ago… I wish they would fix their claims a bit more but we know that won’t happen.
I noticed a definite down trend in payouts over the years and some local jobs in your town may not be worth doing. $50 only for a next door neighbor 5 shots only! 😅
Earnings-costs incurred =net income. I assume most of these companies hire you as a 1099 ( independent contractor) and you pick up all your own costs and insurance. What a deal !
In the right programs you can absolutely make 6 digits working for Zeitview. I know dozens of people who are doing it. I was one of them. Doesn’t work with those dumb one off jobs. Zeitview is probably incorporating the numbers for those specialty crews.
That’s what it seems like. I didn’t want to write it off entirely because I know there are people that can make that but it’s not really made for the masses.
I call total & complete BS on 5 figures. 😂. I don't believe that for a second. I signed up for ZV just for extra jobs here & there. Long story short, its a joke & a waste of time. I would not even sign up again. The average "job" is $50-$75 & you are lucky to get 1x a month if you aren't in a hotspot for such jobs. They are never worth the money! They pay less than minimum wage for time invested. 😂 Often the drive alone would cost more in gas than the job pays. It's truly offensive. I've accepted 1x job in 3 years! Do yourself a favor & don't even install that garbage.
To make any reasonable income a pilot must fly for every network possible, Zietview, Bark, Connexicore, FlyGuys, FotoFitch etc., and market your business outside of the various networks. DO NOT drive more than 100 mile diameter from your shop/home etc unless the bid is high $... Take your lunch, coast down hill to save gas, keep insurance cost as low as possible. one network site has 16000 pilots. Please talk about the service fees, banking fees. I have flown 45 missions with 5 separate networks in 2024 and only made $9200, then don't forget city/county/state and federal taxes out of that money I made.
They used to be better when they were DroneBase. I had a construction progress job lasting a year and a half which was good money. But mainly it’s a tax write off for my toys. I’m retired military and county anyway.
I tried them for 3 years...oh the stories I could tell. Bottom line they are horrible. Good luck getting off their email list or talking to a person or even getting a job. Simply horrible company.
@ when I signed up I entered all the information as needed. Specifically the pilot info. after having a job offer sent to me, I was told I needed up upload my certificate (already done) however the system wasn’t showing it on their end. There system wouldn’t allow me to upload so I told tried to communicate this to them several times and I was ghosted. After speaking with customer service several times I said screw it, not worth the time. Not to mention they don’t approve the use of Autel Robotics EVO Max 4T which is one of our enterprise drones
There are several platform like this that I have flown for, and believe me if you are depending on them to make a living you’ll be broke fast. Now I never depended on these platform to make a living off of, but if I’m not doing anything and it in my area I may take the job. But they only call maybe once a month, if that. You’ll better off knocking on doors then waiting on these platforms
Agreed! This is a good starting place, not a finishing place
This is what I want to do. I currently have a full-time career I love, but I'll have the option to retire in the next few years and a drone-based career is one of my potential next steps. I currently shoot video and stills and want to get into mapping. I know these platforms don't pay much, but I will likely use to gain more practical experience to help with my future career decisions.
If you are looking to make a living, I would say it's not worth installing at all.
You will NOT get many missions offered.
Those that are offered are drastically underpaid & often wouldn't cover your gas money there & back.
If any little detail is not right, you will not be paid at all.
The list goes on...
@@markkempton4579i would look elsewhere honestly
I've done a lot of jobs for ZV and made a lot of vids about them. Idk how you can make 5 figures. I did about 70 jobs this year and only cleared 5K. And yeah, the RE/CRE jobs get snatched in seconds. It's a little longer for the mapping missions. For new pilots it's ok, but obviously not for anyone who makes real money already. Nice vid as usual! You've been an inspiration to me and many others. Keep it up! ✌🏾🚀
I always enjoy seeing your videos pop up on my home page, we will have to link up when I’m out in Cali again!
enjoy your content as well! Thank you for all you do as well. 🚀
At our civil engineering company we process mapping missions using PPK methods which need a base station logging on site during the flight.
We used to do GCP targets but its way more work with worse results. The end result is surveyors must fly the missions as the surveyor union requires it.
Thanks for your professional insight into this and confirming how few missions they really offer. I thought it was just me. It was months before I even was offered a mission (at 4am) and it was gone before it even hit my phone app. I have yet to even grab one successfully. Apparently they are leaning more towards Enterprise grade drones like the 3E now. Ive noticed also that DJI's lack of an updated SDK is also blocking the better drones from being used. Appreciate all your contributions to this profession.
When you are in a super saturated market, it makes it tough to actually good any jobs!
@kjcroslin I've complained to them about Jobs coming and going instantly. I call BS on someone accepting job. Maybe if they don't read the requested job.
That’s basically what I had to do to even get the job, didn’t care what it said because I wanted to accept it to even get the chance to do it.
@@DylanGorman I have found Bees360 to be pretty busy and easy to get my feet wet. have been flying pretty regularly now for over a year with them. But flying my drone is only half of the job they want. But as you said, its still not a 60k per year level of income. FlyGuys basically told me, I needed a DJI Mavic 3E to be taken seriously. I use an Air 2s currently. 😁
I appreciate the video Dylan. I just got my Part 107 and have been curious about the drone job websites.
Your videos have been an inspiration and have helped me get a decent idea of what I could possibly do.
Glad to hear that Brian. I posted a few other platforms in the video description. I recommend signing up for all platforms like Zeitview to get the most exposure to jobs!
I hate DPNs, they underprice jobs, under pay pilots, and devalue the whole industry. Great video Dylan, I know how uncomfortable it is to talk about how scummy these companies are, but we have to help our viewers get real project that actually pays them a respectful rate.
Another great video Dylan! Hoping you are well my friend.
Hope all is well up by you with all those TFRs going up!
Great Video Dylan!
Just the video I needed. Thanks man. I have a DJI mini 4 pro so waiting for a job to come in has been a long wait. Learning how to use DroneDeploy still as well.
Patience is the key but also seeking other platforms to give you a better chance of landing a gig isn’t a bad idea either!
Doesn't mini 4 pro allow you to do mapping , does it? @@DylanGorman
Well said. It's a bummer you couldn't get more missions, but I understand Tampa has a dense pilot network.
Service providers aren't meant to be a pilot's full time gig. It's meant to be a supplemental bit of business that has a marketing, sales, operations and sometimes QC teams taking the load off and giving pilots a foot in the door.
Basically all the actual hard work that goes into running a service based business!
Thanks!
Thanks, Dylan. I am looking to transition from standard photography/videography to jobs like this and am considering ZV as an option for gaining experience with low effort of entry. I have no delusions of getting rich (I still have a full-time career that I love and just want to set myself up for the next chapter) and I would be happy to cover my expenses as I learn on someone else's jobs. I need to start working with third-party drone apps and get the mapping basics down before signing up, but I feel like there's a good chance I can pick up one or three jobs to gain some hands-on experience.
Great video, I have a question. Have you flown the Freefly Astro Prime yet? I’m thinking about getting one. I love my DJi drones. But I’m just looking into the future in case the ban does come.
I would respectfully disagree that they are taking the risk. The pilots are. You have to provide your insurance and equipment. If something goes wrong you are liable, not them. They seem to be very poorly run. My badges showing that I completed their training keep disappearing from my profile and new training I took months ago, are still not there. I have had much better luck on other platforms.
Thanks for the video, I enjoy your channel.
I appreciate you outlining your experience. I think all of the DPNs have a lot of work to do and I also see your point with “who” is taking on the risk, I should have worded it differently.
When it was drone base the customer service(for pilots) was pretty good. When Zeitview took over. Things take a little longer. I still do jobs for them when its convenient for me. Close to home and I am quick enough to get it. Builds my confidence to do jobs on my own. South East PA - look me up and hire me!
As long as it’s convenient then I’ll take the job, otherwise I’ll pass on it as you said
I noticed that you didn't mention or perform the required "Coverage Check" before you left the site. Is that not a requirement there? That adds a little time to the mission as well. As far as risk I am on my insurance and in my vehicle there and back. Unless there is a clause in their contract with the clients, I don't see where they're taking the risk.
I did miss the “coverage check” step in the video so I’ll own up to that mistake. As for risk I was more so referring to their reputation with the client where a pilot could mess up and it not effect them (other than Zeitview likely not hiring them for future projects)
@ Okay got it! I was curious about the coverage check because I have noticed some differences in mission requirements in other areas. I am just south of Chicago.
I always like to inform these companies that 60k in Ca. Is not like 60k in Florida. Cost of living has a lot to do with it. Don't be afraid to said no if it doesn't make sense to you. Great advice for beginners!!
That’s something I forgot to consider in the video! To be fair, Florida hasn’t gotten any cheaper so $60k isn’t worth that much anymore
From my experience, you need larger enterprise drones using thermal, RTK or LiDar to really get any decent paying work. Also, jobs using the Agras or fixed wing units like the eBee are much more likely to get higher paying work. The average pilot with a Mavic 3E is going to find a lot of those $60-150 jobs and that's about it. You might get lucky if your pilot network isn't dense in your area but with the affordability of drones these days, earning a living on Zeitview alone is setting yourself up for failure.
I guess I should make a follow up video if I am able to get into their enterprise side. I run my own services business so it’s not like I really need it but I do want to show people what that would be like since it’s very much an unknown!
Finally someone reviewing a company that isn’t sponsored with a bias opinion. Thanks! I’m a part 107 debating on where to start but these companies appear worse than they claim.
he was way more fair than i would have been with dronebase (now zeitview). i got tired of them and left the network
I want to review the other ones too, but then again my time is worth way more than $70 😅
@@DylanGorman I would hope you make your money back in views.
I applied to work with them in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas in Ontario many months ago, with the necessary qualifications and equipment, and never heard back. They didn't even have the decency to respond to say why. In my view they are a very unprofessional operation.
That’s hard to hear, I’m sorry they treated you like that. I’m not sure how they operate outside of the US so that may be why they don’t have the best support?
@@DylanGorman If they operate outside the US then they should have as equal support in such jurisdictions, it's Business 101.
Oh I 100% agree
Cost of those programs covered by them? Pix4d is drone deploy
Back in the early Dronebase days there was some decent money drone jobs in the $175 - $350 range buy those days are over. These days, I won't consider taking a job for less than $250 which is my two hour minimum.
It would be nice if that was the average. Somehow these prices have gone down while inflation has gone up, doesn’t make any sense.
I appreciate you sharing this.
Of course!
As someone who has been on Zeitview for a few years, I have never taken a single job but gotten several notifications about jobs. They range from $50-$80 and are ABSOLUTELY NOT WORTH IT. As stated in this video, people grab them within seconds and I personally don't even understand why lol.
When you have expensive toys to pay for, the only justification is to take whatever you can get
@DylanGorman that sounds like not being responsible
It’s not my justification, I choose higher paying jobs. This is just how most people justify cheap jobs.
Race to the bottom with ZV.
Very much so
lol, they Zetiview/DroneBase have had that pasted claim for over 5 years, but no one has ever taken that credit. One would think that someone should have made more with in a year as one of their long term operators.
I personally only know 2 pilots that have gotten close to that amount, but this was 2 years ago… I wish they would fix their claims a bit more but we know that won’t happen.
I noticed a definite down trend in payouts over the years and some local jobs in your town may not be worth doing. $50 only for a next door neighbor 5 shots only! 😅
This one was 15 min drive from my office so I lucked out! Plus it was only a 2 min capture so even better!
Earnings-costs incurred =net income.
I assume most of these companies hire you as a 1099 ( independent contractor) and you pick up all your own costs and insurance. What a deal !
Correct
In the right programs you can absolutely make 6 digits working for Zeitview. I know dozens of people who are doing it. I was one of them. Doesn’t work with those dumb one off jobs. Zeitview is probably incorporating the numbers for those specialty crews.
That’s what it seems like. I didn’t want to write it off entirely because I know there are people that can make that but it’s not really made for the masses.
What programs are those?
I call total & complete BS on 5 figures. 😂. I don't believe that for a second.
I signed up for ZV just for extra jobs here & there. Long story short, its a joke & a waste of time. I would not even sign up again.
The average "job" is $50-$75 & you are lucky to get 1x a month if you aren't in a hotspot for such jobs.
They are never worth the money! They pay less than minimum wage for time invested. 😂
Often the drive alone would cost more in gas than the job pays. It's truly offensive.
I've accepted 1x job in 3 years!
Do yourself a favor & don't even install that garbage.
To make any reasonable income a pilot must fly for every network possible, Zietview, Bark, Connexicore, FlyGuys, FotoFitch etc., and market your business outside of the various networks. DO NOT drive more than 100 mile diameter from your shop/home etc unless the bid is high $... Take your lunch, coast down hill to save gas, keep insurance cost as low as possible. one network site has 16000 pilots. Please talk about the service fees, banking fees. I have flown 45 missions with 5 separate networks in 2024 and only made $9200, then don't forget city/county/state and federal taxes out of that money I made.
This pretty much applies to any service based gig, lots of variables across the board.
6:36 PELICANS!!!!!
They used to be better when they were DroneBase. I had a construction progress job lasting a year and a half which was good money. But mainly it’s a tax write off for my toys. I’m retired military and county anyway.
Tax write offs aren’t a bad way of using this service haha
Zeitview jobs, when you can get them, are a good way to gain some experience but there are other ways.
That’s about as much as they are good for, unless you can get on their enterprise side.
I tried them for 3 years...oh the stories I could tell. Bottom line they are horrible. Good luck getting off their email list or talking to a person or even getting a job. Simply horrible company.
Sounds like they threw you for a loop!
But you can't use the images for your portfolio. Yes it's good to get paid to practice though.
Paid practice is better than free practice!
Less than 150$? 175 for me
I used Zeitview for a hot minute. Will never use them again nor would I recommend others to use them. Horrible customer service to say the least.
What was the overall experience that you went through?
@ when I signed up I entered all the information as needed. Specifically the pilot info. after having a job offer sent to me, I was told I needed up upload my certificate (already done) however the system wasn’t showing it on their end. There system wouldn’t allow me to upload so I told tried to communicate this to them several times and I was ghosted. After speaking with customer service several times I said screw it, not worth the time. Not to mention they don’t approve the use of Autel Robotics EVO Max 4T which is one of our enterprise drones
Thanks!