CANARY MAGAZINE

We speak with Ibán Quevedo Santana, professional drone pilot since 2017, who will tell us a little more about the new professional sector.

Tell us about your vocation as a drone pilot? 

Well, my profession begins as a hobby of drones
until I found out that a permit was needed to be able to fly with them and that's when I decided to get my degree as a professional pilot.

How can we hire a drone flight?

To contract a drone flight, only what is necessary for that person to be a professional pilot and is registered as an operator or that an operator has it registered or with the 2021 regulation have a specific category certificate or certified for the flight within CTRm (Aeronautical study necessary of the area, insured aircraft and medical examination in force).

What type of drone should be hired for a professional report?

I imagine it will not be with an inexpensive drone. But the drone has to have a minimum of technical characteristics. Well, for a professional job it depends on what the client wants, today there is a lot of market and the drones that there are almost all give you a good result but it depends on what the client wants

What limits with respect to the Gran Canaria airport do we have to fly?

Well, this is already more complicated to answer because we are waiting for the 2021 regulations and they may have changes in this regard today it is 8 km away but with nuances.

Who carries out the drone flight project?

Flight operations depending on whether you are inside or outside the space called CTR, an aeronautical study will be carried out by the operator.

How is the drone not falling to the ground guaranteed?

Well, the drone does not fall is guaranteed with good maintenance of the aircraft and depending on which areas are going to fly it has an impact system such as a parachute, the drone, we know that they are machines and that you have to carry a period of revisions As a recognition of it before the flight, the aircraft must have a maintenance book as well as the pilot's flights. Let us remember that they are aircrafts, not toys.

A bird's eye view. The look of the island with the eyes of a drone!

Are posters posted in the area days before?

Well, today you have to request the pertinent permits from both AESA and Town Halls, Cabildo etc., and on the day of the flight you have to make a security perimeter for the aircraft to take off and land, whoever hires a flight must be responsible and request those permits before hiring that person.

In 2023 all drones will have to be labeled with the CE certificate and with IDE pending further requirements according to the standard since from today to 2023 it will be a progressive standard and they will be modifying it.

How do we know that we are hiring a professional drone area flight company and not make mistakes?

Well, this today depends on who hires AESA will not look at whether you are autonomous or not they are governed by the fact that every pilot is registered or operator and the rest is a matter of who pays and the operator in command.

Who carries out the project for AESA of the flights?

As the operations will always be carried out by the Operator in command through an aeronautical study.

How does the drone pilots association of Gran Canaria work?

The truth is that it is quite well a non-profit association and with the intention that everything is made legal and improve the day to day in the drone sector.

IBAN, with more than 3 years in the professional sphere of drones. We can contact him on the phone: 648 118 492 and his email is: ibanqs@gmail.com, his instagram @idronegc

Gran Canaria! Thanks IBAN!