Game of drones

Flying busses, quadcopter medical stretchers and of course flying cars could become common modes of drone transportation in the future.

In a first of its kind gathering at Meridian Technology Center, a dozen or so people attended an Unmanned Aerial Systems three-hour class Tuesday but they weren't thinking about the future of drone use, instead they were interested in how drones can help their businesses today.

"I hope they walked away with enough information to make an informed decision before they make a purchase," said instructor Darren Hensley, owner of American Drones in Oklahoma City.

Folks from Oklahoma State University, the City of Stillwater, MTC and Central Rural Electric Cooperative made up most of those in attendance.

CREC has been investing in drones since December and is anxious to start using them to help monitor about 4,000 miles of lines in seven counties.

Employee Will Clay said that it took three days to restore power to all customers after a fairly recent power outage because their trucks were getting stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out so they could continue to drive along the lines, making sure they were good before they could be re-energized.

If we had drones, we could have inspected the lines from the air, sent crews to where they were needed and the outage could have been fixed in one day, Clay said.

Lyndy Serpan, a business owner from Edmond who fondly remembers flying remote-controlled aircraft in the 1990s, attended hoping to learn if drones would be a good fit for his business and things like infrared imaging and visual inspections of substations and transmission lines.

Currently, people using a drone for commercial use must have a pilot license, which is a deterrent for some due to the $3,500 cost.

Backyard fliers not using drones to make money don't need a pilot's license.

Most in attendance were interested in learning more about the law and what drones are and aren't allowed to do.

The FAA doesn't allow drones to be flown above 400 feet or over crowds, Hensley said.

The are other ordinances and regulations depending on personal vs. commercial use, but there are currently no ordinances in the state of Oklahoma, Hensley said.

When shopping for a drone, Hensley said finding one with both GPS and an altimeter is important.

Most drones can stay up 30 minutes or less before the battery needs to be replaced.

Some of the hazards include rain, wind gusts over 18-20 mph, large birds like eagles and people with shotguns.

"There is a real risk of being shot down," Hensley said. "In Oklahoma, it is a real problem."

He suggested knocking on the door of homeowners you will be flying over when possible.

Overall, Hensley is optimistic about the future of drone use and said that as the technology continues to evolve and and improve, the opportunity will only grow.

"I think the flying car finally got here," he said.

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