88°F
weather icon Clear

Droneport seeks flyers; Aerodrome seeks to expand UAV use through training, education

Tate McCurdy and Mark Belizario arrive at Aerodrome’s port for unmanned aerial vehicles in Eldorado Valley ready to film. The two men work for Verascan, which specializes in filming and geological surveying through the use of drones.

This day, McCurdy and Belizario are making a video using their drone to advertise Aerodrome’s flying space to recreational and commercial flyers. They take out their drone, a white DJI Inspire with a built-in high-tech camera.

The drone takes off, its propellers swirling, unbothered by the gusty winds. The drone soars through the port, its camera documenting the flight.

“Fly through those obstacles,” McCurdy says to Belizario, referring to the obstacle course set up every Saturday for hobbyists to race their drones. “Then get a good shot of those mountains.”

The drone continues to whirl around the 50-acre plot of land in Eldorado Valley. Belizario smiles. “This place is perfect,” he says, his eyes focused on the little screen attached to the drone’s controller. “A lot of places in Nevada have restricted air spaces, but here you have all this free space to fly.”

Aerodrome is currently working on a permanent lease with the city so it can construct a full facility complete with an UAV airport and fully equipped commercial and recreational training facilities.

“We want our facility to teach people a real skill set,” said John Daniels, Praxis Aerospace Concepts president and Boulder City resident. “This is a place where drone operators can train their employees and hobbyists can learn how to fly and fix their aircrafts.”

Currently, Aerodrome uses a small patch of its land to train for commercial drone use and give hobbyists a place to fly and learn the ins and outs of proper piloting.

“This is a safe place for hobbyists to learn how to properly fly,” Aerodrome Education Coordinator Joanne Leming said. “People need to understand that you don’t just go out and fly drones without the proper training. There are laws and safety hazards. Here, people can practice all they want and there is nothing to harm.”

Recreational flyers also can expect the company to expand its obstacle course for longer and more complex drone races.

The port is also looking to expand training opportunities for businesses using drones. Aerodrome plans to put up a mock cell tower that can be used by companies to find deficiencies that would mirror real-life repair issues.

“We want commercial companies to get a really authentic training experience,” said Dave Meeker, droneport manager. “A company like AT&T could use our cell tower and practice spotting and making repairs using drones.”

The droneport is in the early stages of development and the company’s main goal is to simply get people to show up, which is why Verscan filmed a video using its drone.

“Drones are a booming industry,” McCurdy said. “We want to keep the industry growing and we do that by supporting places like this port.”

Meeker said that the best thing Aerodrome can do is embrace all manner of drone flyers from the casual hobbyist to the most high-tech companies.

“We need to embrace hobbyists as well as businesses,” Meeker said. “Helping every manner of drone use is beneficial to us because the community is going to use this port and help it expand.”

Aerodrome applied to the Federal Aviation Administration to turn the plot of land into an official airport. The company expects to receive a response in the next three months.

Longtime hobbyists or newcomers to drone flying can come to the port every Saturday, weather permitting, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for drone races and public flying.

Visit www.flyaerodrome.com for additional information.

Contact reporter Max Lancaster@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow him on Twitter @MLancasterBCR.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Huge crowd turns out to honor Patton

It was brought up during Saturday’s unveiling of the Shane Patton Memorial Monument as to why Shane’s statue stands 11 feet tall.

Disaster in China affects Damboree fireworks show

As the city prepares for Damboree, one of our biggest celebrations of the year, a tragedy in China is having an impact on the annual fireworks show.

City Celebrates First Responders

Photos courtesy City of Boulder City

Toll Brothers gets split decision

The development of the area near Boulder Creek Golf Course known as Tract 350 (the sale of which is slated to pay for the majority of the planned replacement for the aging municipal pool) may have hit a snag last week as the planning commission voted 5-1 to deny the developers’ request to build houses closer to the street than is allowed under current law.

Council gives nod to 185 new hangars

There is at least one part of Boulder City that is set to see growth in the coming years. A lot of growth.

Boulder City ready to celebrate America

Boulder City resident James Cracolici may have put it best when he called the annual July 4 Damboree, “The crown jewel of all events held in Boulder City.”

BC can ban backyard breeders

Although there is nothing on any city agenda yet, the resolution of the issue of whether pet breeding will be allowed in Boulder City took a huge step forward last week as Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford released an official opinion on the intent and limitations of state law that had been requested by city staff last year.