In our "Bateleurs and Their Aircraft" series, we've explored helicopters, LSAs, and trikes. This month, we’re turning our attention to something that’s been soaring in popularity and technology—drones.
Drones, marvels of modern innovation, first emerged at the consumer level in 2012, and their meteoric rise has been unstoppable since. Speaking from a place of experience, I’m currently on drone No.6, having upgraded each time to keep up with the rapid advancements in drone technology. Since 2013, I've always had a drone by my side, and the fascination with them hasn’t waned. These devices still capture my imagination today as they did when I first flew one.
Like smartphones and PCs, many of us use only a fraction of our drones’ capabilities. Yet, even that limited use—whether for videography, mapping, research, or surveys—has immense potential. The versatility of drones often surpasses that of traditional aircraft, especially in specific fields like conservation and environmental monitoring. With their advanced technology, drones can perform a wider array of tasks than most of the aircraft in the Bateleurs fleet, with the exception of specialized utility aircraft.
A Giraffe in Peril: How Drones Could Have Saved the Day
The inspiration for this month's focus on drones came from a recent conservation incident. In October, a young giraffe got caught in a cable snare around its front leg, reducing it to functioning on just three legs. In its weakened state, the animal stopped eating, and its condition quickly became critical. Rangers and a vet couldn’t locate the giraffe, as their presence spooked it into hiding. The reserve, lacking the resources to charter a helicopter, faced a grim situation.
In this instance, a drone could have made all the difference—at a fraction of the cost. Drones, unlike helicopters, are ideal for this kind of work. They could have easily located the giraffe and even gently herded it into the open for treatment. Giraffes don’t tend to panic around drones, remaining calm enough to be nudged along. Fortunately, by the time the case was brought to the Bateleurs, the reserve staff had managed to find the giraffe. The vet darted and treated it, and the prognosis for the animal's recovery is excellent.
Drone Pilots: We need you! Join The Bateleurs!
Looking at our Bateleurs database, we’ve identified three drone pilots, all of whom are also licensed airplane pilots. Their membership applications, coming in more recently, have mentioned their use of drones. We suspect many of our long-time members also have drones, but we don’t know about them yet. So here’s our call to action: If you own a drone, please drop us an email and let us know. We’d love to update our records and recognize you as a drone operator too!
For those who know professional drone operators, particularly those in the business of drones, The Bateleurs would make an excellent platform for them to give back to their communities. By becoming members, they could contribute their expertise and technology to our conservation and environmental efforts. Drones equipped with thermal imaging, for example, are invaluable in tracking animals, detecting poachers, or identifying emissions during environmental surveys—the possibilities are endless.
Bateleurs and Their Aircraft
In closing, this series is titled Bateleurs and Their Aircraft, but when it comes to drones, perhaps we should say Bateleurs and Their Lack of Aircraft (Drones).
Let’s change that—drone owners, we want to hear from you!
Comments