Full-Time Drone Pilot & Photographer in Indio, CA
Hi, my name is James and I’ve been building and flying model aircraft all my life, and I’ve always had a love for photography.
Following a career in IT, I turned my passion for flying and photography into a successful small business based in Indio, California. I love what I do and all the interesting ways drones and photography are used to help my clients.
FAQs
Are You Licensed?
Yes. I’m FAA Part 107 certified (commercial drone pilot) and hold OSHA 10 and MSHA Part 46 training. We’re fully insured, with $1M aviation liability and $1M / $2M general liability cover. Certificates of insurance are available on request.
Photos / VideoS on your Website
All photos and video on this website are real world examples of actual work, from recent jobs in and around the Coachella Valley.
What Drones do you Fly?
Our primary equipment includes:
DJI Matrice 4E (RTK): high-resolution aerial photography, mapping and 3D models
DJI Mavic 3 Pro: aerial photography and cinematic video
DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise (RTK): mapping and visual inspection
DJI Mavic 3 Thermal (RTK): thermal imaging, with a loudspeaker
Emlid GNSS base station and rover for precise RTK positioning
Director’s monitor, so clients can watch the live drone feed on set
Live streaming from the drone to computers and mobile devices
What other capabilities do you have?
In addition to drones, our equipment includes:
Matterport Pro3 and Insta360 X5 for 3D virtual tours and 360° capture
Sony A7R V (61MP photos, 8K video) with professional lenses, plus action cameras and gimbals
Tripods including a 20’ aerial mast for drone-like views where flying isn’t possible
Laser rangefinder to measure distances and heights of buildings, trees and utility poles
Generator-equipped 4x4 truck with Starlink, so we can work 24/7 at remote, off-grid locations
Where do you operate?
We provide Drone and Photography services across the Coachella Valley and surrounding communities across Riverside and Imperial counties including:
Palm Springs
Banning
Beaumont
Brawley
Cabazon
Calipatria
Cathedral City
Cherry Valley
Coachella
Desert Center
Desert Hot Springs
Estelle
Indio
Joshua Tree
La Quinta
Mecca
Niland
North Shore
Oasis
Palm Desert
Riverside
Salton City
San Jacinto
Thermal
Thousand Palms
Westmorland
Whitewater
Yucca Valley
How do clients work with Coachella Valley Drone Service?
We service a mixture of local and national customers. Typically local Coachella Valley clients come directly to Coachella Valley Drone via our website or word-of-mouth. Jobs for larger brands are typically subcontracted through the various (nationwide) drone service providers that we partner with.
Can you help if I need a specialized GIS Solution
Yes, please visit us at CVUAS.com