Platte City Army veteran launches a drone company to inspect construction sites
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Drones are changing the way a lot of companies do business, including one Platte City Army veteran whose second career is taking off as a drone roof inspector.
Mike Raymond of Platte County Skycam launched a career helping construction crews 300 feet off the ground.
Raymond decided to retire last year after 11 years of flying a helicopter in the Army, but it was short lived.
After a friend surprised him with a drone as a Christmas gift, Raymond knew it would make for a perfect next venture.
Within weeks, Raymond launched a new career, securing a $1 million insurance policy on his drone and flying it high above commercial buildings, homes and skyscrapers as a roof inspector.
Raymond is able to alert roofing crews to any safety concerns they face.
Kathleen Early of Delta Commercial Roofing Company hired Raymond to shoot aerial video of her crews in action.
“We saw more things from the aerial view just looking down saying, ‘Oh wait a minute, that has to be moved over here,’” said Early. “It’s a great tool.”
At Delta’s headquarters, the company’s safety director is able to pull up video to make sure his crews are doing the job right.
“He can sit in his office and watch a big screen TV and see all eight of his job sites in five minute flyover videos,” Raymond elaborated.
Raymond’s not the only one using a drone to launch his career. The FAA estimates more than 7,500 drones will be soaring above us by 2018. Delays in updating the laws for drones have led to a growing number of Americans using them to make a profit.
Raymond said, “It’s going to be probably a $4 billion a year industry in the next couple of years.”
Drones are putting a new aerial spin on industries nationwide, and for Raymond, giving him a second chance to be behind the controls.
By 2017, the FAA is required to release new requirements for drone operators.
Right now, people flying drones have to follow a strict set of rules keeping them from flying too close to airports and military bases and restricting how high drones can fly.
