NEW FAA RULES ARE MAKING CITY DRONE FLYING A BIT MORE COMPLICATED, BUT A NEW PARK SLOPE BUSINESS KEEPS BARNSTORMERS IN THE SKIES

BY CATHERINE GIGANTE-BROWN

According to tech industry analysts Markets and Markets, unmanned aerial vehicles, or “drones” as we more commonly know them, will constitute a global market of $21.23 billion by 2022, not including military applications. Their civilian functions run the gamut from the study of traffic patterns to simple fun, and this fast-expanding appeal is why Roger Kapsalis, CEO of Brooklyn Drones, brought his new business to the Slope.

“Who would have thought that a 42-year-old would become fascinated by these things?” Kapsalis smiled. But that’s exactly what happened when the former commercial real estate mortgage broker’s nephew in Greece requested a remote controlled airplane. “I bought one for myself,” said the owner. “Before you knew it, I was building my own, and the rest is history.”

After finding the right space near Gowanus, Kapsalis extensively renovated. “I made sure we had high ceilings so I could put up a drone in the store,” he explained. “There’s also a backyard, so we can do test flights there, too.”

In-house models are priced as little as $99 for a four-rotor Parrot Mini Drone intended for indoor use to $17,499 for the Freely ALTA 8, which can carry a 20-pound payload for 13 minutes, and part of the mission of the new shop is to help operators find their market sweet spot. It also helps theirs pilot through new laws, which, among other things, require that models weighing more than 0.55 pounds and operated outdoors register with the FAA. (The fee is $5, and worth it, because violators face penalties up to $27,500.)

There are other regulations (see faa.gov/uas for a full list), and Kapsalis highlighted a few. (“Don’t fly at night, don’t fly drunk, and don’t fly over 400 feet. Also, you can’t operate a drone within five miles of an airport.”)

“Buying here is a lot different than buying from Amazon,” the owner added. “With us, you get education about how to use your drone properly, firmware updates…and we make sure you’re FAA compliant. We spend at least 30 minutes with each customer, walking them through the process. ” Finance plans and insurance are also available.

Brooklyn Drones does repairs, too—with the most common run-ins involving trees. (“I often recommend that people start with a $100 toy rather than going straight to a $1,500 drone,” said the owner.) It also hosts instructional events. With more than 40 in attendance, November’s “New Pilot Experience” at Greenpoint’s Cine Magic Riverfront Studios beat Kapsalis’s expectations, and spring will bring events for hobbyists and pros alike, with plans in the works for a road trip upstate.

Brooklyn Drones NYC
315 4th Avenue / 929.337.6414
brooklyndrones.nyc