Aerial Photography with Remote Controlled Helicopters
Any island owner who is interested in selling or renting their island should consider having aerial photographs taken of their island. Aerial photographs provide prospective buyers/renters with important information about the size, shape and topography of your island. Most buyers are not interested in visiting a prospective island unless they have a good sense of what the island looks like.
Unfortunately aerial photographs can be expensive, and become even more costly when the island is remote. Fortunately, a new spin on an older technology is allowing island owners to get crisp island aerial images at a fraction of the cost. Radio controlled (RC) helicopters with an attached camera allow the operator to take photos/videos of their island without leaving the ground. Flight controls allow the pilot to control the throttle, cyclic controls and the tail rotor. Sophisticated models can perform most of the maneuvers that regular helicopters can such as hovering and flying backwards. RC helicopters can cost as little as $20 however systems which include cameras can cost up to several thousand. Most island owners do not purchase their own RC helicopters; rather they hire individuals with the craft.
Until recently this type of technology was relatively rare. However, an increasing number of companies are beginning to add this technology to their fleet. There are also a number of hobbyists who have RC helicopters and many of these people have camera equipment. It is important to remember that these craft are not toys and should only be flown by those trained to use the aircraft. If you are interested in finding an aerial RC photography in your area consider visiting the RC-CAM forum. The site is populated by RC aerial photography enthusiasts from around the world and is a good resource if you are looking for someone in your area to take aerial pictures of your island.
