Ever wanted to travel abroad with your drone but are put off by worries over local regulations, getting through customs and dealing with all the hassle that comes with flying in another country? Jamaican operator Drone Adventures is offering the solution to that particular problem, in what looks like a tourism opportunity like no other. Sure, you can head to the Carribean in search of the sun, sea and sand. But what if you just want to turn up and fly?
The concept is pretty simple. Drone Adventures will soon be offering ‘drone vacation experiences’. You rock up (no flying experience or gear is necessary), and spend anywhere from one day to five learning the ropes, flying with a rented drone and capturing aerial video. The company will take you to specific locations, known as ‘drone parks’, where flying is safe and legal – leaving you to shoot some of the world’s finest scenery from above.
“We offer a one day experience or up to 5 days of flying, learning and adventure,” says communications director Veronica Allen. “Our one-day experience is geared to those on vacation or visiting and intrigued by drone flying. It starts with a training session and ends with flying at one of our majestic drone parks.”
Drone Adventures is based in Montego Bay on Jamacia’s north coast. The company’s one-day “Escape” Excursion starts at $89 and includes classroom, drone rental and transportation per attendee. On top of that, pilots are covered and have no financial responsibility in the case of a crash or fly-away.
Allen says: “You go on vacation and you’ve done the zip-lining, rafting, waterfalls, shopping, etc. so what’s new and exciting? It’s time to Escape the Ordinary! Our staff has more than 50 years’ experience in model aviation, including fixed wing, helicopter and drones. Our program ensures that everyone has an exciting experience and they get to keep all the photos and video they capture.”
We admit that the Drone Adventures website doesn’t look like anything special just yet, but we’re willing to give the company the benefit of the doubt. It’s a unique idea and we’re sure it’ll prove popular with pilots keen to fly somewhere new.
Malek Murison is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for tech trends and innovation. He handles product reviews, major releases and keeps an eye on the enthusiast market for DroneLife. Email Malek
Twitter:@malekmurison
