Superior Knowledge and Experience
Florida Flies Drones is fortunate to have two FAA Commercial Part 61 pilots. One in charge of our east coast and one overseeing our central Florida Locations. These two pilots have thousands of flights in both Manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft (drones). Commercially rated under part 61 of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations as well as rated under part 107. The FAA regulations for sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial Systems) drones. These pilots approach each task with the planning and aeronautical knowledge uncommon in the drone world.
Captain Kimberly McCourt:
After years of flying paying passengers on commercial sightseeing flights in the Disney World area. Captain McCourt decided to expand his professional flight duties. With hundreds of flights and flight hours in manned aircraft and his FAA Commercial part 61 pilots license in hand. He decided when not flying manned aircraft he would fly remote aircraft. He obtained his FAA part 107 sUAS (Drone) pilots 
license. Kimberly has flight time and hours with several types of drones. With the professionalism of a commercial pilot and the high regard for safety his approach to every aerial task is more than thorough. His desire for perfection and methodical approach will assure a successful campaign.
Captain McCourt's graphic abilities,
along with video creation, photographic knowledge and equipment choices add to the overall quality of the result. With extensive experience in meteorology and understanding its effect on aircraft is another resource not found in most drone pilots.
Florida Flies Drones, Captain Kim McCourt has also been a contributor to the Drone Winds project for the FAA and for LTA Pilots across the United States. His endless contributions has been a major influence and helped create two advanced presentations. The Pi-Ball by Drone 
presentation for LTA pilots explains how to use a drone to read winds aloft for enhanced safety in pre-flight preparation and planning.
The Drone Winds Project presentation,
for the FAA presents a process and format for allowing Commercially Rated Pilots to apply for a waiver. This waiver allows them to fly their drone above the 400 ft limit extending that to 2,000 feet AGL. These flights are used for wind direction and speed data collection.
Captain Jeff A. Thompson:
Captain Thompson began his flying career at the age of 15 as a student pilot. Obtaining his pilots license before he had a drivers license! He has thousands of flights and flight hours in manned aircraft. Jeff is a FAA Commercial part 61 pilot and flight instructor. Capt Jeff spent many years in LTA competition ranking as one of the top 20 pilots in the united states for many decades as well as the Florida State Champion 6 times.
Web Design and Graphics
He was the 
developer of the HotAirBalloonist.com website and still maintains a monthly newsletter to thousands of hot air balloonists around the country. Over the years Captain Thompson has also trained many other pilots including our own Capt McCourt. Capt. Thompson obtained his FAA part 107 sUAS (Drone) pilots license. Jeff began to obtain his flight time and hours with a drone donated to him by his former student Capt. McCourt.
Attention to Detail
With the professionalism of a commercial flight instructor, and as an extremely high flight hour pilot, Captain Thompson's safety record is perfect! He was also awarded the "Ed Yost Master Pilot" award by the Balloon Federation of America for 40 years of perfect safety. His attention to detail and methodical approach will assure a successful aerial shoot. Captain Thompson's graphic abilities along with video creation, photographic knowledge are vast. The equipment choices add to the overall quality of the result. With extensive experience in meteorology and his understanding its effect on aircraft, we consider this just is another resource not found in most drone pilots.
Presentations & Video Productions
Florida Flies Drones Captain Jeff Thompson is the creator of the Drone Winds project, for the FAA and for LTA Pilots across the United States. His vision has been a major influence and helped create two advanced presentations. The Pi-Ball by Drone presentation for LTA pilots. This presentation explains how to use a drone to read winds aloft prior 
to a manned flight. This data 
is used for enhanced safety in pre-flight preparation and planning. The Drone Winds Project presentation for the FAA presents the process and format for allowing Commercially Rated Pilots to apply for a waiver. Currently a drone is limited to 400 ft AGL. Pilots who obtain a waiver are allowed to fly their drone above the 400 ft limit. Drone Winds will allow extending that to 2,000 feet AGL for wind direction and speed data collection.
