Once the playthings of hobbyists, unmanned aerial vehicles — better known as drones — appear in the skies more frequently than ever, performing a range of commercial tasks, from documenting the construction of high-rise buildings to mapping large rural properties to detecting leaks in natural gas pipelines.
A Houston company is helping to lead businesses into the drone-assisted future. Founded five years ago, Professional Drone Services of Texas is flying drones for a roster of clients throughout Texas and parts of Louisiana. The company’s drones not only can capture aerial images from as high as 400 feet, but also collect massive volumes of data through sensors and sophisticated cameras.
Professional Drone Services was among the first wave of companies offering drone services in Texas, launching not long after the Federal Aviation Administration adopted rules that opened the skies to commercial drones in 2016. But unlike many early entrants into the market, PDS has stayed in business.
“The drone industry itself is kind of going through the growing pains of any young industry,” said Jared Janacek, founder and president of Dallas-based Texas Drone Co. “Just as fast as drone companies are popping up, they're also fading away.”
Wayne Franks, the founder and CEO of Professional Drone Services, launched the company 2017 with the help of his three sons, all of whom were involved in aviation or technology. Brent, the eldest, is a fixed-wing pilot and owner of East Texas Charter. Middle son Garrett, a Navy veteran with a nuclear background, helped develop the young company with logistics and technical support.
Continue reading: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/texas-inc/article/Flying-high-Houston-company-leads-businesses-17427729.php
A Houston company is helping to lead businesses into the drone-assisted future. Founded five years ago, Professional Drone Services of Texas is flying drones for a roster of clients throughout Texas and parts of Louisiana. The company’s drones not only can capture aerial images from as high as 400 feet, but also collect massive volumes of data through sensors and sophisticated cameras.
Professional Drone Services was among the first wave of companies offering drone services in Texas, launching not long after the Federal Aviation Administration adopted rules that opened the skies to commercial drones in 2016. But unlike many early entrants into the market, PDS has stayed in business.
“The drone industry itself is kind of going through the growing pains of any young industry,” said Jared Janacek, founder and president of Dallas-based Texas Drone Co. “Just as fast as drone companies are popping up, they're also fading away.”
Wayne Franks, the founder and CEO of Professional Drone Services, launched the company 2017 with the help of his three sons, all of whom were involved in aviation or technology. Brent, the eldest, is a fixed-wing pilot and owner of East Texas Charter. Middle son Garrett, a Navy veteran with a nuclear background, helped develop the young company with logistics and technical support.
Continue reading: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/texas-inc/article/Flying-high-Houston-company-leads-businesses-17427729.php
