Drone Operator

On a superyacht, the drone operator flies aerial camera drones to film guests, the yacht and the places it visits. The drones are also used for practical work, such as scouting an anchorage, checking a beach landing or inspecting the mast and radar arch. On most yachts this is a combined post, mixing drone work with deck, AV/IT or photography duties. Dedicated operators are usually found on large charter yachts and expedition yachts, where owners want a constant record of the trip.

The flying is the visible part. The rest is planning and paperwork. You check airspace and local rules before every flight, register with the aviation authority where the yacht is cruising, and get permission near airports, ports and protected areas. Taking off from a moving deck and recovering onto it is a real skill. You often hand catch the drone or use the helideck or foredeck with a spotter from the deck team. You also look after lithium batteries, which are a fire risk.

Then comes the edit. Guests want a short film of their day by dinner, and owners want a cleaner cut at the end of the season. You shoot, grade and edit on board, usually in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, and keep the footage locked down, because privacy matters more than any shot. A good operator knows when not to fly: guests who want quiet, a neighbouring yacht with security, wind over the limit, or a no fly zone over a palace.