trying to figure out if these gig platforms are worth bothering with anymore. used Dronebase a few years back and it was okay for a while, got some decent insurance inspection jobs through it but the pay felt like it kept dropping and eventually i stopped accepting missions because it wasnt worth the drive time.

curious if anything has changed or if theres other platforms people are using now. seen some mentions of Zeitview i think thats what its called now? also heard some guys talking about getting onto utility company vendor lists directly which sounds better but have no idea how you even start that process

Zeitview is just Dronebase rebranded basically, same deal. the insurance inspection work through those platforms pays okay if you live close to where the missions pop up but yeah the economics fall apart fast once you factor in drive time and the fact that you might show up and conditions arent flyable and you still wasted the trip.

getting on vendor lists directly is 100% the move if you can manage it. usually involves a lot of paperwork, proof of insurance at higher limits than the platforms require, sometimes safety certifications depending on the industry. oil and gas in particular is its own whole thing with all their HSE requirements. but once youre in, the rates are way better and you actually have a relationship with the client instead of just being a gig worker they can replace with whoever accepts the mission next.

I had decent luck with Dronebase/Zeitview when I was just starting out and needed to build hours and get comfortable with different job types. wouldn't rely on it now as my main income but as a way to fill gaps in your schedule its not terrible. just go in knowing the margins are thin and treat it like supplemental not a career strategy I guess