so ive been flying for about two years now, got my part 107 last spring and ive been doing a few gigs here and there for friends and one real estate agent i know but nothing serious. my day job is fine but honestly i think about dropping it more and more and i wonder if thats just the fantasy talking or if people are actually making a living doing this full time.

like what does a typical month even look like for someone who does this as their main income? do you have a handful of regular clients or is it always chasing new work? i dont mind the hustle side of it but i also have a mortgage and a kid so i cant just wing it (no pun intended). would love to hear from anyone whos actually made the jump and whether they regret it or not.

made the jump about three years ago and honestly its not as romantic as it sounds at first but i dont regret it. the first year was rough, like genuinely stressful, but i had done some groundwork before quitting ? built up a client list, had about four months of expenses saved, and had already locked in a semi-regular contract with a construction company doing progress shots every few weeks. that recurring stuff is what saved me early on.

real estate was my bread and butter for a while but the margins are thinner than people think and agents shop around constantly. where i found more stability was inspection work, solar farms, cell towers, stuff like that. less glamorous but the pay per job is way better and the clients tend to stick around if you're reliable. also got into doing insurance claims work which came through a completely random connection. point is the work doesnt always come from where you expect it to.

if youre serious about it id say dont quit until you're already making at least half your salary from drone work on the side. boring advice but it'll save you a lot of panic.

im kind of in the same boat as you actually so ill be watching this thread. i passed my 107 eight months ago and ive done maybe five paid jobs total which is not exactly a business lol. curious if the construction and inspection route is something you need extra certs for or if the 107 is enough to get started with that kind of thing.