While drones are second nature to those of us in the industry, the rest of the world hasn't caught up. Commercial drone operations are still a novelty for most people, and that unfamiliarity can breed uncertainty fast.

Gaining public trust continues to be a hurdle that this industry faces. Regardless of what a drone is doing in a public area, it’s falls on us to help educate, communicate, and ease concerns.

How do we get that message across” Commercial UAV News spoke to members from many corners of the industry - company owners, police officers, and pilots – to hear what steps they take to ensure everyone in their area of operation is informed and feels safe.

“Engage before you operate. Meet local stakeholders early. Listen to their concerns, co-design clear operating rules (hours, no-fly areas, notification practices), and then communicate these commitments publicly and repeatedly across channels.” Explained Kanwar Singh, CEO at Skyline Nav AI.

Taking to social media channels is an effective way to get the word out about your operation and is something that is becoming common practice across the industry, but the message needs to be clear to hold any value.

“Effective engagement should go beyond notification by clearly explaining the purpose, safety measures, and data practices of the operation, while also providing opportunities for the community to ask questions and raise concerns.” Stated Jeffrey Hong, drone program manager at Parsons Corporation.