In this episode of Your Drone Questions. Answered, we’re diving into one of the most in-demand (and misunderstood) drone inspection niches out there: cell tower inspections.
Today’s question is this:
👉 What are the real keys to success for drone pilots who want to work in the telecom inspection world?
To tackle this topic, we are joined by Hunter Ardrey, a drone industry veteran who has spent years flying structural, utility, renewable energy, and telecom missions across the southeast.
Together, we break down:
🔹 The scale of the telecom inspection industry
🔹 What rads (antenna arrays) are and why they matter
🔹 How digital twins are captured and delivered
🔹 What equipment is (and isn’t) used in real-world tower work
🔹 Manual vs automated tower-capture workflows
🔹 Accuracy requirements and image-quality standards
🔹 How tower work compares to inspecting other infrastructure
🔹 Whether new pilots can still break into this niche today
Hunter also shares an honest look at the current state of the telecom market, including pricing pressure, big-player consolidation, and practical paths for new pilots who want to build skills and get experience.
If you’ve ever wondered how cell tower inspections actually work — or whether this niche makes sense for your drone business — this episode lays it all out.
Have a question you want answered on the show?
📩 Submit anytime at YDQA.io or email chris@dronelaunchacademy.com