For most, construction work elicits images of orange cones, heavy equipment and boots in trenches, but not everyone on the job site is handling shovels or wrenches — one tool in particular hums high in the sky.
Drones aren’t just for dads flying weekend loops in their cul-de-sacs anymore, they’re part of a credentialed, fast-growing job market. Drone pilots work on everything from emergency response to mapping construction projects — some positions clearing well over six figures.
Snapping thousands of aerial photos and synthesizing them into a map — called an orthomosaic — drones give crews a clear and accurate picture of a site. And contractors have taken notice. One study found over 60% of construction firms reported using drones in 2024, a nearly doubled figure from 2018.
And with an incoming wave of long-anticipated federal funding to build out internet infrastructure,
the next several years could be construction heavy in the U.S. Field data and mapping — or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) — become even more important during mass buildouts.
This construction phase will create major opportunities for skilled drone pilots in the field.
According to GIS specialist and experienced drone pilot Mitchell McConnell, barriers to entry aren’t too extensive. The main training required: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 certification for remote pilots.
After getting certified, "we have an internal rule, which is: we want them to get about 20 hours worth of hands-on training,” McConnell told Broadband Nation. “Once they get 20 hours, we feel like they're comfortable enough to lead their own team or be their own pilot out there in the field.”
Prior to mapping sites for CHR, catered towards the broadband industry, McConnell flew drones in emergency response scenarios. In one case, supporting the fire department as they worked to contain the spread of a tank fire, he described it as a high-stakes video game.
“It felt like a military operation, to be honest, because you're following these guys’ night vision. It feels like a video game that you're just watching,” he detailed. Coordinating with the operators, he makes sure the ground teams have a full picture of the scene.
“We were eyes in the sky directing them to a place that they couldn't see," he said.
The stakes are often less intensive in construction, but there are still commonly newcomer nerves when it comes to flying (though gamers tend to do well). Beyond comfort and coordination with a controller, McConnell shared his in-the-sky insight into the highs and lows of the job.
Pilot Pros and Cons, Do’s and Don'ts
Similar to other roles in broadband, McConnell detailed traits to the job that — depending on preference — can either be a perk or a pitfall.
“Traveling, that could be both pros and cons. Someone that likes to travel and see the United States, you know, that's a pro. Someone that doesn't like being away from their family and friends, that's a con,” McConnell explained.
But unlike on a construction crew, working out on sites as a pilot is commonly a solo gig.
“Most of the time you're out there by yourself, so... It's a lonely job. Some people like to be alone and isolated. That's a pro. You know, if you want to be around people and kind of have a friendship, it's a con,” he continued. Luckily, pilots are put on two-week rotations at CHR to avoid burnout — offering “the best of both worlds” in McConnell’s mind.
Success in the role isn't just about flying, either — the other world of the work is analysis.
“A lot of the time if you're not flying, you're helping process the data,” he said. When that work is up to speed, “we're utilizing that data that we do have to help design or… getting permits approved.”
Especially with big infrastructure projects, permitting can cause a lot of stress for site workers, so this aspect of the work is just as critical as the flying. Different pilots typically have different subjects of expertise outside of the controller, so having a lane within the GIS analytics process is a key differentiator.
McConnell also referenced five qualities that make a bad pilot — attitudes that don’t fly: anti-authority, impulsivity, invulnerability, macho and resignation.
Many of them center around the ego and getting too comfortable with flying, McConnell pointed out. That’s why crews hold a weekly safety meeting “to discuss any new laws that have been passed, any close calls, just reminding the team to say, 'I know you've flown hundreds of hours, but just remember, beware your surroundings,' all that good stuff.”
That self‑check on ego doesn’t just apply in the air. For McConnell, the same discipline as a pilot is needed as a person on the ground when dealing with suspicious or angry residents.
“I'll say 99% of time, the interactions are good. The 1% is what scares people most," he explained — from the old senile man shaking cane to the appointed neighborhood watchdog. But most people are just curious about what the drone is for, which is when a levelheaded explanation of the project lands better than a short-tempered or know-it-all reply.
“Being transparent is what helps a lot in this industry,” McConnell reflected.
Interested in exploring job opportunities within the industry? Check out Broadband Nation's jobs board, training portal and Learning Center.