Introduction

Overview

Raad connects professional drone pilots with clients who need aerial data collection services. As a pilot on our platform, you'll have access to missions in your area, flexible scheduling, and competitive pay rates.

Our platform handles all the client communication, payment processing, and data delivery—you just focus on flying and capturing great data.

Requirements

Before you can start accepting missions, you'll need to meet the following requirements:

FAA Part 107 Certification

All pilots on Raad must hold a valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. This is required for all commercial drone operations in the United States.

Note: If you're still working on your Part 107, you can create an account and explore the platform, but you won't be able to accept missions until your certification is verified.

Equipment

You'll need a drone capable of capturing high-resolution imagery. We currently support:

• DJI Mavic 3 Series — Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Pro, Mavic 3 Enterprise
• DJI Air Series — Air 2S, Air 3
• DJI Mini Series — Mini 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro
• DJI Phantom 4 — Phantom 4 Pro, Phantom 4 RTK
• DJI Matrice Series — M300 RTK, M350 RTK

Getting Started

Follow these steps to set up your pilot account:

1. Create an Account

Visit raad.com and click Sign Up. Select "I'm a Pilot" when prompted for your account type.

$ open https://raad.com/signup

2. Complete Your Profile

After creating your account, you'll need to complete your pilot profile. This includes:

• Uploading your Part 107 certificate
• Adding your location and service area
• Setting your availability preferences
• Connecting your payment method (Stripe)

3. Add Your Equipment

Navigate to Account → Aircraft to add your drone(s). You'll need to specify:

• Drone model and serial number
• Camera/sensor specifications
• Any additional payloads (thermal, LiDAR, etc.)

Finding Missions

Once your profile is complete and verified, you'll see available missions in your area on the Available Missions page. Missions are displayed on a map and include:

• Location and site details
• Mission requirements (area, altitude, overlap)
• Payment amount
• Deadline and scheduling flexibility

Click on any mission to view full details and accept it if you're interested.

Accepting Missions

When you find a mission that fits your schedule and location, click Accept Mission. Once accepted, the mission is assigned to you and you'll receive a confirmation email with all the details. You can view your accepted missions under My Missions.

Please only accept missions you can complete by the requested deadline. If you need to cancel, do so as early as possible so the mission can be reassigned.

Mission Requirements

Each mission specifies the data the client needs. Common requirements include:

• Area coverage — The site boundary must be fully covered
• Altitude — Fly at the specified AGL altitude for consistent GSD
• Overlap — Typically 75% front and 65% side overlap for photogrammetry
• Sensor type — RGB, thermal, or multispectral as specified
• Time of day — Some missions require specific lighting conditions

Review all requirements before flying. Incomplete or out-of-spec data may need to be re-captured.

Flight Planning

Plan your flight before heading to the site. Key considerations:

• Check airspace restrictions and LAANC authorization if needed
• Review the site boundary on the map and plan your flight path
• Ensure battery levels are sufficient for the full mission area
• Check weather conditions — wind, cloud cover, and precipitation
• Use your drone's automated mapping software (e.g. DJI Pilot 2, Litchi, DroneDeploy) for grid flights

Uploading Data

After completing your flight, upload your captured data through the Raad platform:

1. Navigate to the mission under My Missions
2. Click Upload Data
3. Select all images from your SD card for that flight
4. Wait for the upload to complete — do not close the browser tab
5. Verify the upload count matches your expected image count

Uploads include EXIF metadata (GPS, altitude, camera settings) which is used for processing. Do not edit or strip metadata from your images before uploading.

Completing Missions

Once your data is uploaded and verified, mark the mission as complete. The Raad team will review the data for quality and completeness. You'll be notified when:

• Approved — Data meets requirements, payment is released
• Needs revision — Additional data or a re-flight may be needed

Camera Settings

For best results, use these recommended camera settings:

• Mode: Auto or Shutter Priority
• Format: JPEG (highest quality) or DNG+JPEG
• White balance: Sunny or Auto
• ISO: 100–400 (keep as low as possible)
• Shutter speed: 1/500s or faster to minimize motion blur

Avoid shooting in full manual mode unless you're experienced with aerial photography exposure.

SD Card Requirements

Use a reliable, high-speed SD card to avoid dropped frames and write errors:

• Minimum speed: UHS-I U3 / V30
• Recommended: UHS-II V60 or V90
• Capacity: 64 GB minimum, 128 GB+ recommended for large sites
• Format: Always format the card in-camera before each flight

Payment Methods

Raad uses Stripe Connect for pilot payouts. To receive payments, you'll need to connect your Stripe account:

1. Go to Account → Payments
2. Click Connect with Stripe
3. Complete the Stripe onboarding process (bank account, identity verification)

Once connected, payments are deposited directly to your bank account on the regular payout schedule.

Payout Schedule

Payments are released after the client approves the delivered data. Once released, payouts are deposited to your connected bank account within 2–5 business days, depending on your bank and Stripe settings.

Tax Information

Pilots on Raad are independent contractors. You are responsible for reporting your earnings and paying applicable taxes. If you earn over $600 in a calendar year, you will receive a 1099-NEC form from Stripe. Keep records of all your missions and expenses for tax filing.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics, here are some recommended next steps:

• Quick Start Guide — Accept and complete your first mission
• Mission Requirements — Understanding what clients expect
• Uploading Data — How to submit your captured imagery
• Payment Methods — Set up Stripe for payouts