Joris Binnema, an enthusiastic young entrepreneur

In this interview, we talk to Joris Binnema, an enthusiastic young entrepreneur from Groningen who applied for a drone permit with the help of Droneconsultancy. What kind of company does he have, and what impact has a drone permit had on his business? You can read all about it in this interview.

What exactly do you do?

Joris: Drone Visual started as a small business focused on drone photography and drone video. But the company has since grown, and we now also carry out thermal inspections, visual inspections, 3D models and drone transport.

Why did you choose to get a drone permit?

Joris: An important consideration was that the company is located in a CTR (Control Traffic Region), which meant that flying near the company was not possible without a permit. But I also noticed that drone operations were an emerging market and that more and more customers were asking, or even requiring, that a drone operation be properly arranged, so with a permit and insurance. A permit is a requirement for insurance, so you quickly end up applying for a drone permit.

One advantage of the drone permit is that it gives a professional appearance and gives customers confidence that they are in the right place with you. That is really something you hear more and more often from the market, and also something that allows you to distinguish yourself from hobbyists.

How did you experience the permit process?

Joris: On a personal level, I was very satisfied with Droneconsultancy: friendly people who take the time to explain things properly and who have sufficient knowledge and contacts at the ILT (Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate) to properly substantiate permit applications. Applying for the permit does take a long time, but that is mainly due to the ILT, and it is also something I understand; it is a complex and extensive permit application.

What I do find a little difficult is that you also have to wait a long time for the ILT even for smaller changes. Sometimes you see an opportunity in the market and you want to take advantage of it; you already have a permit and you demonstrably fly safely, but you still have to wait months for a response. That is a pity, but it is something you have to work around and take into account. It is part of working in an industry where a permit is required.

How do you view the costs of applying for a drone permit?

Joris: In the beginning I did find it quite nerve-racking; after all, you are investing a significant part of your savings in a permit without knowing for sure whether you will get a return on it. You also often hear that applying for a drone permit is expensive.

I know it may not be a popular opinion, but I actually think it is not too bad; I know how much work it is to apply for a drone permit. The costs charged by Droneconsultancy for guiding the process and the ILT fees for assessing the application are proportionate to that. It is a lot of money, but it also acts somewhat as a threshold, so that only companies that have the means to approach it professionally apply for a permit. That does ensure that the permits achieve their purpose: namely, ensuring that operators fly more safely and more professionally.

You have now had a permit for over a year; how do you look back on it? 

Joris: The honest answer is that I have not regretted it for a second. Thanks to the permit, I can serve more and more professional customers, and you notice that now that the drone market is becoming more professional, that is a major advantage.

I can earn money doing what I enjoy, and I have to work hard for it, but I enjoy it. Things are going so well that I have now even started a second company, but that is something I only want to talk more about later.

Droneconsultancy: Thank you for your candid answers; we wish you every success with your companies!