UK Help me convince...

[tweaker]

Hi Guys

Got a gig where it looks like they are employing me as in house pilot.

Got to stand in front of a panel and convince them why it should be outsourced.

I say this as one member thinks they should train up someone and buy a drone blah blah.

Give me ammo I havent thought of to strengthen my case?

Thanks in advance

 

[AeroMirage]

If they use you they only pay for services rendered.

 

[tweaker]

Yes but its a large gig

There will come a point that they could get qualed/get all the equipment.

How do I counter " why dont we just train someone up and by drones?"

 

[tweaker]

Typo not by but BUY

 

[AeroMirage]

Hmmm.. that's a tough one to argue.
Maybe tell them that you can deliver professional results from the start.
Maybe offer to train their guy. (For a fee, of course!)

 

[djkelly57]

Whatever their business, do they want to get into the drone business as well? This is an area that will be developing more as time goes by. Look at how much things have changed in the past 3 years alone. If they want to go in house, do they think it is going to be a one time expense? It's one thing to acquire a drone, but another thing to maintain the equipment and the paperwork as well. Who knows what regulations will be required going forward. Is this something that they really want to get into?

 

[The Editor]

Always a tough one to deal with and all the above arguments are good ones.

Depends how 'switched on' they are accountancy wise as playing Devils Advocate they would be able to write off any purchase and training costs against corporation tax and also write down 25% depreciation each year on the assets.
Thats what I do to soften the cost of any new equipment etc.
A lot of smaller companies will not be that clued up but the larger corporations with accountancy departments are cute enough to understand the 'benefit' of in-house training and equipment purchase.
If they are hell bent on doing it their way there is not a lot you can do and will have to walk away.

 

[licensed pilot]

Whatever their business, do they want to get into the drone business as well? This is an area that will be developing more as time goes by. Look at how much things have changed in the past 3 years alone. If they want to go in house, do they think it is going to be a one time expense? It's one thing to acquire a drone, but another thing to maintain the equipment and the paperwork as well. Who knows what regulations will be required going forward. Is this something that they really want to get into?

bingo!!

 

[Klickdavis]

The company would also have to carry insurance and be a much bigger legal target than a vendor.

 

[ATU]

A few of quick off the cuff ideas:
• Liabilities to company insurance/reputation when sh1t hits the fan as opposed to outsourced work.
• Staff retention once money spent to train.
• Option to change vendor at will as opposed to being stuck with particular staff or having to retrain new staff.

 

[A.U.S.]

So far, all i've read of the company doing, is considering a pilot & AC. All well & good, but your offering more than that in a turnkey operation start > finish. So, they may find a brilliant pilot, yet unable to turn the comp on to run edit. Ergo, two people to do the job of one, and maybe neither the pilot or editor can effect repairs and therefore a mechanic now required....see how this works?

Service life of AC,...sounds like they don't realize just how frequent "breakages" can be...or the ^^^mark-up on aftermarket sales (accessories) and replacement parts....(seriously, $350 for batteries??? unheard of 10-15 year ago aside from specialist areas).

Recall,...they are considering "in-house" based on cost,...YOU have to enlighten them of the costs they HADN'T considered, and that, that alone being absorbed by contracting you, keeps it simplified accounting for them, less In$urance o/head, and overall deniability.

All that without touching on FAA and regulations/limitations etc...

Offer them a challenge...design a very short & quick project of you against them,... let them go through the process of being legal, all the while you've completed, packaged and delivered the project to client...TIME IS MONEY, and you are SAVING them the cost of OVERSIGHT & responsibility where UAV AC are concerned. (unless this is an arena they wish to be involved in, yet i don't read it that way)

A.U.S.