Field Master Systems

19/06/2026

One thing we've learnt from conducting thermal wildlife surveys is that there's no such thing as a "𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱" flight height.

A lot of people assume the drone goes up to a set altitude and stays there, but it really depends on what we're looking for.

For deer or feral pigs, we might fly as high as 𝟭𝟮𝟬 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗚𝗟 to cover more ground efficiently. For Greater Gliders, we'll often fly just 𝟯𝟬 - 𝟰𝟬 𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘆 and sometimes even lower to confirm an identification.

It's a bit like choosing the right camera lens - the drone might be the same, but the flight plan changes depending on the target species. 🦘🦉

17/06/2026

We headed out to Lockington, Victoria this morning, however couldn’t continue due to the fog.

Fog like this is actually one of the reasons we can't spray because the chemicals are suspended in the air creating what's known as an inversion layer.

This can hang in the air and potentially drift into neighbouring properties.

The fog eventually cleared and the team were able to continue.

10/06/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝟮𝟰 𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀?

A few weeks ago during a wildlife survey at Harbury Reserve for Trust for Nature we found:

• 🦘 14 Greater Gliders
• 🐨 2 Koalas
• 🦔 1 Echidna
• 🦘 Wallabies
• 🦡 Wombats
• 🦌 Deer
• 🐿️ Several Sugar Gliders

Nights like this are why we love doing wildlife surveys.
From above, with thermal cameras, you realise just how much is happening in the bush while everything looks quiet from the ground.

Every detection was checked with a local ecologist, and every sighting helps build a better understanding of what's actually living on the site.

Sometimes you finish a survey and think, "That was a pretty special night."

06/06/2026

Commercial drone work involves far more than just flying a drone.

Operations such as 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (𝗕𝗩𝗟𝗢𝗦), 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (𝗘𝗩𝗟𝗢𝗦), and 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 (𝗡𝗩𝗟𝗢𝗦) require specialised approvals, training, and procedures.

The same applies to operating drones over 25kg and 𝗩𝗧𝗢𝗟 (𝗩𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗢𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴) aircraft.

These certifications aren't just credentials, they're essential for conducting safe, compliant, and effective operations in complex environments.

The technology gets most of the attention - but the operational capability behind it is what really determines the outcome.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴? 👇

03/06/2026

Yes.

In 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮, spray drones are regulated the same way as manned aerial spraying aircraft.

This means 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱.

Safe and effective drone spraying isn't just about the equipment, it's also about ensuring the right products are used in the right locations and in accordance with regulations.

29/05/2026

One of the best ways to understand the value of drones in agriculture is to start small.
• 𝗔 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗻.
• 𝗔 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗺𝗮𝗽.
• 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀.

You don’t need to overhaul an entire operation to see where the technology fits or where it can save time, reduce inputs, or improve visibility.

The biggest difference usually comes from getting accurate information early and making better decisions from there.

And if you’re trying to work out what’s actually useful versus what’s just marketing noise, we’re always happy to talk through the practical side of implementation.

28/05/2026

Our drone work takes us across broadacre farms, forestry sites, steep terrain, and government land management projects - every landscape brings a different challenge.

Along the way, we might be mapping w**d infestations, spraying hard-to-reach areas, surveying wildlife populations or collecting aerial data to support planning and environmental management.

What matters most is getting precision where it counts, whether the job is simple or highly complex.

These case studies show how we’re applying drone technology to real-world problems across regional Australia 👇

https://www.fieldmastersystems.com.au/blog?blog-category=Case+Studies

Read the latest from Field Master Systems. Our blog shares expert tips, case studies, and updates on drone services for agriculture, conservation, and beyond.

22/05/2026

Skills nobody tells you you’ll need as a drone pilot 🚁

Flying is only part of the job. A drone pilot also needs to:
• 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
• 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗶𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
• 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸, 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
• 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲
• 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱
• 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

But one of the biggest skills? Working well with people.

“𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦.”

20/05/2026

We asked our team: “What’s it actually like being a drone pilot?” 🚁
Most people picture drone work as standing in a paddock flying all day.

Our team disagrees.“𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 20 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵, 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘴. 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘬, 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴.”

And it’s not always glamorous. “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴, 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.”

No two weeks are ever the same, and honestly, that’s one of the best parts of the job.

15/05/2026

A drone can be ready to fly… and the job still might not go ahead.
Why?

Because in a lot of drone operations, timing and conditions matter just as much as the aircraft itself.

In w**d spraying, wind can completely change whether a job can be carried out safely and effectively. Season matters too.

𝟭. 𝗜𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱?
𝟮. 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆?
𝟯. 𝗜𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆?

A big part of commercial drone work is understanding when conditions are right - and when waiting will lead to a better result.