Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christopher Kabat, Owner of ProAerial Media, LLC., located in Las Vegas, NV, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

ProAerial Media, LLC (PAM) is a Drone Service Provider offering clients aerial imaging acquisition and post-processing services. We provide photography and videography for a wide array of clients in almost every industry and specialize in aerial mapping, surveying, and 3D modeling for clients ranging from US Government entities like the Department of Energy (DoE) and Department of Defense (DoD), to globally recognized organizations like Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) and Golf Digest. We also work with realtors, insurance adjusters, and construction companies — or anyone who needs a "better view" of something.

Additionally, PAM offers the 107ProPilot App (available for iOS and Android), which provides aspiring drone pilots training and test prep to prepare for the FAA's Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Exam to become a Commercial Remote Pilot in Command.

Tell us about yourself

As a Professional Las Vegas Drone Pilot, I bring 20+ years of experience in marketing, photography, digital production, and SEO/SEM to my clients’ most important projects.

The decision to become a professional and commercially licensed drone pilot (or sUAS Operator) was one that I took quite seriously. I passed my Aeronautical Knowledge Exam - Part 107 Certification with ease on my first attempt while working concurrently behind the scenes to establish ProAerial Media back in November 2019. When client flights aren’t booked, I like to take advantage of the cool desert mornings to conduct ‘training ops’ to hone my skills.

My vision for PAM is grounded in transparency, efficiency, and comprehensive attention to making each flight successful. As senior pilot and owner, I oversee all aspects of business and sUAV flight operations for PAM. As the senior pilot on staff, this includes pre-flight planning and airspace research, on-site flight operations, creative direction, as well as image post-processing and editing. Read more about me here.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

This is a difficult question, as I'm quite proud of what PAM has been able to achieve in a relatively short amount of time. With that said, we're proud of our content strategy and having quite a few high-ranking blog articles covering various UAV topics that outrank even the FAA. Most recently though, launching the 107ProPilot Academy App for iOS and Android was a labor of love that took up much of 2022. Now, we look forward to training the next generation of Drone Pilots and preparing them to be safe and responsible members of the aviation community.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Prioritizing time. As a business owner, there are so many things I want to work on, but we have the same number of hours in a day as anyone else. Learning how to prioritize what should come first can be a struggle. Recognizing strengths and weaknesses and having the courage to ask for help makes a difference. Nobody can do everything on their own, and knowing when to delegate responsibilities to others who are more efficient than me took some time.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Know your worth and the value you provide to others.
  2. Know your own limitations and don't be afraid to ask for help (especially if it saves time).
  3. Implement a "They Ask, You Answer" mentality/strategy. Always be helping and educating your clients as they will value more.
  4. GSD (Get Shit Done).

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.flyproaerial.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyproaerial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proaerialmedia/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/flyproaerial
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cfkabat/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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