Years ago logging was a profession that most people didn’t really pay much attention to. But with the boom of reality TV, the average American household was introduced to a field that is far more exciting than they had expected. With shows like Ax Men and American Loggers, viewers learned that “logging” isn’t just cutting down a bunch of trees. It is an extremely dangerous, high drama undertaking demanding of skill and resourcefulness. One such resource that logging companies are now using comes from the aid of drones.

For many when they think of drones, the first thoughts that come to mind are recreational drones, photography drones, or government drones. It’s hard to picture how a drone could be useful in cutting down trees. The fact is, drones aren’t being used to cut down the trees, but to preform one of the most dangerous and time consuming aspects involved in the logging process.

Mark Standley created Pacific UAV Technology a little over a year ago. As a fifth generation logger with some 40 years of experience in the field, he and some colleagues were looking for a way to make their work safer. Through much trial and error, they realized that a drone could help them with one of the most difficult tasks they face. Laying cable that would be used to transport felled trees up mountain sides, and across canyons to a landing site.

This was a job that was usually reserved for the most senior member of a team known as the Hook Tender. It requires a lot of physical strength, skill, and patience. It is one of the most risky aspects of any logging project and could often take nearly a whole day to set up before any logs could be transported. With the drones designed by Standley, this process can be completed in as little as 7 minutes without putting any team members at risk. Because of this, a logging team is far better protected and productive.

While some people may argue that using the drone means that jobs are being lost to people who depend on them, according to Tim Ruyle that is not the case. Ruyle is an operations manager with Bighorn Logging Corp that has been flying Pacific UAVs. “We’ve heard the comment that we are taking away jobs. And for one, we can’t fill the positions, and what we’re doing is just making it easier for the guys on the ground.” He says that because of the drones, the senior member of the team now has more time to perform his other duties.

For now Standley has sold nine of his drones to different logging companies. Each six propeller drone is capable of carrying 1,000 yards of rope/cable, a payload of 50 lbs. They are operated from an IPad and cost $40,000, a small price for the service they provide. Anytime technology is able to help us is a bonus. In this situation, drone technology is easing a huge burden that loggers face. It is saving them time and keeping them safe.

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