By Lyndy Berryhill

The Natchez Democrat

VIDALIA — The first Vidalia-based commercial drone business has been up and operating for about a month now.

Miss-Lou Aerial Precision LLC was started by Aaron Maroon and Shane Smith, have purchased two drones to offer agriculture, infrastructure, real estate and insurance services.

Maroon said he plans to specially market the drone to people in the Miss-Lou area at rate he knows they can afford.

“I want to make it affordable to (people),” Maroon said. “I’m not trying to put anybody out of business…I’m just trying to help people, save them some money where I can.”

In addition to working at Armadillo Services Inc, an oil well cementing company, Maroon is a commercial pilot. He graduated from the University of Louisiana at Monroe with aviation and construction management in 2009.

When Maroon became aware of drone businesses in the Midwest that could provide vital crop information to farmers and crop insurers, Maroon suggested to Smith that they should start a service locally before anyone else had the good idea.

Maroon said drone operators in other areas charge up to $500 by the hour. Although his business rates have not been set in stone, he said his rates should be expected to be much more affordable here.

The drone uses software and multi-spectural imaging to give farmers and crop insurers a better estimate of crop yields by showing the health of each plant. It can also show where crops may need more or less water and even pesticide.

Maroon has already tested multiple fields in the area for crop yields. The aerial images produced show growth in bright green and lower growth rates in red.

It can also map and measure a field’s land slope, which farmers can decide where to cut their drainage ditches to help water runoff.

Maroon said the drone can easily capture 5,000 to 6,000 acres in a snapshot, which is impossible for a farmer to see on a tractor or on foot.

“I think that what we are doing over a period of time will give them an increase in crop yield,” Maroon said.

Maroon has high hopes for the drone service’s helpfulness to local communities.

It could potentially help law enforcement locate escaped inmates, criminals on the run or aid a search-and-rescue mission if necessary.

The drone can legally be flown up to 400 feet, as regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Maroon said the drone’s height and scope could also help an insurance agency speed up the process of people receiving damage reimbursement.

Maroon has also taken high-resolution images of the Mississippi River bridge.

He said the drone allowed him to potentially survey the infrastructure for damage without having to endanger a construction worker.

Maroon said he hopes the business will grow with more drones and certified operators as needed in the future.

He is in the process of designing a website. The Facebook page is already up and operating where people can view videos and images.

“I’m just trying to get the name out there now,” Maroon said.