For the first time, this year's Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will see a new kind of aircraft.
A local media company, Colibri Media House, will livestream and produce a promotional video for Balloon Fiesta using high-definition video cameras mounted to a drone.
Colibri President and Chief Pilot Jesse Sansom said the project has been in the works for around a year. His company has been working to change public perception of drones.
"Just the word 'drone' has negative connotations," Sansom said. "Drones offer a platform for capturing video that's a new perspective."
To combat those perceptions, Colibri started hosting gatherings at the Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum to educate people about the uses of drones and show that they are safe if operated properly. Last year's program was called Drone Discovery Days, and this year, the company says it is holding races on the third Sunday of every month.
The commercial drone market is expected to be worth about $13 billion in 2025, a near 2,000 percent increase since 2015, according to market research firm Statista.
The arrangement between Colibri and the Balloon Fiesta comes with some stipulations.
Colibri's drones will be restricted to a certain area and will not be allowed to fly over patrons. Fiesta Director of Operations Sam Parks said the zone is primarily confined to around the arroyo in Balloon Fiesta Park, as well as the refueling area just north.
The arrangement only covers this year's event, but that could change.
"We hope that this will continue, we'll see how things go this year," Parks said. "When I first met Jesse, I was just struck by his sense of professionalism."
Both Parks and Sansom declined to say how much the deal is worth.
And though the project has the potential to gain Colibri a lot of exposure, it does come with risks.
"One of our biggest concerns is ... rogue drones," Sansom said, adding that keeping unauthorized drones out of the airspace could be key for the success of the endeavor. "My client is the Balloon Fiesta."
To stop those illegally flying, the Fiesta is putting up signs and enlisting the help of an outside company called Aerial Armor, which will be on the lookout for certain types of drones flying during Balloon Fiesta that have not been approved.
An Aerial Armor spokesperson confirmed that the company will provide drone security for the event.
Tags: Aerial Photography, Aerial Footage, Events, Drones
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