PARIS — Two weeks after the Federal Aviation Administration passed new regulations allowing routine nonrecreational use of drones in U.S. airspace, a local man is hoping to turn his interest in operating consumer-style drones into a private business.

Noah Pastore said he became interested in operating drones a year ago after watching videos on YouTube. “I saw videos that people made and uploaded online,” Pastore said. “I know that Maine is a very scenic place, and I thought the videos people had made using the drone were really cool.”

He bought a DJI Phantom consumer-style drone on Amazon.com, registered it online, and began filming outdoor scenes for fun.

However, when word came from the FAA that it would be allowing businesses to operate drones if they passed an aeronautical knowledge test and a background check through the National Transportation Security Administration, Pastore decided he wanted to take his drone-operating skills beyond casual use.

“Even before I bought the drone, I knew I wanted to run my own business with it,” Pastore said. “I had some ideas on how to use it, and goals on where I wanted to go with it.”

On Aug. 29, the first day the FAA allowed testing centers to administer the aeronautical knowledge test for drone operation, Pastore took the exam at the Augusta State Airport. He passed.

He said he’s “trying to find a way to put my (drone) license to use.”

“I’d like to have my own company and find a way to get it to take off,” he said. “Operating the aerial craft is really fun and something I enjoy doing. If I can find a way to make a business out of it, that would be ideal.”

A graduate of Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, he attended Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, an arts and media school. He graduated with a degree in music production and moved back to Maine, where he teamed up with friends from high school to start a business.

“We built rails and boxes for terrain parks at ski slopes,” Pastore said. “We started a business for a while, and it was pretty cool to do our own thing. Eventually, it kind of petered out.”

After that, he did random jobs such as working as a machinist, and working at the paper mill in Jay for six months. Eventually, he went to Grover Gundrilling in Norway, where he still works.

He also created Maine Aerial Video Services, or MAVS, and is in the process of drafting business cards.

“Right now, I’m using the Facebook page and word of mouth to get my name out there,” he said. “A lot of the jobs that the drones are used for, like taking pictures of land for real estate companies, or inspecting the high wires of a cellphone tower, haven’t made their way to Maine yet.”

Although Pastore said it’s a “barren market” for drone pilots, he said he has found himself doing odd jobs for people and companies since he got his license.

“I filmed for a wedding the other day,” Pastore said. “I also did a flyover of the Norway Country Club, showing the layout of each hole on the golf course.”

He said he’ll keep an eye open for jobs that require a drone pilot.

“I know there’s a group of people out there that aren’t too psyched about them, and there are people out there doing stupid stuff with them and giving them a bad name,” he said. “I think that as it becomes more common up here, you’ll start seeing more opportunities where people can make money off of them.”

To learn more about Pastore’s business, visit Facebook.com/Mavs.noah.

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