From Side Gig to Industry Pro: How Jamil Borner Built WayPoint UAV into a Drone Business Trusted by Cities and Hollywood Studios

In 2019, Jamil Borner walked into a 3-day course about drones, and walked out with a new vision for his life.

At the time, he was working full-time for an insurance company, with no background in aviation. He’d never even flown a drone before.

But the workshop sparked a fire in him.

“I realized this wasn’t just about cool technology,” he says. “It was a business opportunity. A real one.”

Within days, he bought a drone. Within weeks, he was flying it everywhere. Not long after, he earned his Part 107 certificate and began laying the foundation for his drone business.

Now he runs WayPoint UAV, a successful drone services company based in Southern California. His clients include city governments, police departments, fire agencies—and the occasional Hollywood studio.

And that nine-to-five job? Long gone.

From Side Hustle to Full-Time Pilot

Jamil’s drone journey started while he was still working full-time as a claims adjuster in the insurance industry.

After taking the drone workshop, he was convinced drones were going to reshape the industry he worked in—and change a lot of other industries, too.

Drones were just starting to be used for insurance claims, and Jamil suggested the company hire a drone pilot to collect aerial data for roof inspections and property assessments. And that pilot turned out to be—you guessed it—himself.

As his confidence grew, so did his opportunities.

A friend working in a local city government invited him to visit public works job sites. Jamil started showing up with his drone, capturing progress photos and videos of parks, roads, and construction projects.

A progress monitoring photo taken at a construction site

He soon discovered that his background in inspections made him uniquely valuable on the municipal side. The same eye for detail that helped him assess roof damage could help cities with inspections, documenting infrastructure and catching potential issues early.

Another early milestone came when a public safety nonprofit began hiring him to help with training events, where he assisted first responders learning to use drones for emergency response and disaster recovery.

Bit by bit, Jamil was building both his skillset and his client base, turning what started as a side hustle into a full-time business serving cities, agencies, and even Hollywood productions.

What WayPoint UAV Does Today

Today, Jamil’s company, WayPoint UAV, delivers professional drone services across a wide range of sectors.

His clients include:

• City governments
• Public safety agencies
• Engineering and construction firms
• Hollywood studios

Much of Jamil’s work centers on helping cities document infrastructure and build resilience into emergency preparedness.

He recently supported the City of Los Angeles’ drone team for a major public safety exercise, and he’s in talks to take on more long-term municipal contracts. He’s also helping to build Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs, providing public safety agencies with training, flight support, and regulatory guidance to get drones in the air quickly and legally during emergencies.

“I love working with agencies that are just starting out with drone programs,” Jamil says. “They need someone who can help them navigate airspace, waivers, training—it’s a lot, and I try to make it simple.”

Jamil has also flown for high-end film and television productions, including scenes for The Hills, an MTV reality series, and a TV project focused on Michael Jordan’s “Rising Stars” program, which features some of the top high school basketball players in the nation. For the project, Jamil was brought on to document the elite players chosen for Team Jordan through dynamic aerial and cinematic footage.

“People think drone work is one thing,” he says. “But it’s actually a lot of things. From mapping to marketing to emergency response—there’s room to specialize, or to diversify.”

Deliverables WayPoint UAV Provides

Example deliverables from WayPoint UAV’s website

Here are the different deliverables Jamil gives to clients, depending on their needs:

Inspection & Documentation

• Aerial photo and video for infrastructure documentation or marketing
• 360-degree photos of city assets and facilities
• Orthomosaic maps for site planning and GIS support

Training & Support

• Hands-on training for public safety drone pilots
• Guidance on FAA waiver applications and regulatory compliance
• Program development support for new or expanding drone teams

Live Operations

• Real-time livestreaming from the field during emergency exercises or drills
• Tactical drone support for public safety agencies
• Airspace navigation assistance during DFR and incident response scenarios

In many cases, Jamil’s clients don’t even know what they need—they just know they want to use drones. That’s where he steps in to guide them.

“A lot of cities don’t have a drone person,” he says. “So I try to be that person for them.”

How UAV Coach Helped Jamil Grow His Business

Jamil has been a UAV Coach subscriber for years. He says our newsletter and other resources have helped him stay on top of industry trends, tech, and regulations.

Not only that, but UAV Coach has literally helped him grow his business, providing new ideas for revenue streams and guidance on how to price and grow his offerings.

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“I read every single newsletter,” he says. “It’s one of my main tools for staying informed.”

Whether it’s a new FAA rule, an airspace update, or a case study from another pilot, Jamil sees knowledge as a competitive edge—and UAV Coach as one of the best sources in the drone industry.

“UAV Coach is one of the best resources out there,” Jamil says. “The articles, the updates, the information—it’s helped me stay on top of what’s happening in the industry.”

An aerial progress photo from an infrastructure project in the City of Torrance, CA

Jamil’s Advice: Start Small, But Start Now

Jamil has trained dozens of new pilots through his public safety work.

When he talks to people thinking about starting their own drone business, his message is simple: Start small. Stay consistent. And keep learning.

“You don’t need a fleet of drones or a bunch of clients on day one,” he says. “Start with one thing—one niche—and get really good at that.”

Jamil also emphasizes the power of professionalism.

“Be early. Be consistent. Look the part. A lot of people can fly—but not everyone can be trusted to deliver. That’s where you win.”

When it comes to timing, Jamil says to start where you are.

“Use what you’ve got,” he says. “If you’re working full-time, find a way to bring drones into that work. Offer to do some photos, a roof inspection—anything. Then build from there.”

But don’t wait for the perfect moment—go ahead and dive in.

Here’s a summary of Jamil’s key advice for anyone looking to start a drone business:

• Start small—focus on one niche and get really good at it
• Use what you have, even if it’s just one drone and a full-time job
• Be professional: be early, be consistent, and look the part
• Don’t wait for the perfect moment—just start
• Learn the rules and get certified before offering services
• Build relationships—your network is your biggest asset

“Go ahead and get started,” Jamil says. “If I’d waited for everything to line up, I’d still be at my old job,” he says. “But I took the leap. And it’s changed everything.”