DRONE PRO: Upper Keys photographer’s business is flying

DRONE PRO: Upper Keys photographer’s business is flying - A woman posing for a picture - Pattern

By Theresa Java

Nada Khalaf-Jones has a lot of energy, and she’s spontaneous. She’s a mom to four children who she dotes endlessly upon, runs her own non-profit organization, Florida Keys Down Syndrome Educational Trust, is a scuba instructor and a freelance journalist. She’s on the Key Largo Rotary communications committee, and recently was elected to the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce board of directors.

And on top of that, she became the first female FAA-certified drone pilot in Monroe County and launched a new business, Lovely World Adventures.

Khalaf-Jones has undergone the same schooling and testing as commercial and private aviation pilots. She’s said it’s intense and expensive but she now knows how to read aviation maps thoroughly. She plans to fly her drones for thermal imaging, real estate photos, roof inspections and even tap into the wedding industry. But as much as she wants to capture commercial success, so far she’s only donated her services to charities.

Khalaf-Jones said, “If it can perform thermal imaging surveillance on power lines, electrical circuits, inside houses, buildings and cars — why not use it for good?”

She’s determined to be able to help in ways too. Kalaf-Jones said that her drone flying abilities can be used to help find elderly persons or children gone missing. She also wants to use her craft to halt human-trafficking.

Despite all of Kalaf-Jones ventures, she always finds time to give back to the community.

“She helped us tremendously with our Two Shoes Walk event. She did a fabulous job, she’s really organized. She’s got a great family, too,” said Corrine Triviski, coordinator of the Upper Keys MARC association.