Should You Hire a Drone Pilot?
Would you like aerial photos of your construction, real estate, or other project or property?
Why not buy a drone and shoot your own photos? Or, doesn’t the kid down the block have a drone? Maybe he’d like to earn twenty bucks shooting some photos for you.
But wait. Is it that easy?
Maybe not.
Anyone flying a drone, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), for for commercial work is required by the FAA to possess a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, including any required recurrency certificates. Failure to do so can result in substantial fines, not just for the pilot, but for the person or company hiring that pilot. Even if you are flying for yourself or your own company, you are still required to have that Part 107 Certificate if what you are doing might be considered commercial, or for profit, work.
FAA Rules
A UAV pilot possessing a Part 107 Certificate has gone through hours of training on the rules of operating a UAV and then passed a test on his/her knowledge. The UAV pilot will know the FAA rules. He or she must also know about safe operation of a drone in different environments in addition to the FAA rules. Here are just a few of the things a UAV pilot should be familiar with.
- Are there restrictions on how high you can fly a drone? Yes, generally 400 feet above ground level (AGL), but there are exceptions. In some situations you can fly above 400′ AGL, and in others (primarily controlled airspace), you may not fly that high.
- Can you fly a drone in the fog? No. You must have 3 statute miles of horizontal visibility, and must be 500 feet below any clouds and 2000 feet horizontally from clouds.
- Can You fly near an airport? Maybe, with permission. The Airspace near an airport is generally classified as Controlled Airspace. You must get permission from the FAA to fly in this Airspace. Depending on the rules in effect at your flight location, this may be done in a fairly automated way at the time of request, or you may need to apply in advance to get permission to fly. And, you may not always be granted the Airspace access that you request.
- Can you fly before sunrise or after sunset? Generally, yes, you may fly during civil twilight (in most places from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunrise and sunset to 30 minutes after sunset) IF your drone is equipped with an anti-collision light that is visible for a minimum of 3 statue miles in all directions.
- How far can you fly your UAV? A UAV pilot may not fly their UAV beyond visual line of site, i.e., their ability to see the UAV with an unaided eye.
- What is a TFR? A TFR is a Temporary Flight Restriction issued by the FAA. A UAV pilot should check for any TFRs in the area(s) he/she intends to fly. If there is a TFR in effect, you may not fly.
That covers a few of the rules your UAV or Drone pilot should know about. There are a lot more. As you can see, this is not something to be taken lightly.
Practical Aspects
In addition to flight rules, there are the practical aspects of flying. A drone pilot must be able to:
- Set up his/her drone
- Be familiar with the drone flight controls
- Be familiar with the drone photography/videography controls
- Know what environmental situations (for instance, KP Index, tall buildings in the area, metallic objects nearby) might affect the flight characteristics of his/her drone.
- Know how to use additional applications, for example, to control the drone for repeated flights, or to post-process the photos obtained during flight.
…And more. Your drone pilot has invested a lot of time and money into getting his/her skills and equipment. This isn’t something you can pick up overnight for a few hundred dollars. Think about this when you are deciding whether to hire a skilled drone pilot for a job, or whether you think you want to do this yourself.
Are You Ready To Hire a Drone Pilot?
If you would like to hire a Drone Pilot in the Walla Walla, Washington, area, or discuss your needs, contact me!