Why you should hire a professional drone company.
Dwight Moody, sUAS Remote Pilot, lic# 4741628
FAA Compliance
Current technology allows anyone to purchase and operate advanced camera drones with relative ease. Real estate agents, insurance adjusters, roofers and others are now operating said drones for the purpose of capturing images for their business. What they don't realize is that they are required by federal law to obtain an FAA part 107 certification in order to do so.
Even if your newfound drone is being flown recreationally the FAA still requires “The Recreational UAS Safety Test” (Federal Aviation Administration). Additionally, all drones must be registered with the FAA before flight, unless they are less than .55 lbs and are used exclusively for recreation. “Failure to register a Drone may result in civil penalties of up to $27,500 and criminal fines of up to $250,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three (3) years.” (National Association of Realtors)
Liability
Regardless of how your business is structured, the pros of utilizing a drone outweigh the cons. However, when flying over buildings, vehicles and people, one assumes a great risk. As a professional entity, does it make sense to assume the risk yourself? Or should the liability be assumed by a company that holds the necessary training, certifications and insurance. When hiring a drone operator have they been vetted to make sure they have these qualifications? Under Part 107, “an accident must be reported to the FAA if it causes damage to property other than the drone itself, if the cost is greater than $500 to repair or replace the property” (Federal Aviation Administration). $500 is a low threshold for damage to any structure or vehicle.
Professionalism
Utilizing a company with a focus in aerial photography, surveying or cinematography will be sure to net positive results. At Slickbird, we strive for precision and quality. Hiring us, with whatever business you operate, will provide the peace of mind knowing your clients, critical infrastructure and imagery are in good, reliable hands.
Consider Slickbird Drone Solutions for your next project to see first hand what it means to hire a professional and licensed remote pilot in command.
Works Cited
-Federal Aviation Administration. “The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).” FAA.GOV, Federal Aviation Administration, 22 July 2022, https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers/knowledge_test_updates.
-National Association of Realtors. “Drones.” National Association of REALTORS®, https://www.nar.realtor/drones. Accessed 16 February 2023.
