We’ve all seen the viral videos and epic shots made with ready to go out-of-the-box flying machines, aka drones or UASs. It looks and is so easy to click buy on Amazon, unpack and learn how to fly and shoot with a drone…. the 7yr old in me is already out the window and down the street…wheeeeeeee!
But WAIT!
There are guidelines out there. Hobbyists have been following them for years. And I’ll guess they are mostly for not running into things like people, buildings and other aircraft. As of this writing, in order to fly for commercial purposes (and that is anything incidental to business, not just for pay) then you need to obtain a 333 waiver from the FAA and have a licensed pilot at the helm. Later this year, we are expecting Part 107 to come out with updated regulations that may loosen some of these requirements.
In brief, there are a few basics that apply to ALL operators.
- Don’t fly over people, crowds, etc.
- Don’t fly over highways or busy intersections
- Don’t fly within 5 miles of an active airport without authorization
- Always keep the drone in line of site
- Always have a spotter on hand
Every project is different. Builders know that. And as photographers we look at each and every project like it’s new and different. Our first priority is staying safe while we get you the imagery. Period. And if it means we can’t operate the drone, we have several other platforms to choose from. (and they also satisfy the 7yr old in me!) We’ll have more about staying safe in our next blog post…..stay tuned!
Wendy Whittemore
Flight Commander – Aerial Innovations of TN, Inc.
*Commercial purposes as defined by the FAA is not necessarily for the all mighty dollar but might also be for internal use in a business. How to stay compliant? For now, apply for a 333 exemption or hire a 333 exempt company. In time, the FAA will publish Part 107 rules for commercial UAV operation.
View our previous posts about drones:
Introduction to Drones – Part 1 of 6