Greg Cooper Photography

When driving a car there are specific rules and safety requirements to follow. As a recreational drone flyer there are similar rules to operate within. It’s the responsibility of the drone pilot to know the rules and fly responsibly.

The FAA aims to educate new drone owners on the various aspects of drone operation rules and regulations.

Here’s a quick breakdown on the FAA guidelines and regulations each new drone owner needs to know before operating their new gift.

1. Take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST)

Federal law requires all recreational drone pilots to pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, known as TRUST. While operating your drone you must also carry proof of passing TRUST if asked by law enforcement or FAA personnel.

2. Drone Registration and Marking

If your drone weighs more than 0.55 lbs (250g) you must register your drone with the FAA on their FAADroneZone website. You also must mark your registration number on your drone and carry proof of registration with you when flying.

3. Remote Identification (RID)

Have you hired a national chain company to make real estate images and videos and been disappointed with the results?

In this post I’ll discuss the differences between dealing with national chains vs working with a local professional photographer and FAA certified drone pilot.

Why choose local?

In today’s media-saturated world you need to stand out in a competitive market. You have to grab the potential buyer’s attention with a much more immersive experience than cookie-cutter imagery.

You need to provide a unique perspective on properties, their surroundings and showcase properties in a way that’s both effective and visually stunning.

What’s the difference?

National chain companies hire and train people to work in a specific way. Staff are trained to not waver from a list of specific angles or composition, whether that suits the property or not.

This makes for cookie-cutter images and video. National chains give every client identical-looking photos and videos — just like your competition.

What I offer

Working with me you will receive high quality, uniquely composed images and cinematic video that suit each individual property while highlighting its marketable features.

Are you thinking of doing that aerial photo job yourself? Or are you hiring a drone pilot for your next aerial photo or video job?

Here are five points to keep in mind to ensure get the best aerial content and also keep yourself out of hot water with the authorities:

1. FAA Certified

If a drone is used for any commercial purposes there are several legal requirements which include remote pilot certification, aircraft registration and safe operations.

The pilot of the drone needs to hold a current Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) UAS Remote Pilot Certification (Part 107), commonly known as a Drone License.

Any “drone pilot” who is flying a drone for commercial purposes without an FAA certification can face civil penalties up to $27,500, as well as criminal sanctions including a fine of $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to three years upon conviction.

“But no one will know! ” Be aware that every drone is controlled and monitored by GPS and the flight data including drone serial number, location, altitude, speed, length of flight, date, time, and exact flight path are recorded. This flight data can be requested from the drone manufacturer by the FAA and law enforcement. There is also a system called Aeroscope that can track and record all drone activities. This system is readily available for use by law enforcement, military and many local, state and federal governments to track and record all drone flights for safety and security reasons.

The use of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems is a new and emerging industry. UAS also have diverse uses from recreational to search and rescue, surveying, infrastructure inspection and photography and video. Many people are not yet aware of what is involved in safe drone operations for commercial use. Here are a few common drone questions answered:

Drones are just a fun toy, right?

Although drones may be small and the pilot is operating the drone remotely, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regards and classifies all drones as aircraft, just like helicopters, small airplanes and commercial jets as they share and operate in the same national airspace. All drones greater than 0.55lb (250g) need to be registered with the FAA. If a sub 0.55lb drone is being used for commercial purposes then it also needs to be registered.

Do you need to be licensed to fly a drone?

Any commercial use of a drone requires the operator to hold an FAA UAS Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107). This certificate demonstrates that the remote pilot has the knowledge and understanding of the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures to safely fly drones in the national airspace.