Key Questions to Ask Drone Pilots BEFORE Contracting

Introduction

So you understand the value of aerial media to your work.  You know you want to incorporate the new view into your offering and need to find a drone pilot.  There are many options open to get this done but there are four key questions you should always ask before you hire anyone to fly for you.

Do you have a Part 107 certification?

This is the first question you need to ask of a prospective pilot.  According to the FAA, in order to fly a drone for work or business, the operator must hold a current part 107 certification as a remote pilot.  This certification ensures the pilot has completed the minimum legal requirements to operate a small unmanned aircraft for commercial operations.

Drone operators can face civil penalties of $1000 or more per occurrence.  If you hire someone to fly for you that doesn’t have a part 107 certification you can face civil penalties that can be as much as ten times that of the pilot.

Can you provide a certificate of insurance?

Professional drone pilots plan each flight with safety in mind.  However, accidents can happen even with the best plans.  Just like car insurance, professional drone pilots carry insurance to mitigate the financial risk in the event of unforeseen circumstances or accidents.  If something does go wrong, you want the assurance that you won’t be held responsible for the damage done by the pilot.

Will my job require any waivers to complete?

Some areas require special permissions, or waivers, to conduct drone operations in the sky nearby.  Within 5 miles of larger airports, over infra-structure like power stations, and busy inner city areas are all examples of areas where the remote pilot may be required to obtain an operational waiver to get the job done.  Sometimes these waivers are easy to obtain, other times they could take as long as 90 days.

Do you have examples of your work you can share?

Aerial imagery has gotten easier to capture with advances in drone technology but as a consumer you need to see examples of what you’re paying for from your pilot.  Ask for a few sample shots or a website with some images to review.  Check the image framing, the exposure, the coloring, the smooth transitions in videos.  Do the images show the subject in a way that is useful or inspiring?