How to hire a drone pilot. The ins and outs of the drone hiring process and how to recognize a professional pilot.
If you’re wondering how to hire a drone pilot, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’re going to dictate the ins and outs of how to hire a professional drone pilot. From the inside scoop on certification to how to protect yourself.
FAA Part 107 Certificate
To Legally fly a drone in the United States for use in commercial operations, every drone pilot must obtain an FAA Part 107 certificate. This certificate states that the pilot has demonstrated knowledge of commercial drone operations and how to operate a drone in the national airspace system. Flying a drone for the purpose of recreation and personal photography is outside the requirements of Part 107, but if a pilot expects to accept compensation for piloting a drone, then they must possess a Part 107 certificate. Asking a drone pilot to present proof they are a certified Part 107 pilot is a perfectly reasonable request. In fact, the FAA has been known to prosecute and fine businesses for hiring a drone pilot that is not properly certified. So it’s highly advisable that you do so. Proof of certification comes in the form of a government-issued ID card with the letters UAS (Unmanned Aeiral System) printed on the side and other legally identifiable information such as the name of the pilot, address, and certificate number.
Drone Insurance
Most responsible business owners possess insurance to protect themselves in day-to-day operations. The drone industry is no different. Flying a drone is risky business, and misuse of that drone could result in damage to property, or worse, to an individual. Your drone service company should possess insurance to protect against any wrongdoings in the event that they occur. It’s important to ask what kind of insurance the drone pilot possesses. Be it hull insurance or liability insurance. You certainly don’t want to get roped into a situation where an incident occurs and only the drone pilot’s drone is covered. A typical drone insurance policy covers up to $1,000,000, but this can be adjusted based on the operation at hand.
Airspace Restrictions
One of the first questions you should ask before hiring a drone pilot is if the property they will be filming at is subject to any airspace restrictions. Any responsible drone pilot should be able to inform you of such in a reasonable amount of time. Typically airspace restrictions are due to proximity to an airport or critical infrastructure. Some airports may allow authorization via a web portal known as LANNC. This service will typically limit the height a drone pilot can operate at but it will still be possible non the less. Operating an aircraft near an airport is dangerous for obvious reasons, and should only be conducted with care and the appropriate authorization.
Capabilities of Drone Equipment
With a wide array of drones available to the consumer market, owning the right equipment sets drone pilots apart from each other. Ask your drone pilot a little about their drone and its capabilities. If the pilot sounds confident in their equipment and can describe it in detail then it’s usually a safe bet. You want the drone to be able to shoot high-quality imagery, and just like professional cameras, they get better every year. DJI is the leading manufacturer of quality drones to date, but they make a vast inventory of professional equipment and consumer equipment. Some high-quality drones to keep an ear out for are the DJI Inspire series, the DJI Mavic series, the DJI Phantom Pro 4, and the DJI Matrice.
Drone Pilot Experience
Just like any technical industry piloting a drone requires a high level of skill. The only way to determine this from a new hire drone pilot is by viewing previous examples of their work. Their drone video should be smooth and avoid any erratic movements. Their drone photography should be clear, bright, and vibrant. The drone pilot should have plenty of examples of previous works in the form of a portfolio. You might also consider asking them how long they have been operating as a drone business.
All in all, you should base your decision to hire a drone pilot based off their professionalism. If they have clear answers to the questions dictated above and operate professionally then you shouldn’t run into any issues. If you have any questions in regard to hiring a pilot or are interested in hiring a pilot for an upcoming project. Feel free to reach out to Dragonfly Drones, and we’ll align you with a qualified pilot. Good luck!