Aerial Photography Services

No.  We perform aerial commercial monitoring and real estate photography.

Please check out our price packages on this site.

Yes, included in our "The Works" package.

Yes, included in our "The Works" package

Unfortunately, no.  

Yes.

The key difference between a recreational drone pilot and a licensed commercial (Part 107) drone pilot lies in the purpose of the flight and the legal authority to operate under FAA regulations.

1. Purpose of Flying

• Recreational Pilot: Flies only for fun or personal enjoyment.

• Part 107 Commercial Pilot: Flies for any commercial purpose — meaning you are compensated or the flight benefits a business (even indirectly).

2. FAA Requirements

Recreational Pilot (Under the Exception for Recreational Flyers)

• Must fly strictly for hobby/recreation.

• Must register their drone if it weighs over 0.55 lbs.

• Must take The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST).

• Must fly under visual line of sight, below 400 feet.

• Must follow community-based safety guidelines.

• Cannot fly in controlled airspace without prior authorization.

• Cannot operate for business or work-related activities.

Commercial Part 107 Pilot

• Must pass the FAA Part 107 Aeronautical Knowledge Test.

• Must be at least 16 years old.

• Must register each drone used for commercial purposes.

• Can fly for commercial purposes (e.g., real estate, inspections, mapping, photography).

• Can apply for waivers and authorizations (e.g., flying at night, in restricted airspace, over people).

• Must follow Part 107 rules, including pre-flight checks, airspace compliance, and recordkeeping.

• Can be held legally responsible for violations.

3. Legal Liability

• A recreational pilot operating commercially (even unknowingly) can face fines or legal consequences.

• A Part 107 pilot is authorized and trained to handle airspace, weather, and safety concerns, making them more legally protected and credible.

If you’re using a drone for a business, real estate marketing, paid photography, YouTube monetization, or anything not purely for fun, you must be Part 107 certified. 

The FAA considers any drone operation conducted for compensation or business purposes to be a commercial operation, regardless of who is operating the drone. An individual or a business could potentially face fines for hiring a recreational drone pilot to perform aerial photography for their business if the pilot does not hold the appropriate remote pilot certificate required by the FAA for commercial operations. 

Where does the FAA state this?

The specific regulations and fines associated with hiring an unlicensed pilot for commercial drone operations can be found in Part 107 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. According to Part 107.23, "No person may manipulate the flight controls of a small unmanned aircraft system unless... That person has passed an initial aeronautical knowledge test covering the areas of knowledge specified in §107.73(a)." This means that anyone operating a drone for commercial purposes must have passed the FAA's aeronautical knowledge test and hold a remote pilot certificate.

What are the fines?  Fines can vary depending on the severity of the violation, but they can be substantial, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. It's crucial for business professionals to ensure that anyone they hire to conduct aerial photography for their business is properly licensed and compliant with FAA regulations to avoid potential penalties.

How does the FAA police this regulation?

The FAA conducts various forms of oversight to ensure compliance with regulations, including monitoring drone activities through reports, flight records and investigations, and inspections. It's important for business owners and  other professionals to prioritize compliance with FAA regulations not only to avoid potential fines and penalties but also to ensure safety and responsible operation of drones in the national airspace. As of March 16, 2024 the FAA will enforce Remote ID.

What is Remote ID?

Remote ID provides identification and location information that can be received by law enforcement through a broadcast signal.

(a) The identity of the unmanned aircraft, consisting of the serial number assigned to the remote identification broadcast module by the person responsible for the production of the remote identification broadcast module. 

(b) An indication of the latitude and longitude of the unmanned aircraft. 

(c) An indication of the geometric altitude of the unmanned aircraft.

(d) An indication of the velocity of the unmanned aircraft. 

(e) An indication of the latitude and longitude of the take-off location of the unmanned aircraft. 

(f) An indication of the geometric altitude of the take-off location of the unmanned aircraft.

(g) A time mark identifying the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) time of applicability of a position source output.