To check the validity of my license, you can visit the FAA Registry here and search my Certificate Number: 4986746

In the United States, a remote pilot certificate from the FAA is required to fly a drone for any commercial purpose. Hiring an unlicensed pilot could result in fines for both the pilot and the person who hired them. Licensed pilots have undergone training in drone operation, airspace regulations, and meteorology. An FAA licensed pilot has passed a test demonstrating their knowledge of aviation regulations and safety procedures. This expertise allows them to make informed decisions about where, when, and how to fly a drone to get the best results for your project. This ensures they understand how to operate a drone safely, minimizing the risk of accidents or injuries to people or property on the ground, as well as collisions with other aircraft.

 The state of Minnesota requires that all licensed drone pilots carry liability insurance, which can provide financial protection in case of an accident.

Hiring a licensed pilot gives you peace of mind knowing that the drone is being operated legally, safely, and effectively.

Aerial photography is a lot more bureaucratic than just sending a camera up in the sky. The Federal Aviation Administration has control over all outdoor airspace and thus, all pilots need to abide by their rules and apply for waivers for anything beyond what's allowed.

Lead times are dependent on the scope of your project. It's strongly recommend to reach out at least 120 days in advance as there are restrictions the FAA imposes for sUAS aircraft which requires pilots to apply for a waiver; this process takes an average of 90 days to get an approval.

If your project doesn't require waivers for flying over people, flying above 400 feet, flying in restricted airspace, flying at night, or other limitations then your project can be captured in a matter of days but it's still ideal to reach out with enough notice so that any required waivers can be submitted.

Aerial systems, such as drones, don't tolerate weather very easily. An airliner will be able to fly in worse conditions than a single engine propeller plane which in turn can fly in worse conditions than a drone. The FAA has put final say on whether a drone flies on the pilot and no one else. Please be understanding and accommodating to any cancellations as I, as the pilot, need to consider work area safety and FAA regulations before and during flight. I will work with you to reschedule the flight if conditions won't clear within an hour.

Below, are some the conditions in which I will not fly at a scheduled and agreed time: 

If the wind is above 14 miles an hour

My drone can support winds in excess of 20 miles an hour, however wind gusts are a real threat that can destabilize the drone causing it to fall and incur damage to person or property. I've determined that 14 mile per hour winds and accompanying gusts up to 25mph are my safe limit for flight.

If it looks like rain is on the way

Forecasted rain and visible rain are two different things. If I get to the job site and the weather looks like rain, there's a strong chance I'll elect to fly another day. My drone is not waterproof and in order to protect my investments I need to ensure its longevity.

Visibility is less than 3 miles

This is to protect the drone and any other aircraft in the airspace. I may be able to see the drone across it's entire work area but I may not be able to see other aircraft that will enter the flight area. This is a safety measure to ensure all aircraft have time to identify and maneuver around each other.

Flight Over People

The FAA requires additional hardware and safety pre-cautions to legally fly over people. Unfortunately, compliant hardware for my drone is not available and so at this time I will not be able to accept projects that require flight over people. My next drone purchase will meet this requirement.

Conditions of the location require a waiver that hasn't been approved

Generally, this shouldn't be a surprise. Any waivers that we need will be identified early on in our talks and submitted. I'll keep you informed on the approval process and reach out as the deadline nears if the waivers haven't been approved yet. However this also applies if I arrive at a job site and see conditions that would have required a waiver but nothing was submitted.

There is a category of drones that have been approved for use by the United States Department of Defense (DoD). These drones are commercially available but have gone through a rigorous evaluation process to ensure they meet security and trusted technology standards. This program is called Blue UAS and is managed by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). Drones added to the Blue UAS list do not require a DoD exception to policy to procure or operate as they have undergone a cyber-security evaluation, an NDAA compliance check, and were issued the necessary administrative documentation. 

The drones on the Blue UAS list are for critical government operations. 

While my work is civilian in application, I am continually researching drones available on the market - manufactured both domestic and internationally - to ensure I may continue meeting project expectations for reasonable prices. This includes the consideration of applications used for flying; I use one of three flight control and planning applications to ensure I can fly any project.