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MultiRotor Aerial Photography/Video Question ??

posted 10 years ago by JWOceanReef
2 replies | jump to latest

Hi everyone my boyfriend is building a brick and mortar store along with a website http://www.DixieDrones.comand plans to sell quad copters and the aerial photography/video equipment. He also wants to pursue doing the video commercially himself. But I've been told by a close friend that it's against the law to do that per the FAA. After telling him he can't he's a lil upset and has showed me more than a few companys that are doing it commercially. I've sent an email to the FAA and haven't received a response. Does anyone know the proper way to go about gaining the licenses or whatever he'll need so he could say take some aerial shots of Real Estate that I'm listing and be able to get paid Legally ??
Thanks in advance
Jess

http://www.OceanReefClubHomes.com

[–] ImReallyANarc 10 years ago

Your friend is right. The FAA prohibits the use of drones for commercial purposes. This was a very big deal last year when the FAA attacked a wedding videographer that was using drones, and then that rippled out to the real estate market.

You could potentially attempt to get permission from the FAA, but as you know they aren't exactly easy to deal with. Perhaps start by contacting the local government in the town where you plan to use the drone?

[–] markmagedotcom 9 years ago

Hey Jessica,

exactly the question and subject I came here for in the first place -- hoping to find people out here like your boyfriend and yourself to network with on multicopters and AP/V...

So here comes -- and while I realize that your question is almost a year old by now, this is actually a good thing because IMO a lot has moved since last year.

The current situation would be that for legal use (and, thus, being able to sell images/receive payment legally etc) of small UAVs **commercially** you guys would need what's called a "sec. 333 exemption" from the FAA. This is what they do and how thy try to accommodate the need for a solution that legally "flies" ;) until they have some formal regulation in place...

BTW, I understand the FAA as to implying that anyone who has previously applied for an "exemption" is more likely to be eligible for being permitted to obtain "better" licenses outside those "blanket parameters" (a certain max flight level etc, but this should do for now and for filming real estate etc etc) under same applicant's name in the future -- so what are we waiting for then, and why not get one of those suckers right away?!

You might want to check the facts for yourself though and have a look at the FAA's collection of intro information and FAQs
http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/333_faqs/

and check their guidelines on how to apply for that exemption thing here
http://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/how_to_file_a_petition/

Maybe, that's some sort of a starter.

Good luck
-- Mark