Two weeks ago the FAA finally introduced the much anticipated, much needed and long awaited Part 107. This new Rule states that starting Aug 29th, 2016, commercial use of small unmanned aircraft vehicles, aka UAVS, aka Drones will now be allowed. With certain requirements and restrictions, flying and shooting aerial photography and video for real estate will be officially legal. No more weak but scary threats of law suits from the FAA or the NAR.
Even though, flying drones commercially was never illegal, the FAA has finally made the muddy water of drone use clearer by writing the Part 107.
So what are the details of this rule? Well, glad you asked. Below are the basic things a drones operator must know for flying under the small UAS rule (14 CFR part 107):
So what does this new Rule mean if your a real estate agent, builder, contractor or any company wishing to make use of aerial photography? Well, it means great news if you wish to have access to a whole new set of tools and technologies to market your listings, company, services or products!
Whichever Aerial Photography and Videography company you chose to use, they will have to meet all the above requirements to fly commercially. Ultimately, it is the Drone operators responsibility to make sure he/she has met all the FAA requirements, not the Realtors.
However, as a person who hires a drone photographer to shoot your listings, you should be aware that there is a profound difference in quality between a professional Aerial photographers with years of training and experience and the amateurs flooding the market with their shiny new drones who lack the qualifications, training, experience and artistic eye for Aerial photography and video. The lesson here is always use someone that knows what their doing and can back it up with a portfolio of high-quality aerial work. Ask to see examples and you'll know which category they will fall into: professional or amateur.
After many worrisome years for commercial drone operators, the FAA has finally caught up with the rest of the drone using world, recognized the tremendous benefits that drones has to offer to commercial enterprises and labeled it suitable for the United States market:) So that being said, drone on:)
If you're dying to learn more about the Part 107, see the following links.
SUMMARY OF SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT RULE (PART 107)
Press Release – DOT and FAA Finalize Rules for Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems