I was speaking with a potential business owner a few weeks back and I mentioned to her that I offer drone services. “I have a drone!” she proclaimed. Being the honest hardworking person that I am, I explained to her the problems with using drone footage for her company without having the proper clearances from the FAA.
Here is what you should ask yourself:
Does the pilot of the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) know exactly how high they can fly?
Do they know if they should be flying at all?
Have the proper safety precautions been put in place?
When should you contact the airport, if you are performing operations in their airspace?
How do I know I am far enough away from said airport?
Do private airports count?
All of the answers to these questions are crucial in determining a safe and legal drone operation. Without the proper clearance from the FAA a pilot can not possibly know if they are performing a commercial video or photo shoot safely and legally.
At DVK Designs we are FAA certified Drone Pilots. We are aware of all the safety procedures and hazards that can effect a shoot.