Drone Usage Up

Catch a glimpse of videos or photographs taken from the viewpoint of an aerial drone, and it's easy to see why this such a popular tool. You get a great perspective of a property and it can differentiate you from your competition.

That competition, however is getting stiff. At the beginning of 2015, there were seven applications for the permit, known as a Section 333 Exemption, from the FAA. Since the beginning of this year, there have been something in the neighborhood of 4500 applications, with new submissions every day.

In fact, according to NAHB, the FAA has been so inundated with requests, that it posted an advisory on its website to notify applicants of potential processing delays “due to the high volume of Section 333 petitions received…”

The intent — or as the FAA puts it, “mission” — of these drone operators ranges from wildlife surveys, to search-and-rescue training, to closed-set filming for commercials and movies.

But the most common missions listed include photography and videography of construction sites, real estate and infrastructure designs.

If you're considering using a drone for these purposes, it's important to know that there are several rules and regulations - not just anyone is allowed to send a drone up into the sky. Under Section 333, the pilot in command (PIC)“must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC must also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license…”

You might be better off hiring someone who is licensed - you'll likely end up with higher-quality results anyway.

Either way, drones are just another useful tool in the marketing toolbox!