Corporate Drone Videos: FAA Licenses, Requirements, and More
Corporate Drone Videos: FAA Licenses, Requirements, and More
Your business has something unique to offer. And a drone may just be the perfect tool to visually showcase your story.
While you’d like to incorporate a few stunning aerial views into your next corporate video, you’re left wondering, “Do corporations need FAA licenses to use drones for video?”
Anything beyond recreational use requires not only a license but insurance and registration too. We fill you in on the exact requirements.
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Do Corporations Need FAA Licenses To Use Drones for Video?
In short, yes. Flying a drone for anything other than recreation requires a Part 107 license from the FAA.
Commercial drone pilots need to be licensed and are also subject to a few restrictions where flying is concerned. These include:
- Only flying within your visual line-of-sight
- Not flying the drone over traffic or crowds
- Giving right-of-way to manned aircraft
- Not piloting more than one drone at a time
- And more
With drone photography constantly evolving and growing in popularity, the rules continue to be revised as necessary.
Acquiring a commercial drone license means you’ll have to follow a few steps, spend some money, and wait for your license to clear.
What Qualifies as Corporate Drone Use?
Any drone operations that are used to advance your business (corporate videos, for example) or result in monetary compensation will require a commercial drone pilot’s license.
The FAA requires anyone flying a drone to identify the intent of the drone operations before taking off.
This means you can’t fly a drone over your corporation under the guise of a recreational flight and then later use the photography when you’re ready to make your video. Nor can you use the drone video on your social media to promote your business.
In fact, the civil penalties for flying a drone without obtaining a license from the FAA are up to $32,666 per incident and charged per day for continued illegal use.
You may also face criminal sanctions by the FAA, including a fine of up to $250,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to three years.
So, as tempting as it may be to get your drone up for a quick aerial video, it’s never worth doing without first obtaining your remote pilot’s certificate.
Who Is Eligible To Become a Drone Pilot?
As per the FAA, to become a first-time drone pilot, you must:
- Be at least 16 years old
- Be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
- Be in a physical and mental condition to safely fly a drone
- Pass the initial aeronautical knowledge exam: “Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG)”
- Be easily accessible by the remote pilot during all UAS operations
- Complete an online recurrent training every 24 calendar months to maintain aeronautical knowledge recency
How Do You Get an FAA License for Corporate Drone Use?
If eligible, to apply for your drone pilot license (Part 107 certificate) you must first create a profile on the FAA website, complete a multiple-choice exam, and pay the licensing fee.
The FAA offers a two-hour training course and study guide you can use in advance of your exam. The test must be taken at a Knowledge Testing Center and you need to score 70% or above to pass.
Once you’ve passed the test (results are typically posted within 48 hours), you can complete your drone license application, including a TSA background check.
If everything goes well, you’ll be issued your remote pilot’s (Part 107) license. A temporary license can be printed while you await your official license in the mail.
If this is starting to sound like too much of a hassle, you might consider hiring a professional drone photographer for your corporate videos.
At Houston Drone Video, we specialize in corporate videos using advanced aerial drone photography to give your video the visual effect you’re looking for.
We’re not just videographers. We are marketing strategists. Our expertise and experience will bring you a video that generates leads and improves your CTR — all while delivering your authentic message. Call us for more information.
How Much Does a Drone License Cost?
Part 107 license fees are as follows:
- Exam fee – $175
- Additional study course – $150
- FAA drone registration – $5
Your license can be renewed for free every 24 months, and registration fees must be renewed every three years.
Another cost that should be factored in is drone insurance. Not only are drones expensive to buy and replace, but as a professional drone pilot, you’ll want to have liability insurance.
Drones can be insured annually, or by the day, and insurance plans vary depending on your intended use and type of drone. Annually, the average cost of insurance is $500, whereas daily insurance usually runs about $30/day.
Why You Need to Register and Insure Your Drone
This is where things can get a little tricky.
Registration is required by the FAA for any drones weighing 0.55 lbs or more. You can register your drone on the FAA website, and you’ll need to provide:
- Physical address and mailing address (if different from physical address)
- Email address
- Phone number
- Make and model of your drone
- Specific Remote ID serial number provided by the manufacturer (if applicable)
- Credit or debit card
Unregistered drones may be subject to criminal and civil penalties.
Commercial drones are not covered by your personal or business insurance policies. Any drone being used for business purposes must be insured for liability in case of an accident or lawsuit.
From pilot error to equipment failure, accidents can happen. Your drone could crash, causing harm to a person or damage to property. Another risk drone operators face is the possibility that someone thinks you’re spying on them and they sue you for invasion of privacy.
Houston Drone Video: Why It’s Better To Hire an Experienced Drone Pilot for Your Corporate Videos
With all the complications and hassles that come with licensing, registering, and insuring a drone — never mind the cost of the drone, itself — does creating your own drone video really seem worth it?
Since most corporations will only use aerial videography for the occasional promotional or corporate video, there’s not much ROI in becoming or hiring an in-house professional drone pilot.
Hiring an experienced, licensed, and insured drone pilot can save you time, money, and most of all, your sanity.
Houston Drone Video offers professional drone services to corporations looking for eye-catching videos that align with your marketing and channel growth.
For more information about the benefits of corporate drone videos and how Houston Drone Video can help create a high-performing video for your business, contact us today.
RECIPIENT OF MULTIPLE NATIONAL MARKETING & ADVERTING AWARDS FOR VIDEOS GENERATING HIGH SALES CONVERSION. HE LOVES COOKING, LOVES TINKERING WITH TECH, AND LOVES BEING A DAD.
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