Beware of Using Drones in Real Estate
The US Aviation Safety Board has ruled that the FAA can apply its rule of “reckless or careless use” when it comes to drones. It had been an issue under which entity the drones may fall under, would it be the National Transportation or the FAA. Well since it technically is an aircraft, the FAA has jurisdiction at this point. The definition of an aircraft is pretty broad as “any devise used for flight in air”. This definition also would include manned or even un-manned aircraft.
The FAA has passed regulations preventing commercial operators from using drones. So would be realtors, private parties, and others using drones for commercial purposes. The only ones that have been allowed to continue flying are 2 Alaska oil companies and 7 aerial photography companies associated with the movie industry. Those companies though have also been given pretty tight restrictions to follow, and get this, any drone operator must have a FAA issued pilot’s license. Yup, just like a manned aircraft.
There has been literally millions of drones/un manned aircraft sold recently. I can say that I myself bought about 7 of these over the last 3 years for myself and my kids. Mostly they are inside helicopters, but all the same they are considered “aircraft”. Once or twice I may have ventured outside and messed around with one, and crash landed- must I now report this?
My short point was to pass along information to my real estate community on the use of drones. At this point it appears we CAN NOT use drones for any aerial photography. Doing so will likely or potentially result in a fine, and fine for the “reckless or careless use” can run $10,000.
I guess when it comes to aerial photography at this point the sky is not the limit, that ceiling is a good bit lower. I would have used an aerial photo, but I wouldn't want to get in trouble.
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