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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1176476
There's no question about it. Flying drones can be a great hobby. There's the challenge of developing your flight skills and the rewards of collecting some great photos and videos, and having a lot of fun in the process. But what if you want to take things further than flying for the pure joy of it? Well, the Federal Aviation Administration has something to say about that: if you're flying a drone that's heavier than a half pound and doing anything that's not purely recreational, taking photos of a friend's house for them, for example, they say that you need a commercial pilot's license. It sounds draconian, but if you fly through a closed window or worse, one of their kids, there may be some liability issues. What's more likely is that piloting a drone turns into a skill you can use in your work. The ability to fly a drone can open up a lot of opportunities that may not be there if you were "just" a photographer, videographer, firefighter, linesman, or any one of a long list of jobs now using drones. That's the Ticket Getting a commercial drone operator's license (see box What's in a Name?) does require a bit of time and money (the testing fee is $150), but it's well worth it. At the very least, it qualifies you for liability insurance that can be important for clients (or that neighbor). It also will let you market yourself as certified pro. You'll often see the license referred to as a Part 107 license, referring to the set of FAA regulations governing drone operation. As an industry, the drone business moved a lot faster than the FAA could keep up with. As a result the licensing process is based on a subset their private pilot's written exam. The good news is that there's lots of material to help you study, the bad news is that some of the test questions may leave you wondering just what that has to do with flying a drone. And unlike a private pilot's ticket, it's only a written exam. There's no check ride but you do need to renew your license by taking another, shorter, test every two years. Before getting into some of the kinds of things you'll need to know, which can sound a little intimidating, let's talk about some of the best ways to learn them. You'll save yourself a lot of time and possibly stress if you can find a good class. They often pop up as part of local community education programs. Make sure it is focused on taking your Part 107 exam and not just a general introduction to drones. We found that sixteen hours of focused and fast-moving class time should prepare you fairly well, though we'd recommend some studying outside of that. You can probably get a passing grade by studying on your own, but with a live instructor, you'll often get a healthy dose of experience with the barrage of facts.