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One thing I mention often when advertising my services is that I am FAA Part 107 Licensed. What does that mean? It means that I took the time to get properly trained on how to safely share the skies with other aircraft. I also possess the knowledge that can keep those on the ground safe as well. Not only did I seek out this training, but I have passed a stringent exam prepared by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prove that knowledge. In other words, putting a drone up in the air is something I take seriously!

The FAA has also made it abundantly clear that those flying their drones commercially are required to hold a Part 107 Certification. Quite honestly, I think anyone flying a drone should at least go through the materials covered in a Part 107 class. Ok, we’ll exclude Little Jimmy down the street and his $5 plastic UFO. However, any drone capable of reaching any significant altitude qualifies. It simply makes everyone operate more safely. Unfortunately, the operators that end up giving drones a bad reputation are those who have zero clue of what the actual rules are. Case in point, the person who decided to use his drone to get up close and personal to the Blue Angels fly-over in Detroit. Duh!

FAA Targets YouTuber

Like many others, I enjoy watching a wide variety of videos on YouTube. I see drone shots used more often these days and always wonder if that YouTuber is Part 107 Certified. Well apparently the FAA has been doing the same thing and has started coming down hard on those who haven’t gone through the work of earning their license. Most recently, the FAA fined a YouTuber from Philly named Mikey a total of $182,004 for a total of 123 infractions. According to Drone XL, these were for drone videos streamed from December 2019 through August of this year.

According to the same article, initial conversations with lawyers have indicated that it would cost $10,000 to get any lawyer to look at this case and his legal fees could climb to $100,000. That’s even before a potential settlement! Apparently, Mikey considers himself a recreational operator. Although this doesn’t exclude him from following the established drone rules (which is why I believe everyone should at least review the Part 107 materials), it could shed some of those fines for flying without a Part 107 license. HOWEVER…based on what I’ve read, Mikey’s channel is monetized and he does receive something for the ads on his channel. Folks, as I was told when I started my adventure into flying drones, “it doesn’t matter if someone gives you $1 or $10,000; buys you lunch or gives you a soda. If you get anything in return for flying your drone, you are flying commercially…period.”

Let’s Work Together

Many lucky boys and girls will find a drone under the Christmas tree this year. If you’re one of those lucky ones, please take some advice from me. Read through the rules for safe flying and perhaps take a practice Part 107 test to see what areas you’d need to research. Let’s work together to keep everyone in the air and on the ground safe.

For those looking to have aerial photos or videos captured for whatever you have going on, make sure to hire someone with a Part 107 FAA license. It will cost you a few bucks and perhaps your profit margin may not be as large. However, do you really want to run the risk of getting a $182,004 invoice from the FAA?

Looking for a licensed and insured drone operator? I’d love to hear from you! http://endeavoruas.com/contact/

Although aerial photos can certainly provide great memories of your special event, why not take it to the next level and utilize aerial video to REALLY save that memory! Endeavor UAS did that for Grace Student Ministries in Romeo, Michigan. We were invited to capture their summer event and suggested video in addition to aerial photos. Check out the results!

What an awesome day to shoot photos for Serra Buick/GMC/Cadillac dealership in Washington, MI. Endeavor UAS was able to provide them with some beautiful photos of their property, individual aerial photos of each building, and some unique views that only aerial photos can provide!  Here are just some of the awesome photos we captured!

Due to the global pandemic, Shepherd’s Gate Lutheran Church in Shelby Twp, Michigan followed the other area houses of worship by closing its doors to attendees in March 2020. After several months of offering online only services, Shepherd’s Gate hosted it’s first ever outdoor service on Sunday, June 14th, 2020 and they asked Endeavor UAS to be there. Endeavor provided both aerial photography and video services for this extra special event. Our professional drone pilots were able to capture the event safely and, most importantly, without disrupting the service.

We thank Shepherd’s Gate Lutheran Church for entrusting such a special occasion to Endeavor UAS. 

The line between recreational drone users and commercial drone users

For starters, drone operations fall under the FAA’s jurisdiction. All local authorities can certainly pass ordinances that impact drone operators, the FAA sets up the parameters the set the line between recreational drone use and commercial drone use. So, according to the FAA, “drones that weigh more than 0.55 pounds must be registered.” That’s regardless of whether you plan on flying it around the house or the intent is commercial use. However, the FAA has specific rules that recreational operators must follow.

• Follow the safety guidelines of a model aircraft community-based organization.
• Fly at or below 400 feet when in uncontrolled airspace (Class G).
• Fly within visual line-of-sight, meaning you as the drone operator use your own eyes and needed contacts or glasses (without binoculars), to ensure you can see your drone at all times.
• Never fly near other aircraft.
• Never fly over groups of people, public events, or stadiums full of people.
• Never fly near or over emergency response efforts.

If you have your own drone, you’re following those rules, and you’re flying it just for fun…enjoy your hobby! However, the moment you use your drone for any type of compensation or professional benefit, you are flying for commercial purposes. That includes any amount of money, trade, benefit to your own business, or even a candy bar. From that point on, an entirely new set of rules apply to that flight and how you operate that drone.

What happens if you’re caught illegally flying commercial flights?

So what happens to an unlicensed pilot if they’re caught? Well, drone accidents are investigated by the FAA. An unlicensed pilot will be fined between $1,000 and $32,666 per flight or incidence depending on the situation. Those fines could climb higher and be combined with jail time if an investigation finds that the user was operating unsafely.

The company that hired the operator isn’t off the hook either. They could be fined $11,000 per instance for hiring an unlicensed pilot. There have been a few instances of significant civil penalties being applied. One company, SkyPan International in Chicago, had to pay a substantial fine. On October 6, 2015, the company was charged with the civil penalties of $1.9 million by the FAA for flying unregistered drones over restricted areas in illegal ways. The company eventually settled the case with the FAA by paying a $250,000 fine.

AND, if you have the drone and operate it illegally for your own business, you will be responsible for both fines!

Since most companies don’t have the time, man power or know how to deal with the FAA regulations and the testing required to stay on the right side of the law, it’s a smart choice to hire a professional certified & insured UAS drone operator. Once you have made the decision to hire a professional licensed UAV drone pilot, review their work and always ask to see their license. Statistically, over 1.3 million drones have been registered with the FAA but to date, only 116,000 pilots have received certificates from the FAA since the small drone rule went into effect in August of 2016. This means that only 10% of the drones out there are actually able to fly for commercial use.