FAA rules you need to know BEFORE flying a drone

Drones have been one of the most popular Christmas gifts for kids and adults for several years now, mainly because the technology has evolved so much over the past couple of years, that you can now find drones with various capabilities in price ranges from $40+. And let’s face it, it is fun to have a flying camera to play around with!

So, you got a drone as a gift for Christmas or your birthday? Now what? Of course, your first instinct is to take it out of a box to try it around your house or at a local park as soon as possible, but you should learn a couple of things before taking it out for a spin if you don’t want to get into ‘hot water’ with FAA, law enforcement, or even your neighbors!

What you need to know before flying your new drone

1. Understand FAA regulations: Fly Responsibly 

Drones are legally defined as aircraft, so their operations are subject to regulation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).   You should be aware of the basic rules of safe drone operations: The FAA restricts flying your drone to altitudes of 400’ (above the ground) or less, cannot fly over people or traffic, and cannot interfere with traffic patterns of takeoff and landing areas, if near an airport. All of this basic safety information is now covered in study materials for a TRUST (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) Test, which is now a required test for all recreational (hobbyist) drone flyers. This regulation came out in June 2021, and you have to carry a certificate that you passed the test if you are flying the drone recreationally. You can learn more about this test on our Trust Test blog post or watch a YouTube Vlog about it.

2. Drone Registration: You Have To Have It

If you have a drone that weighs more than 0.55lbs, you will need to register it here

3. Airspace Authorization: Apply As Needed

If you live near a major airport or a restricted military area, you are most likely in controlled airspace, and you should check that before flying your drone even in your backyard.

Generally, you need to know what type of National Airspace (NAS) you intend to fly in before launching the drone. you can read my detailed post on this here, and if you are in controlled airspace, you will need to apply for FAA authorization (you can watch my detailed YouTube Vlog on how to do it).

5. Operate Your Drone Within the Visual Line of Sight

Keep your drone within visual line of sight at all times. Meaning, you have to be able to see your drone at all times. Otherwise, you are in the “Beyond Visual Line of Site” mode of operation and you need to have a special permit from the FAA to do so. So, if you don’t see it, you are not compliant with this regulation.

6. Flying your drone at night

Do not fly at night unless your drone has special lighting that allows you to know its location and orientation at all times.

7. Drone License: Do you need it?

You will need to obtain FAA Part 107 Certification if you want to legally sell drone services or any media (photos, videos) generated by your drone. V1DroneMedia offers a variety of Drone Training classes, including the Part 107 Drone License Prep Course in the Cleveland, Ohio area. You can also learn more about getting an FAA Part 107 Certification here. If you intend to operate your drone as a hobbyist only, you will not need a Part 107 license, but you will still need to get the Trust Certificate, which is free and only takes a short time to get.

8.  What NOT to do when flying a drone.

• Never interfere with emergency response activities such as disaster relief, any type of accident response law enforcement activities, firefighting, or hurricane recovery efforts

• Never fly over any persons or moving vehicles

• Do not operate your drone carelessly or recklessly

Now that you know a bit about the rules, are you ready to fly? If you feel like you need some guidance in getting started to fly your drone or want to learn more advanced skills, check out our Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions that we hold in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, and Contact Us to get started. Have fun and fly safely!

How to Build a Business Case to Use Drones in Your Construction, Engineering, or Architecture Operations

So, you've heard and read that drones are being increasingly used in the construction industry to realize multiple benefits: they are utilized to complete some tasks in commercial real estate development and construction workflows faster, cheaper, safer, and in many cases, more accurate than using traditional methods. The latest construction industry reports show that drone use cases in construction are expanding, and the number of flights is increasing.

At this point, you may be already convinced that bringing drones, or at least testing the inclusion of drones in your operations is the right thing to do. The main problem you are facing is that you know that trying this technology will take additional resource allocation from your organization (it may be time, budget, manpower, or all the above). And if you don't control any of these resources but see the opportunity and are eager to bring this to your managers, you will need to build a business case and present it to your superiors.

At the end of the day, you also want to keep yourself relevant and further your career in your organization or even create a new position job for yourself, so proposing using cutting-edge technology to make your company's operations more efficient will promote your reputation as forward-thinking and innovative. If you do control the decision-making and resources in your organization, you can contact V1DroneMedia today, and we can help you find the right drone solution and help incorporate drones into your operations.

Building a business case

steps on how to build a business case to incorporate drones into your operations:

1.   Understand the gaps that your organization must fill to build up this capability. They are:

·   Knowledge of national airspace regulations to gauge your ability to fly at any given site (resource allocation and cost – can be a drone pilot or drone operations manager)

·   Part 107 licensed staff or contractors that can legally and skillfully operate drones to accomplish required tasks (staff allocation and training cost, or cost to hire pilots)

·   Purchase drones that are suitable for your use cases (know-how and the cost)

·   Drone equipment maintenance (know-how and the cost)

·   Purchase Drone Insurance (unless your pilot contractors have it and can add your organization as an additional insured)

·   Establish Drone Operating procedures on work sites

·   Photogrammetry software (cost to purchase, human resources, and the know-how to process the data)

2.  Establish use cases in current workflows that can bring value to your organization and translate them into cost savings, a competitive advantage, new added value, or other benefits.

See our blog posts Photogrammetry, Top 4 Drone Uses in Construction, Drone Use in Construction Marketing, Drone Mapping: Unleashing the Full Potential of Aerial Data, What is Drone Mapping, and Drone Mapping Advantages vs. Conventional Mapping Methods for information on a variety of ways to incorporate drones into your operations. Benefits of these use cases include, but are not limited to:

·   Saving time in accomplishing tasks faster (translate that into saving $ as well)

·   Providing more accurate data for some use cases (translate into $ savings)

·   Potential for safety increase (can be one of the organizational goals, or translate it into insurance savings, or other $)

·   Add new value to your operations (translate that into a new product/service offering as a new stream of revenue, new customer benefit to differentiate you from the competition, etc.)

3.   Establish a budget range and other resources (like labor) necessary to acquire this capability.

You will also have to decide if you want to grow this capability from within, or outsource the data gathering and processing – i.e. Make or Buy decision)

4.   Run financial analysis with multi-year scenarios to show the Return on the Investment (ROI) of implementing drone technology into your workflows

5.   Develop a business case presentation that includes:

·   Industry trends with drone adoption data

·   Case studies of organizations that have adopted this technology (for example, see the article Ohio Department of Transportation Makes a Good Case for Their Drone ROI)

·   Pros/cons of not adopting drones

·   Outline your plan to build this capability for your organization

1.   How your organization will use the drones

2.   How drones will incorporate into workflows

3.   What resource investment is required (budget and timeline for labor, hardware, software, insurance, etc.)

4.   Financials with ROI. If you didn't have a financial professional from your workplace develop this model, make sure you can explain your assumptions. I recommend bringing a trusted finance team member on board to help you make the business case with concrete numbers

5.   Present risks of adopting drones into your organization and plans to mitigate them

6.   Finally, present your business case to your decision-makers.

Present your drone use business case

We hope you found this step-by-step guide on building a business case to include drones in your operations valuable.

V1DroneMedia is a Cleveland-based drone services company that was founded by an airline pilot with a background in remote control aviation and electrical engineering, and a marketing professional who has a couple of decades of experience in developing and pitching business cases to leadership (read more about V1DroneMedia here).

If you are looking for a consultant to help you include drones into your operation, help you train your employees to fly drones, build a business case, or are looking to outsource drone flying to a reputable company, contact us today, and learn more about our AEC Drone Services.

V1DroneMedia Drone Classes

V1DroneMedia offers a set of drone classes that V1DroneMedia’s Chief Drone Pilot (Jason Damman) developed and teaches regularly through local Cleveland community colleges and on-demand for individuals or organizations. Each class is geared toward a specific type of ‘drone’ knowledge need the students or organization is looking for, and we can develop custom classes by request.

Curious about the drone industry?

If you have heard of drones but are not sure how you can take advantage of this innovative technology, would like to learn about it, what it takes to work with drones legally, and what careers are available in the industries that are using drones, our 3-hour Introduction to Drones Class is for you!

What you will learn may spark an interest in a new career, or hobby, or inspire you to use the drone as a tool in your current job and will help you understand what to do if you want to get started. Since this is an in-person class with a drone industry professional, you will also have the ability to ask questions.

Want to learn to fly a drone with expert guidance?

Whether you are a drone hobbyist or an aspiring commercial drone pilot, the essential part of your drone training should be learning to fly the drone. That means being comfortable with operating the drone apps (such as DJI, Litchi, etc.), performing takeoffs and landings, learning to maintain and calibrate the drone, performing routine flight maneuvers, operate the camera to take pictures and video.

We have designed the Drone Operations Class to address this need for anyone who’s never touched a drone, and for those who know their way around a little, but don’t have the full confidence in operating it and want to advance their knowledge and skills.

This class consists of a 3-hour in-class portion that will introduce you to drone apps, how to calibrate, and maintain a drone, design a pre-and post-flight checklist, and introduce you to intelligent flight modes. The outdoor 3-hour portion will allow you to practice this knowledge with the guided expertise of a seasoned drone pilot.

We also have private 2-hour Hands-on Drone Flying Lessons that include only outside flying with hands-on practice, if you just want to practice flying.

While this class will equip you with the ‘know-how’ to operate a drone, it will be up to you to practice and hone your flight skills. That takes time and dedication, but it can pay off. Drone pilots are in demand in a variety of industries (as you can learn from us by taking our Intro to Drones class or watching the Drones for Business Webinar recording), and that demand is growing. A Drone pilot’s hourly pay rate can range from $50 - $250 or even more, depending on their skill set, experience, and the type of work they are doing.

Decided to get your commercial drone pilot (aka FAA Part 107) license?

You will need to get FAA Part 107 license if you intend to use drones for commercial purposes. That means even if you take aerial photographs to market your friend’s real estate listing, or if you want to do a flyover of a building for a roof or home inspection, regardless of the size and weight of the drone. Read my Drone Pilot License blog post for more details on this topic.

If you have decided to take the Part 107 Test, you will need to study FAA Part 107 Knowledge Test Materials and take the Part 107 Test which is similar to a private pilot test in the amount of knowledge covered. It costs $175 to take the test, so having proper preparation is important. You don’t want to have to spend that money again.

Our 2-day in-person FAA Part 107 License Prep Class breaks down the FAA prep materials (they are quite dense and full of aviation lingo) into easy-to-digest concepts for anyone. We cover only the information that is needed to pass the test and operate your unmanned aircraft safely. You will also receive additional resources such as materials to study and access to practice tests.

After that it will be up to you to study, take practice tests, and, when you feel confident enough, schedule and take the Part 107 test in a testing center.

Drone Classes Sign-up

If you’d like to stay up to date on our drone class dates and times, Sign Up to be notified when they get scheduled, and check out our Events page to register for upcoming drone classes.

Custom Drone Training for Organizations

If your organization wants to train its employees, we can design courses that suit your needs. Contact us for a consultation!

Ohio Drone Laws

As a commercial drone services provider located in Cleveland, Ohio, we know a thing or two about flying in this state. One of the questions we get asked often is whether you can fly at a specific location in Cleveland. See our blog post Where to Fly Drones in Cleveland for that information.

Drone flights in Ohio are subject to FAA regulations for operating in the national airspace. Some municipalities are enacting their own ordinances for drone use, but these should only apply to launching and landing locations, as local municipalities don't control airspace. We recommend checking your city/county for any such drone restrictions.

FAA Part 107 Regulations

Under FAA regulations you must have either a TRUST Test Certificate (for hobbyists) or a Part 107 Drone License Certificate (for commercial drone pilots) to fly drones in Ohio. We offer Part 107 Prep classes locally as a 2-day in-person class that prepares anyone to take and pass the test. See our event schedule for the next available class and read our student testimonials (over 95% of students pass the Part 107 Test after taking our classes!).

Are There Drone Flight Restrictions in Ohio?

It all depends on what type of airspace you intend to fly in (Class B, C, D, E). You may have to apply for FAA authorization to fly your drone in a certain area, see our blog post Where Can I Fly My Drone for more detailed information and tutorial on how to do this through LAANC.

In addition, you cannot fly over moving traffic, over people, or during any sporting event where there is a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) in place.  A TFR is typically active for all open-air stadium NFL and MLB games from one hour prior to the game start to one hour after the game ends. These rules do get enforced, see this article about drone pilots pleading guilty to illegal Ohio stadium flights in 2023.

Can You Fly a Drone in Ohio State Parks and Cleveland Metroparks?

As a rule of thumb, national parks do not allow drone use on their properties. Some Metroparks have enacted the same ordinance, so you should check with the specific Metropark system. There are several designated areas where you can fly your drone in the Cleveland Metroparks, see details in their Drone Policy.

Municipal parks don't have the same restrictions usually but check with the specific park and municipality before flying your drone.

Drone Registration

If you want to fly your drone in Ohio (and anywhere else in the United States), you are required to register your drone if it is 0.55 lbs or larger if you fly as a hobbyist, and all drones (regardless of weight) if you operate commercially (under Part 107). You can register your drone on the FAA DroneZone website. The cost for registration is $5 and is valid for three years.

So, if you have checked off all necessary registrations, FAA Airspace Authorizations, and hold an appropriate FAA certificate, you are ready to fly. Now to the fun part, where can you fly your drone in Ohio? We've compiled some of our favorite locations in Cleveland where we frequently fly, see them in the Where to Fly Your Drone in Cleveland blog post.

Why hands-on drone flight training is important for drone pilots

As a new year begins, many of us are making New Year resolutions. V1DroneMedia's resolution is to bring the most up-to-date and simple-to-understand drone knowledge to you: information about drone regulations, drone industry, equipment capabilities, flight skills, and other drone information to those interested in learning more about drone technology and getting started in flying drones safely and legally.

A lot of drone pilot schools are focused on education and compliance with the FAA drone laws and regulations and getting the Part 107 Remote Pilot License. And this IS where you should start your drone journey if you are thinking about getting a drone or just purchased one because you want to be aware of where and how to operate your drone safely and legally, avoid any negative law enforcement or 'well-wisher' attention, and can intelligently answer any questions about how and where you can legally fly.  We have covered all these subjects in our blog post A Beginner's Guide To Drones and have regularly scheduled Drone Training Courses that you can attend to learn this information and get ready for the FAA Part 107 Drone Certification Test.

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot teaching Traffic Patterns during an FAA Part 107 Drone License Prep Course

However, learning safe drone operations or procuring your Part 107 Drone Pilot Certificate is only a starting point (one should walk before they run). The essential part of your drone training should be getting hands-on time flying the drone. That means being comfortable with operating the drone apps (such as DJI, Litchi, etc.), performing takeoffs and landings, learning to maintain and calibrate the drone, performing routine flight maneuvers, operate the camera to take pictures and video. These skills cannot be taught in a classroom, and you need them to fly the drone proficiently if you are serious about becoming a drone pilot. You must get out there and learn to fly your drone, just like manned aviation pilots spend hours flying in a simulator or with an instructor before flying on their own (I spent hours and days in simulator sessions during my training as a commercial pilot, and had to do recurrent training every year in a simulator as well).

While flying a drone doesn't come with the liability of flying an aircraft worth millions of dollars with people on board, it is still very important to understand the systems that make a drone work and be proficient with your equipment to ensure safe operation.

A drone is usually needed to shoot an aerial photo or video of a certain subject matter or an object on the ground or even high up in the air, and you need to have skills to fly the drone to focus on a subject, position the camera of the drone to shoot video or photo from different angles while flying around the subject, maybe even track the subject and shoot continuous video or photographs.

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot with students during a drone flight session

Many of these flight maneuvers are built into intelligent flight modes in the apps nowadays, but you would still need to know how the different intelligent flight modes work and become proficient at setting them up and incorporating them into your workflow (if needed). Learning to fly in a manual mode is also very important and can be beneficial in many situations – especially if you would have to manually take control of the aircraft for any reason.

To help fill the gap in hands-on drone flight experience for aspiring drone pilots V1DroneMedia is now offering Drone Operations classes with both classroom and outdoor time for learning the drone apps, flying procedures and hands-on time, and Hands-on Flying Sessions for individuals and groups tailored to individuals' skill levels and goals. If one of your resolutions this year is to explore a drone as a hobby, learn to fly a drone proficiently, or learn advanced drone flying skills to further your drone industry career goals, Contact Us to schedule your session today! And get on an e-mail list to stay informed about our group class schedules.

Get your drone license training for free in Ohio with TechCred!

Technology is constantly changing the nature of work, and nowadays even more so in non-technology-focused industries. Drone technology is one of those technologies, as it is disrupting established industries like surveying, construction, real estate, land development, asset management, telecommunications, and is being used as a new tool in disaster response, police, firefighting, agriculture, forestry, wildlife management, insurance, media, and many others. You can read about the current state of the Drone Industry and its development in this 2021 Drone Market Report Snapshot.

Why are these industries using drones?

1. Drones made aerial videography and photography more affordable to use in TV, Film, marketing, and advertising.

2. Drone technology enables more efficient operations through cost-cutting, project transparency, and site visualization for improved communication.

3. Drones improve the safety aspect of operations: for example, not having to have people climb facades of the buildings, cranes, or cell phone towers as much, and assess the crime or a disaster scene for response planning without putting first responders in danger – this can be achieved with a drone!

4. Drones can also uncover new value for businesses when they find a way to use a drone in innovative ways: for example, in forestry, it is a new way to assess the health of a forest/vegetation area – you can even count the trees when the collected visual data is processed through photogrammetry software! In package delivery, drones may solve last-mile delivery challenges and can access remote or dangerous locations. And there are many more use cases to come as the drone industry is experimenting and implementing them in their workflows!

So, is your business ready to embrace this new technology to stay competitive and realize potential benefits? Is your workforce ready to use these new tools?

Investing capital and people resources into learning and implementing new technology at a workplace can be costly, however, not investing can cost a business more (or even put them out of business) if it doesn't embrace a technology that is being rapidly implemented in their industry.

The good news is that in Ohio the state government is committed to helping local workers and employers to get the new technical skills they need in order to stay competitive in this technology-driven reality. The state of Ohio has established the TechCred program that helps Ohioans learn new skills and help employers build a stronger workforce with the skills in a tech-infused economy by reimbursing them for the training.  

TechCred is a program for Ohio employers that have identified new technology skills needed for employees, and if that technical skill is on the approved TechCred ‘credential’ list, they can nominate employees to go through the training to learn this skill. Once the employee is enrolled in a listed technology ‘credential’ short-term course with a credential provider they can either earn a technology certificate through taking the course or pass a standardized test with a certification after completing the course. After the employee has ‘earned’ the credential, the employer will get reimbursed for the cost of the employee training in the course.

And yes, drone skills are on that 'credential' list as FAA Drone Technology UAS! So, if you think your employer can benefit from you learning drone skills and getting trained to become a certified drone pilot by taking and passing the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test (you can read more about this license in our Drone Pilot License blog post), you should bring this program to their attention and encourage them to apply on your behalf!

How much does it cost to earn the Drone Pilot License? Through TechCred you would have to take a course that would run $499-$1000 (the cost of this course can get reimbursed to the employer by the TechCred program), plus the cost of the test itself, which is currently $175 (you have to pay it every time you take it, so it is worth to take a course and study to ensure passing the test).

Once you earn your commercial drone pilot license your value to the employer may increase and you can even use this credential to help with finding employment in the future. 

Or, if you are an employer (manager) in an industry that is rapidly embracing drone technology (watch our Drones for Business Information Webinar - video below - to learn more about drone uses in various industries), you can identify employees who would be a good fit to earn their drone pilot license and enroll them in an appropriate course that gets them ready to fly drones and pass the FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License Test.  

Drone Applications For Businesses - Pre-recorded Informational Webinar

V1DroneMedia’s Chief Pilot Jason Damman (you can read his bio on the About page) has been teaching first responders to fly drones in the Cleveland area for the last 4 years and recently started teaching the same course at the Lorain County Community College, which is on the credential list as the FAA Drone Technology UAS credential provider through TechCred. Check out our Drone Training and Events page for the upcoming training to enroll yourself or your employees, sign-up for e-mail notifications about classes, and check out our TechCred page to learn what courses we provide through the Ohio TechCred program to get acquainted with how it works and to get started with your application to get reimbursed!

Where you can get trained to fly drones in Cleveland, Ohio

V1DroneMedia gets frequent questions and inquiries about getting certified to fly drones or learning how to fly them proficiently. We’ve also met quite a few people who fly drones illegally around Cleveland (aka without FAA Part 107 Drone License), or not flying them in compliance with the FAA Drone Regulations.

We know that demand for consumer and commercial drones is soaring, as is the drone use in many industries, but few people know where to turn for credible information and training. So, we’ve put together this guide on available Drone Training in Cleveland, Ohio.

There are several options in the Cleveland area for drone training, both in-person and hands-on drone flight training,  available for those interested to learn to fly drones proficiently, getting their drone FAA Part 107 certification that enables them to fly commercially, and learning about innovative drone technology applications in various industries.

Accredited degree programs in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones) in Cleveland, Ohio

If you are looking for a traditional undergraduate program, Kent State University is known for its aviation programs, and it offers an undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics with the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Operations concentration. Kent State also offers an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Minor for those enrolled in its undergraduate program.

However, you don’t need to get a degree in drones to fly drones (especially if you already have a degree and are just looking to get your drone license). Flying drones is a skill that can be learned if you invest some time into learning to fly while studying the FAA rules and regulations so you are doing it safely and responsibly, and then schedule and pass the Part 107 Drone License Test (see our blog post Drone Pilot License for more details on that). There are several drone training options in the Cleveland area as well if you are looking for an in-person class where you can acquire drone skills.

Non-degree Drone Training Courses in Cleveland, Ohio

There are several in-person training options for the Part 107 drone license in the Cleveland, Ohio, area.

Kent State has a UAV Training and Part 107 Testing course that does just that. It is scheduled throughout the year and doesn’t appear to always be available, so you must keep an eye out when it opens up.

Cuyahoga County Community College (Tri-C) offers FAA Part 107 drone training for law enforcement and other first responders at its Drone Academy, also offered throughout the year, where our Chief Pilot Jason Damman is the lead instructor on the FAA Part 107 Rules and Regulations and National Airspace.

V1DroneMedia also offers a variety of Drone Training Courses in the Cleveland area, with in-person courses offered through a partnership with Lorain County Community College, and custom-scheduled courses for organizations and individuals. V1DroneMedia also offers educational content through video resources on our Resources page and YouTube channel Drone Education playlist. Our Chief Pilot and Drone Instructor, Jason Damman, is a Certified Flight Instructor with an extensive commercial airline, flight, and drone training, and drone flying background (see About to learn more).

For starters, if you are curious about what you can do with a drone, watch our Free Drone Business Information Webinar outlining major drone use cases, industries that use them, and opportunities for growth in this field.

If you are ready to learn more about what it takes to get started in this field, schedule with us an Introduction to Drones Class geared toward drone hobbyists or aspiring commercial drone pilots. Or, if you are more serious and ready to try out a career in the field, take the Part 107 Drone Certificate Prep Course preparing anyone to take the Part 107 Test to earn a commercial drone pilot license.

V1DroneMedia Drone License Prep Class is a 2-day in-person class that takes place in a classroom. It covers everything one needs to learn to pass the FAA Part 107 test, including practice tests, access to class materials and additional resources, in-person connection with the instructor, and a private Facebook group community to stay in touch with the class participants and the instructor. The Part 107 Prep Class costs $499 (the fee does not include the test fee payable to one of the FAA-authorized testing centers where you schedule to take your test).

The benefit of taking the in-person class is that the instructor has simplified the complex and lengthy aviation lingo-heavy Part 107 study guide into easy-to-understand digestible content. This class has been taught before to many Cleveland-area students who successfully passed the Part 107 Test.

V1DroneMedia is also available to teach its custom FAA Part 107 Drone License training courses based on the curriculum we developed, can conduct group or 1:1 Flight Training sessions, and provide consultations on all drone-related matters, including setting up an internal Drone Operations Program for a business that is looking to build one.

We recently also started offering individual and small group Drone Operations Classes and Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions geared toward those who want to get started flying their drones with professional guidance or learn advanced flight skills.

If you are thinking about getting trained, but are not sure when you will be able to do it, Sign Up for an e-mail notification list to stay informed about V1DRoneMedia classes as they get scheduled

Online Drone Training

If you are good at following a self-paced YouTube, or another online course tool, there are many options out there. Google them, and you will find many, but it may take some time for you to make a decision on the one that’s right for you.

However, if you decide to go in this direction, you will still have to study the materials and take the test. The upside here can be lower cost (although not always), but the downside is that more often than none there isn’t any person to ask any questions for more information and clarification, and many of those programs can be very dense and full of aviator lingo (that we strip out in our courses, which give you only the essentials you need to know to fly and pass the test).

You can also access official FAA Study materials on the FAA website (very comprehensive, but hard to digest if you are a non-aviator).

What about the FAA Trust Test?

FAA recently released a mandatory Trust Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for recreational drone pilots (hobbyists). It is much more basic than the FAA Part 107 Drone License Test, and most of the information is laid out by the online accredited testing centers (you can learn more about Trust Test in our Trust Test blog post and YouTube video on this topic).  

So if you are ready to embark on your drone hobby or a career, check out the Drone Classes we offer, Sign up for class notifications, and Contact Us if you are interested in a consultation or a custom class.

FAA Trust Test for Drone Pilots Explained

There has been no requirement for recreational (or hobbyists, who solely fly for fun) to take any type of knowledge test to fly in the national airspace. Up until now, that is, with the FAA releasing a mandatory TRUST test for recreational drone flyers.

According to the FAA's website, there are roughly 871,000 drones now registered in the United States with over half of them being registered for recreational use, with many of those folks not investing any time in learning about FAA rules and regulations about safe drone flying.

So, we've put together a quick guideline on the newly released Aeronautical Knowledge and Safety Test for recreational drone flyers, known as the FAA Trust Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test). If you are better at learning through videos, you can also watch our YouTube video on this topic!

What is FAA Trust Test for Drone Flyers?

With all these drones now sharing the same airspace as manned aircraft, the FAA has released a mandatory knowledge test every recreational pilot legally needs to complete – The TRUST knowledge test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test), which provides essential information for anyone operating a drone so that they know how to safely and legally fly within the national airspace. As a side note – this also applies to model aircraft pilots, in general – NOT JUST DRONE PILOTS!

Who should take the FAA TRUST Test?

The FAA says that "anyone who operates their drone for fun or personal enjoyment purposes only." So, even if you already have a Part 107 certificate, you should still take the TRUST test if you plan to operate your drone recreationally or 'for fun.'

How hard is the Trust Test? Is it similar to the FAA Part 107 Drone License Test?

The TRUST test is very basic in comparison to what Part 107 drone pilots must know, and some of the items that recreational pilots will learn about and be tested on include: preflight inspections, aircraft registration, airspace classifications, TFR's (temporary flight restrictions), how to get airspace authorizations to fly in controlled airspace, among others.

How do I study for the Trust Test?

You can read through all the information you are tested on prior to taking the test through one of the FAA's approved test administrators.

Where do I take the Trust Test?

The TRUST test can be taken online through one of the FAA's approved test administrators which are listed on the FAA's website. You can use this FAA website link for access to all of the available Trust Test administrators available. There is NO CHARGE to take the test and, depending on your level of knowledge, could take anywhere from 15-45 minutes to complete.

Do I have to take the drone Trust test in the future to stay current?

Unlike Part 107 pilots, who must take recurrent training every two years to maintain the currency, the TRUST test need only be taken and passed ONCE – there is no need to take the test again once completed.

The caveat to that is, you must retain the certificate that you receive upon completion of the test. This certificate is the only documentation that you will receive showing that you have completed the TRUST test. Neither the test administrator nor the FAA will maintain personally identifiable information about the recreational flyer so it is not possible to re-print or re-issue your original certificate.

Why is it important to take and pass the drone Trust test?

The FAA and/or law enforcement can now ask recreational pilots to provide documentation showing that they have completed the TRUST test. The certificate received after completion of the test is the ONLY documentation that you have to prove that you have taken the test and are legal to fly as a recreational pilot.

How soon does the Trust test go into effect?

It is already in effect and has been since June 2021!

So, if you are a recreational pilot and have not yet completed the TRUST test you should do so before your next flight in order to be legal, as flying without the TRUST certificate of completion could get you into trouble.

I am sure a lot of people may think: what is the likelihood of that? Or, who is going to catch me – no one will know where I am flying, etc. One thing to think about is if an accident would occur with your drone or if you are caught flying in an area that you shouldn't be – especially if specifically mentioned in the TRUST test, there could be greater consequences for your actions when it is found that you haven't completed the required testing for recreational pilots. I know the chances of that may be slim, but when you consider how easy the FAA has made it to complete the (now mandatory) testing, there really shouldn't be any excuses to not take it.

Can I fly drones commercially after passing the Trust test?

Just so there is no confusion, as mentioned earlier, passing the TRUST test DOES NOT allow you to fly for commercial purposes – it is strictly for pilots wishing to fly their drone solely for recreational purposes, or 'for fun.' If you would like to become a commercial operator you will need to pass the FAA Part 107 knowledge test, which covers the topics included in the TRUST test along with many others much more in-depth – similar to what a private pilot knowledge exam would look like! You can learn more details in our Drone Pilot License blog post.

If you are a recreational drone pilot, you are now equipped with the knowledge of what you need to do. Good luck and happy flying!

FAA Part 107 Drone Pilot License

Do You Need a License (Certificate) to Fly a Drone?

Yes, you will need to get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate) if you intend to become a commercial drone operator (sell drone services or any media (photos, videos) you take while flying your drone, or flying the drone for your job at an organization your work).

There is some ignorance about drone rules and regulations out there, including the responsibilities one has when launching the drone into the air. This is perfectly understandable if you do not have an aviation background and haven't spent a lot of time scouring the internet looking for answers. We hope to clear this up for you.

Do I need to have a drone license if I am a hobbyist?

No, you don't need to have a drone license if you are flying as a hobbyist. However, in June of 2021, the FAA made it mandatory to pass the TRUST Test (The Recreational UAS Safety Test) for hobbyist pilots. They are also required to carry evidence of passing the test when they are flying their drone.

The TRUST Test gives an overview of the FAA regulations regarding drone registration and the basic rules of safe drone operations which every drone pilot (hobbyist or commercial) should know and comply with. You can read our detailed TRUST Test Blog Post or watch our Trust Test Vlog on YouTube (below):

You can also read more details on the registration and the flight rules in our Top 10 Things You Need To Know Before Flying Your New Drone post.

How do I get a drone license (FAA Part 107 Certificate)?

You can become an FAA-certified drone pilot by passing an aeronautical knowledge test (aka Part 107 Remote Pilot Test). You must be at least 16 years old to take the test, and you will need to study the materials that cover the topic areas that you will be tested on. They include regulations relating to small unmanned aircraft, airspace classifications, flight restrictions, aviation weather theory, emergency procedures, crew resource management, radio communication procedures, aeronautical decision-making, airport operations, maintenance, and preflight inspection procedures, among others.

Is there a drone school or a drone training program I can attend in the Cleveland, Ohio area?

There are several options for an in-person program in Cleveland to get your drone license or get an accredited degree in remote aviation. Check out our blog post A Guide To Drone Training In Cleveland, Ohio for more detailed information. V1DroneMedia also offers in-person regularly scheduled or on-demand custom drone instruction, you can check out our Drone Training page for more information and Sign-up for our Drone Training Newsletter with class announcements.

Where do I register and take the drone license test?

You can schedule your test online here, as well as obtain practice exams.

how much does a drone license cost?

It costs $175 to take the test and $5 to register each drone. This doesn’t count the investment of time into studying for the drone license test via taking an online or an in-person drone license prep class, and as we all know, time is money.

How do I become a drone pilot?

Whether you are going to apply for a drone license or not, becoming a drone pilot goes a lot further than simply having a drone license or a drone. The trick to any profession is mastery, and you will need to practice flying your drone to become a real pilot. So, practice, practice, practice!

If you are in the Cleveland, Ohio, area, I am available for 1:1 and small group in-person Hands-On Drone Flight Training sessions. I also teach FAA Pat 107 Drone License Prep Courses, which are regularly scheduled and can be found on Events or Drone Training pages. Sign up to be notified about new drone training classes as they get scheduled!

Contact me if you have an interest in kicking off your flight career with a professional airline and drone pilot with 25+ years of aviation experience. You can read more about me here. Good luck!

Where can I fly my drone?

I get this question all the time. Mostly when people see me fly my drone downtown Cleveland, Ohio, (and anywhere else). There is still a lot of confusion as to where you are legally allowed to fly.

There are 2 types of drone operators – hobbyists (recreational) and commercial operators (Part 107 license holders, like myself). As a reminder, drones are legally defined as aircraft, so their operations are subject to regulation by the FAA. This regulation applies to both recreational and commercial operations and ALL drone pilots are required to know the type of airspace they plan to fly in.

Commercial drone operators (with Part 107 certification) are required to learn and understand much more about operations within the NAS (National Airspace), and it is a major part of the FAA knowledge test for remote pilot certification. The same goes for the hobbyist drone pilots: as of 2021 they are required to take the TRUST test, preparation for which gives them basic information about the airspace types (see my TRUST test blog post for more information on that)

Types of United States National Airspace (NAS)

When planning a drone flight, you need to determine what type of airspace you are intending to fly in.  If it is controlled airspace (Class B, C, D, or certain areas of E) then you will need to get FAA authorization to fly in these areas.   Controlled airspace is typically found within 5 miles of an airport that has a control tower in operation. 

How can I check what type of airspace I am in?

There are several ways to check what type of airspace you are intending to fly in.  The easiest way is with an app that was developed in conjunction with the FAA, called B4UFLY. It provides drone pilots with a status indicator based on their current or planned location in relation to airspace restrictions. Of course, there may be additional restrictions, such as state and local regulations, that may not be shown on the app.

There are a variety of other apps available for drone pilots, including Airmap, UASidekick, and Aloft to name a few, which help determine the airspace type and the ability to request FAA flight authorizations through the app.

Uncontrolled airspace drone flight operations

As the name implies, you won’t need additional FAA authorization if you are in uncontrolled airspace. You are free to fly there, as long as you comply with basic drone operation rules (flying under 400’, not flying over people or traffic, and not interfering with traffic patterns of takeoff and landing areas, if near an airport).

How to get FAA Authorizations to fly in controlled airspace

If you’ve determined that you are going to be flying in controlled airspace (Class A, B, C, D, etc.) you must apply for an airspace authorization for altitudes below the posted UAS Facility Map grid altitudes (this applies to both recreational and commercial drone pilots)

You can get these authorizations through a variety of apps (mentioned above) that are LAANC (Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability) service providers, which were developed in collaboration with the FAA and the industry.

If you are unable to get authorization through the LAANC network, you will have to get authorization through the FAA DroneZone.

You can probably figure out where to go from here with the information and the links I provided, but if you want more detail and are more of a visual learner, I uploaded a video tutorial on getting drone flight authorizations through the LAANC and DroneZone on my V1DroneMedia YouTube channel.

Can I get an FAA Authorization through the DJI Fly Safe Website?

No, getting an FAA Authorization is a separate step from unlocking a DJI Fly Safe No Fly Geo Zone. I explain the difference and give the tutorial on how to unlock the DJI Fly Safe No Fly Zones in my What is DJI Fly Safe blog post.

Can I fly my drone downtown Cleveland?

If you are specifically looking to fly downtown Cleveland (since I am local, I will elaborate on this subject), you will most likely be flying in Class D (controlled) airspace. This controlled airspace exists due to Burke Lakefront airport being located in downtown Cleveland and encompasses a 5 miles radius around the airport.  You will need to check the LAANC system to determine if the specific spot you are looking to fly in is within that controlled airspace and if so, you will need to get an FAA authorization to fly there. Simple, right? 

Something else to be aware of when flying downtown Cleveland is the fact that there may be TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions) in effect – typically in effect if there is a Cleveland Indians game – TFR prohibits any drone flying during that time.

I have a few spots I tend to fly at often around Cleveland, and you can read my post Where To Fly Drones in Cleveland to learn where that is.

I hope you have a bit more clarity now about flying at your desired location. Comment here or on my YouTube video if you’ve found this helpful, and contact me if you have more questions or have a topic in mind that you’d like to learn more about. Have a safe flight!

Drone Pilot - Airline Pilot's Plan B During The Pandemic

My airline history and job status with the pandemic

My name is Jason Damman, and I am a 20-year captain with ExpressJet Airlines (doing business as United Express and Continental Express before the United and Continental merger). I know that many pilots, much like me, are sitting at home/not flying due to the COVID epidemic. Many of us are on company leave, on reserve out of the base, waiting for furlough once the government aid to the airlines runs out, or potentially already lost our job and looking for a new one. While this type of industry slump isn’t something that we could have predicted when we started pursuing aviation careers, events like 9/11 and the COVID epidemic can cripple our industry and turn everything upside down in a matter of days.

Looks like this time around with COVID the industry took a nosedive for a while (way worse than 9/11), and according to many sources, it is not expected to fully recover to pre-COVID levels until 2022. Of course, we all hope that this will not be the case, but at this point, we must assume this is the state of things for the foreseeable future.

What else can you do with your airline pilot skills?

While I am in this limbo state, it doesn’t stop me from working on my side gig that has the potential to develop into a full-time gig if enough time is put into it (and we have lots of it now). This side gig is a Drone Services Provider (or DSP) business, which is much easier to get airborne with (pun intended) if you have an airline pilot license than for anyone else. Because any certified pilot can get certified to fly drones commercially (FAA Part 107 certificate) much quicker than folks that are not. This is usually one of the biggest obstacles for people who want to fly drones commercially, as getting Part 107 FAA certification requires passing an aeronautical knowledge exam, like what you must pass for a private pilot certification. You can find detailed information about getting this pilot certification on the FAA website at here and here.

The reason I am here telling you about this is that if you are a certified pilot, you can do this too, while you are in this limbo state with lots of time on your hands. This will give you another skill/tool to help you in your job search beyond airlines, if that’s what you are doing now.  I don’t know how many companies are hiring pilots now (maybe private jet management and cargo transportation companies), but even they have a limited capacity to absorb the pilot surplus that is being created with the pandemic disrupting the airline industry.

State of the Drone Industry in 2020

Remember how there was a pilot shortage in the airline industry just a few months ago? Well, there is kind of a similar situation in the drone industry now - lack of qualified, knowledgeable drone pilots to complete flight missions for companies that have nationwide needs. Although many of these drone gigs are contract or per property/asset, meaning you can choose to do them when you have time, there are already many full-time jobs available also, and new jobs/job descriptions are being created every day due to a lot of drone experimentation and new use cases and workflows being created in various industries. 

Do a search for drone pilot jobs in whatever job search engine you use, and you will see the openings, in different industries and with different pay scales. If you have other than aviation degrees and professional experiences (especially photography, cinematography, software development, engineering, construction management, surveying/mapping), you will be even at more advantage in this industry. A 2013 industry report released by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International projected more than 100,000 new jobs in unmanned aircraft by 2025.

And the actual drone pilot work is mostly contact-less, so it is COVID and quarantine friendly.

What’s more, due to drones disrupting so many industries with faster, cheaper, more efficient solutions to completing tasks traditionally done by humans or other tools, the drone industry is predicted to experience growth rates far outpacing those of many traditional industries (including airlines). Here is a Business Insider Intelligence Drone Market Outlook outlining drone use growth in major industrial and service industries.

Is drone business a viable long-term job/income replacement?

Will becoming a drone pilot replace your income? Probably not, or at least not right away, but again, it all depends on how much you choose to pursue it and market your services. You can always use this as a side gig to supplement your main income, especially if you don’t have a regular 9 to 5 job (which is the airline industry, essentially).

How to get started in the drone industry for airline pilots

Of course, getting a Part 107 certificate will not make you an experienced drone pilot, that is just the first step.

I grew up building and flying radio-controlled airplanes, which is how I got into aviation, so I already had a lot of experience in remote control flying prior to picking up a drone. So, when I started experimenting with drones, I picked it up pretty quickly due to that past experience, but even then, I put in a lot of time practicing my flying, photography, video skills and learning various software processing tools - skills which even now, 5 years later, I am still honing every week as I am working on projects for clients.

So for someone who has never picked up a drone before, the next step after getting your Part 107 certificate would be to get proficient in flying (just like with the airlines, you need to get those flight hours in), and then honing other valuable skills that enable to produce value out of visual data that was captured, not to mention getting your name out there to be considered for drone jobs. However, the possibilities in this developing industry are endless, if you have the interest and the drive.

The easiest way to enter the drone industry is by providing videography and photography services (although most competitive, as well), and that may be the way to get started, but you can take it beyond that and develop skills to use drones in Search and Rescue, Surveying, Mapping, Construction, Delivery, Agriculture, etc. Possibilities are endless if you have an interest and the drive to grow and make this a legitimate side gig or your next career.

If you find this information helpful, please share with your network, airline industry friends, and relatives, and leave comments so I can gauge if this was helpful and whether I should cover the subject of drone business setup in more detail because there is a lot more to it than just FAA Part 107 Certificate to get started!

Also please check out my Website if you are interested in learning what type of work I’ve done and what industries I serve, contact me for job inquiries, and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!

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