Let’s take a couple of examples. You are looking for a professional drone operator because you run a company and would like to make a promotional video to upload to your site and social media. You are a real estate agent and need aerial photos to show your client in order to increase sales and speed up deals. You are getting married but feel bored with the usual wedding photoshoots and would like something different and emotionally charged.
You know perfectly well what you are looking for but are afraid to run into an incompetent amateur and be disappointed with the outcome of your investment. It is important to keep in mind that by choosing a professional drone operator with a VAT account and valid licenses you protect yourself against any eventual emergency or unforeseen event. Otherwise, if an unprofessional service incurs damages, you will also be subject to claims or penalties as a jointly liable job commissioner. Did you know that?
Use this article as a guide, as a means to understand where you can put your trust, what documents you must request and what you can expect as a result.
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DRONE LICENSES
As a professional drone operator, I personally dislike the Italian term “patentino” or the drone certificate and prefer to use the international term “drone licence”.
Well, do you know what drones are and how they work? Drones are classified as aircraft, and consequently they are “piloted” and not “controlled”. It might seem a small detail but it is quite important for those who operate drones In fact, only proper aeronautical mentality guarantees professional use of these vehicles in view of all inherent risks, as well as all necessary preventive measures to ensure safe drone operation.
The first step is to obtain EU Drone License A1-A3 after taking an online training course and an online exam. The license is granted by ENAC (National Civil Aviation Organisation). This first step is just the beginning that lets a pilot proceed to more specific training and Licence A2, received upon completion of training at an ENAC-certified centre. There are a lot of different online courses as well, in Italy and abroad, but I personally believe classroom experience to be more effective. The things to learn are many and diverse and online or low-cost training does not always cover all the necessary aspects thereof.
And still, all this is not enough to be able to operate in any situation. A professional drone pilot must undertake a certification course for specific operations, that is a course that lets a pilot/operator request permits from the authorities to work under certain conditions (for example, near airports or in ENAC-established areas closed for drone flights, populated areas, etc.)
It is crucial to check whether your pilot has a valid license and if they are registered on the D-flight web site, which is a legal requirement for all pilots and operators and all the drones they use.
INSURANCE
A third-party liability insurance is another obligatory legal requirement for a drone operator. The law stipulates specific parameters in this case as well and the insurance provided must comply with European Community Regulations CE 785/2004.
For your safety, always ask your drone pilot or operator for a copy of the signed insurance.
REGULATIONS
For a safe and comfortable service, drone pilots and operators must always be updated on ENAC and EASA regulations and registered on the D-flight site. Their customers must make sure that it is so.
To check if the registration is in place, it is enough to go to D-flight and enter the operator’s name. For your convenience, you can check Discover The Sky’s registration here.
We also recommend to steer clear of pilots and operators that constantly say “yes” or “no problem” to your any suggestion. A serious operator will listen to your requests, take time to study feasibility and then propose the best and safest way to proceed.
DRONES: THE VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT
As mentioned before, every drone MUST be registered on D-flight, however it is also of utmost importance that the drone is appropriate for its intended use.
No drone fits all purposes: there are those designed for photography (like the ones we use at Discover The Sky) or videography, others can produce high-definition images, others are suitable for surveys, etc.
Discover The Sky specialise in aerial photography, but since we have been around for many years, we can consult our clients on the choice of the best drones suitable for their needs among the ample range of the existing applications of these vehicles. Besides, we can assist you during your training, if necessary, thanks to our trusted and expert partners.
SERVICE AGREEMENT
And the last but not the least – the Agreement! For any job you commission you must demand an agreement outlining the terms of cooperation between the parties, as well as various other aspects: the type of services requested, the timeline for the provision of such services, the number of photographs to be delivered, eventual post-production services, the conditions of use, intellectual property rights and the like.
This demand is logical if you deal with professional drone operators, since a Service Agreement makes part of their business ethics. Otherwise, start doubting and return to making further enquiries.
Discover The Sky we are extremely attentive to these aspects. Our team includes only duly trained and insured professionals and we insist on full compliance with all applicable regulations. Would you like to know more? Contact us to ask for a free no-obligation quote.