Got a Drone for Christmas or know somebody who did? Did you or somebody you known get a drone for Christmas or as another gift? Here’s a link to a great information video from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about knowing what to do before you fly your new drone. Step one is registering it, then knowing the rules of the road and airspace among other tips.
FAA Holiday Drone Messaging, Know Before You Fly
Q: Are you licensed and insured?
A: Yes, we are FAA part 107 certified (e.g. licensed) including daylight waiver (we can fly at night), as well as MnDOT Aeronautics licensed for commercial drone/UAS/UAV, aerial photography (and video), and imaging in Minnesota as well as we are insured (indoors and outdoors).
Q: Do you do interior photography or just drone aerial images?
A: We do interior, exterior, ground based as well as aerial photography and video including interactive 360 (still and video) for virtual tours.
Q: Do you have backup or spare drones and equipment that you bring to locations?
A: Yes, we have multiple aircraft (drones) and cameras as spare backups as well as to meet different project needs
2023 World Snow Sculpting Championship Stillwater MN Video
Q: Do you use a drone for interior photography and video?
A: While we have flown indoors for projects that require it, we also use other technology indoors (and outdoors) including gimbal stabilized ground equipment, along with 360 cameras.
Q: How much do you charge?
A: We have various standard packages along with ala carte service offerings to meet different project, property and budget requirements. Give us a call, text or email describe your project needs, requirements, when you need the work done and we can give you a price quote. We also have stock images available including digital downloads as well as prints at our online store https://picturesoverstillwater.smugmug.com
Q: What if we only need raw, non-edited aerial images or video?
A: No worries, we can assist you with simply capturing interior, exterior, ground or air based raw images that you edit and product, or, we can handle the editing, color correction and other post processing as well as production.
Q: Whats the biggest property you have captured photos or video of?
A: We have done projects ranging from single family one story small lot to multi-family, several acres residential as well as sites with hundreds of acres, and multi-story commercial sites among others.
Q: Have you done 2D or 3D survey mapping?
A: We have recurring projects that are flown with autonomous (programmed) missions to capture images for 2D, 3D, terrain and structure orthographic projection models and maps. In addition, we have also flown stock pile and volume measurement missions.
Q: Besides Stillwater, what other areas to you cover?
A: Minneapolis St Paul Twin cities, western Wisconsin, greater Minnesota areas, we will also travel further around the U.S. for special projects
Q: Do you guarantee your work?
A: Yes
Q: Can you do early morning, evening or night photography?
A: Yes
Q: Is there a difference between registration, certification and licensed?
A: Yes, registration applies to your aircraft (drone, uas, uav) similar to how you register an automobile (e.g. you get a license plate and tabs). Likewise, a certification or license is what allows a person to operate a vehicle (e.g drone, uas, uav, aircraft). If somebody has their drone registered as a hobbyist, they are not licensed or certified. Otoh, if somebody is doing non recreational flying, they need to have a FAA part 107 commercial operator certificate (license), or other FAA approval, in addition to their aircraft being registered. Learn more here (FAA Website) about FAA drone registration, hobby/recreational, commercial part 107 and other topics.
Q: What should someone look for when hiring a drone operator?
A: Regardless of if you are paying an operator, giving them a plate of cookies, tickets to an event, or simply mentioning there name as part of them doing drone services for you (e.g. photos, video, etc), they need to be FAA part 107 certificated (e.g. licensed). Even if your organization is a non-profit, if somebody is doing work or charity or volunteer activity for you, the FAA part 107 requirement applies.
FAA and MNDoT sUAS/UAV/Drone Licensed
Drone operators aircraft (drones) need to be FAA registered, and in the state of Minnesota, drones being used for commercial purposes need to be state registered. Minnesota also requires drone operators doing operations for others need to be licensed by MnDoT Aeronautics. MnDoT Aeronautics also requires drone operators to carry continuous drone insurance which is above and beyond normal business, or umbrella insurance coverage. Note that MnDoT maintains a list of business licensed to conduct drone operations in the state of Minnesota.
Speaking of insurance, if you are having indoors work done, verify that your operator is insured for indoor drone operations. A professional drone operator will be happy to provide proof of their licenses, certifications, registrations, insurance and experience.
Q: Is Pictures Over Stillwater FAA, MnDoT Aeronautics registered, licensed and insured?
A: Yes, we are FAA part 107, 107.29 daylight waiver, 107.41 airspace authorizations, with registered aircraft. We have been MnDoT Aeronautics registered and licensed for several years, and carry continuous drone insurance for indoor and outdoor.