How do you know if a drone pilot/inspector is qualified?

Drone inspections are becoming more and more popular. Why? Drones provide numerous advantages over physical inspections. In case you missed it, this post lists those advantages one by one.

If your roof is too steep, too tall, or possibly unstable, the inspector will use a drone.

When you choose a roofing inspection company that uses drones, you can choose one that sells new roofs or one that does not.

I recommend hiring an inspection company whose sole purpose is to inspect your roof. That way, you can be sure the inspection is completely unbiased.

When you hire an inspector who specializes in aerial or drone roof inspections, here are some questions you should ask.

• Are they licensed to operate a drone commercially?

They need to have an FAA Part 107 Certificate. Part 107, known as small unmanned air system or UAS, is also called a Remote Pilot Certificate, obtaining this certificate demonstrates that you understand the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying drones (unmanned air vehicles- UAV).

As a quick sidebar, a UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) includes not only the UAV (or drone) but also the person on the ground controlling the flight and the system in place that connects both of them. Basically, the UAV is a component of the UAS, since it refers to only the vehicle/aircraft itself.

• What are the pilot’s capabilities and limitations?

What qualifications do they have? Does the pilot/inspector hold any safety certifications to ensure they can handle the drone in an emergency? Some of these certifications are provided by OSHA and AUVSI.

• Are they knowledgeable about the airspace and flight restrictions?

Has the pilot obtained the proper airspace permit if required and does the pilot understand the height restrictions of the airspace?

• Do they carry liability insurance?

Are they insured and can provide those records? More importantly, are they recognized by an insurance provider as highly qualified safety operators?

• Have they ever crashed during a flight?

Are they willing to share their flight logs? This information is available on websites such as airdata.com

• Do you have a contract for the services you are hiring them for?

Did you accept any terms of sale after you hire them? Are you familiar with the contract of their terms and conditions? Is the pilot willing to address all your questions?

There are many drone inspection companies that sell drone inspection services but they subcontract pilots from outside their company to do the work. While this is very common, you need to be cautious. Many of these companies will sell you the inspection but you only get pictures with no evaluation of the condition of the roof. Before you hire a drone inspection company, be sure to ask if you can see a sample report.

When choosing a qualified drone roof inspector:

● Check who you want to hire and get a copy of their sample report. Ask questions about it.

● Check their credentials. You can go to the FAA Airman registry to check if the pilot is certified. Additional credentials could be verified if you ask them to show their certificates. You don’t want to get caught hiring an unlicensed drone pilot. I will write a blog about this soon.

Now that you have your inspector, don’t forget to get an annual inspection of your roof. I know it is not a habit yet, but your wallet will thank you later.

Download a copy of our sample inspection report here.

I created Smooth Skies Services to help you be proactive when it comes to maintaining your roof. Your time is valuable, and you deserve to relax and enjoy your home. Let me find the little problems before they become BIG problems.

Let’s fly…

Sandro