The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Now Offers License To Operate Drones For Business Purposes

Businesses with the use of drones aren't legal in the United States but the government now makes an exception if you get your drone license under the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) new rules.

August 29 was the first day of drone license applications. You need to only pay a small fee and pass a multiple-choice test.

That's good news to photographer and /videographers who uses drones as after getting the license, they can finally sell their drone photos/videos. Without a license (approval from the FAA), you could get fined $1,100 or more for operating an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for business purposes.

The drone license is called a Remote Pilot Certificate. With the said license, you can legally fly your drones with the intention of making a profit but you still have to follow a few restrictions. If you're flying your drone as a hobby, you won't need the certificate but you still need to register a drone if it weighs over 0.55lb.

Here are the steps on how to get the license with the intention of using it for business (e.g. Photography and video, delivery and surveillance/mapping):

• Register your drone (if it weighs between 0.55 and 55 pounds)
• You must be at least 16 years of age
• You possess a valid government-issued ID
• Make an appointment to take the test (or here)
• Pay a fee of $150 
• Pass the exam
• Wait for the result which will be uploaded online within 48 hours
• Apply for the Remote Pilot Certificate (use the code from the passed test)
• Complete a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) background check
• Wait for the Remote Pilot Certificate to be delivered by mail (you can print out a temporary one and use it while you wait)

Even if you acquire the license with a registered drone, there are still flying restrictions.

You can't fly or use it:

• At night
• Over a number of people
• Higher than 121.92 meters (400 feet)
• Out of your eyeshot
• From a moving vehicle and/or inside a covered parked one
• At speeds over 100 miles per hour
• Within 5 miles of an airport (or you can get clearance from air traffic control using this)

You can get a 107 waiver to fly without these restrictions but you need to get that waiver months in advance. 

You are also required to do pre-flight checks and to immediately report any incident/accidents that caused harm to people or did at least $500 worth of damage to a property.