AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY
FAA Commercial Drone Operator
I am an FAA sUAS (small unmanned aerial system) certificate holder and operate under the rules of 14 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 107, which provides the framework for all commercial drone flights. (FAA regulations specifically state that all commercial drone operations must be conducted by a Part 107 certificate holder. Unlicensed pilots may only conduct purely recreational flights.)
Areas under flight restrictions
The FAA is the only entity that has control over the airspace; however, local jurisdictions and private property owners can limit drone flights by prohibiting take-offs, landings, and drone control operations from property under their authority.
A circle with a radius of roughly 30 miles extending outward from Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is called the SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area). Within the SFRA there is another roughly circular area with a radius of about 15 miles from DCA called the Washington DC FRZ (Flight Restricted Zone). Commercial drone operation is permitted within the "outer" ring of the SFRA (i.e. outside the FRZ, between 15-30 miles from DCA), subject to Part 107 rules and limitations imposed by smaller airports and other features within that area. It is possible to obtain a Waiver from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to fly within the FRZ, provided that a government entity sponsors the request and other rules are followed. The FRZ Waiver application can take up to 90 days to process.
The use of a drone in airspace adjacent to many airports is subject to altitude restrictions which become more limiting with closer proximity to runways and approaches. An FAA Authorization to fly near airports is frequently available in real-time through the LAANC system. Pre-flight planning and request for authorization minimizes surprises.
Flights over National Parks, Historic Areas, and other areas may be prohibited or severely restricted. Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) are typically issued by the FAA for sports stadiums, speedways and other facilities when large numbers of spectators will be present. Flights within the bounds of a TFR are subject to its limitations.
It can be complicated. If you can provide an address, or GPS coordinates for an undeveloped site without a physical street address, I can search for flight restrictions that might be imposed on that location.
Aerial Photos & Orthomosaic Photos
Oblique aerial photos are taken at an angle and provide a "scenic" view that shows dimension and scale.
An "orthomosaic" photo is produced when a series of overlapping photos taken with the camera pointed straight down is stitched together into a single image. These orthomosaic photos (often called "maps") are up-to-date and can provide greater detail than typical on-line satellite imagery. However, without ground control points established in collaboration with a licensed surveyor, they are "just" photographs that lack "survey grade" accuracy. They will show current site conditions and progress toward completion but they are not suitable for establishing property lines, true measurements of distance, area or volume, or exact placement of corners and markers.
Time-lapse Photos and Videos
Drone flights can be programmed as photo or video "missions" that can be flown repeatedly over time to produce a time-lapse sequence of construction progress or other activity.
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