medurden2
lvl.1
United States
Offline
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How about obey the law and let's be safe and legal or the FAA is going to make this potential business opportunity totally illegal and give all the work back to helicopters, planes and balloons. I have been flying a P3P for a year. I got my 333 exemption from the FAA in January... actually got my congressman on board to help process and move it along... those donkey's work for us... when is the last time one of them did anything for you or anything at all??? The process still takes a minimum of 120 days. I then went out to New Mexico and got a Private Pilot License in a Hot Air Balloon. It was an absolute blast and if I lived somewhere like New Mexico it would be a new hobby. After much research and looking into it... I found this to be the cheapest, fastest, and safest way to get a Pilot's License. More and more people are going through the expense and time of getting legal. More and more Pilot's are seeing the potential and enjoyment of a UAS/Drone business. If you are skirting the law you are hurting everyone and the future potential of a growing business. One of the earlier post is correct... the FAA is not an agency to mess around with. There are cases where people have been fined up to $100,000... settled for $10,000 and tons of attorney fees. There is another case pending for a larger fine than that one. I have a website, Facebook page, and have canvased my area with brochures and business cards. Business is just starting to come pick up but I believe over the next year or so it will really surge. I do this full-time. Mostly real estate but I am currently working on a golf course and I shoot pics for local paper as well as the chamber of commerce for any fairs, markets or celebrations they sponsor. Someone asked... How can you get caught??? Just like Airplane Pilot's who see individuals flying without a Pilot's License report them... this is occurring for UAS/Drones. No person in their right mind who wants to pursue this as a career... sees the potential and has gone through the time and expense to be legal is going to let someone who is illegal just come in and compete for his or her business!!! Some may say... snitch... whatever... if I illegally hurt your business would you stand for that??? People who are legal... want this industry to grow... and have done everything by the book for a reason. Stop the madness with trying to be illegal... I don't charge for the drone photos or video... I just charge for my consulting... the pictures are free??? That is ILLEGAL... that is NUTS!!! If responsibility is used by all this will be a great business for those entrepreneurs that want a small business and their will be lots of drone pilot jobs for major companies!!! Power companies... Train companies... inspecting power lines, train tracks, cell towers... you name it... IT IS COMING!!! Auburn University is currently working with the FAA to come up with a process that will allow individuals to get a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot License with a drone. At some point you will not need to go get a Pilot license in plane, glider, powered parachute, or balloon... it is just not here yet. It took congress nearly 10 years to work out the Sport Pilot Licensing... so for those who think this will happen tomorrow... I would not count on it... that is why I went the route I did... but it is coming and schools that already have aviation departments see the value of this and are pushing for it too... which will help our industry. Again, it is not that hard and is not that great of an expense to GET LEGAL!!! All the people I work for say that is the reason they use me... they don't want to skirt the law or be involved with people who are!!! Do the right thing!!! You will find more work and a greater sense of freedom!!! Or be illegal... but NOT IN MY BACKYARD!!! I and others I have spoken to are not going to sit by and watch illegal operators try and take business!!! I know one guy in Atlanta that is seriously after checking on competitions legal status. He will contract you and then turn you in to FAA... Haha... Crazy to go that far but he is old school pilot for 40 years... not happy with people breaking the law. I know for myself... I am not trying to find illegal pilots and have not run across one in my area... Delta is located here... there are too many existing Pilot's that either see this as future business or just enjoy the side work. The faster we as UAS/Drone users and Pilot's claim responsibility the more jobs will be out there and the more they will PAY!!! All may disagree... just saying... I don't care.. but NOT IN MY BACKYARD! Enjoy your recreational flying and good luck to all those legal Pilot's that are starting businesses!!! GO LEGAL!!! This business has a huge future and the sooner you are legal the sooner you will be able to surf the blue water of that wave!!! |
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