When most people hear of a pilot, all they think about is an airplane. Well, we also have a drone pilot. Drone pilots are needed to operate unmanned aerial vehicles (or UAVs) for things like aerial monitoring, aerial photography, search and rescue missions, aerial monitoring and surveillance, package delivery, and disaster response among many other roles. This expert specializes in flying a drone, a remotely-controlled aircraft, from one particular point to another. If you want to fly a drone for fun, there are no special requirements. You just have to ensure that you register yours. It’ll cost you $5 to do it.
But if you are looking to fly a drone for commercial purposes, you’ll need a drone pilot certification. This is according to the statutes of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The certification gives you the freedom to run business errands freely. However, not everyone is qualified to get the FAA license. There are some requirements you have to meet as described in this guide.
Minimum Requirements
Generally, you need to meet these minimum requirements before you can apply for the FAA license:
• Be 16 years or older
• Be healthy physically and mentally
• Be conversant with both spoken and written English
In addition to the above requirements, you’ll need to sit for the FAA knowledge exam. It tests on aeronautical basics like emergency measures, communication procedures, loading, airport operations, and aviation weather. The exam takes about 2 hours and needs to be taken at an FAA-approved center. It’ll cost you $150 to apply for the test.
First-Time Pilots
If you don’t have any drone pilot experience, you’ll need to first meet the above requirements. You are then expected to use the results of your FAA knowledge exam to apply for the Airman Knowledge Test Report (AKTR). The FAA will run a background on you before sending a confirmation email indicating that your drone license has been approved.
Current Pilots
If you are a current pilot with a flight review, you can apply for the drone pilot certification without sitting for the FAA knowledge exam. But if you don’t have the review, you’ll need to apply for the license as a first-time applicant. The only advantage is that you won’t pay anything if you apply online.
Conclusion
Generally, getting a drone pilot certificate is crucial if you are looking to fly this small aircraft for business purposes. The certification is the only way to measure your aeronautical knowledge. With the license, you can fly at will within the confines of the law.
