Drones are more affordable than ever. Drones costing $30,000 or more just 3 years ago are now available for $1,500.
What does it really cost to fly a drone or start an in-house drone program? Wouldn’t it be great to know what you don’t know before you make the decision? Continue reading to gain valuable insight into the pros and cons of flying a drone.
The money savings is real, however, is it best to build or outsource? Here are the lessons learned from thousands of drone flights and discussions with hundreds of customers:
FAA Regulations
In order to legally fly a drone for commercial use in the United States, each pilot must have a Remote Pilot Certification (essentially a drone pilot license). Your pilots will have to study for and pass a 60 question FAA certification test. Your liability insurance will require this as well.
Hidden Cost: On average, it takes 8-16 hours to review beyond an in-person or on-site course in order to pass the exam. What happens if your drone pilot leaves the company, retires, or gets sick? Also, you need to take the test every 2 years to keep your certification.