As a realtor, you are probably thinking that an aerial photograph would be a valuable tool to market the Henderson house that just won’t sell. With drones being in the news so much lately, you are probably wondering: “can my real estate company use a drone to take pictures?” The answer to that question is: not so fast. Drone use for commercial purposes is not permissible unless you receive a certificate of airworthiness or Section 333 exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration. While this may seem like an unnecessary obstacle, it’s not as difficult as you may think for your real estate company to obtain the necessary authorization.
In late 2013, a photographer from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville was fined $10,000 for using an unauthorized drone for commercial purposes. While the court dismissed this case for other reasons, it is important to note that the FAA is not afraid to penalize you if your real estate company uses any type of unauthorized drone. While some in the real estate game are refusing to use drones out of an abundance of caution, avoidance of drone use will only put you behind the competition.
The commercial use of drones is permissible when you file a Section 333 exemption with the FAA. Section 333 exemptions allow the FAA to summarily approve drone operators and vehicles for use on a case-by-case basis. Filing an application for exemption is something that you will want to discuss with your aviation attorney, as the application requires precise language and exact form. Without the help of your attorney, your real estate company runs the risk of waiting longer than necessary for a permit. Call The Ison Law Group today at 1-855-LAW-1215 and we will discuss filing a Section 333 exemption for your real estate company.