It appears that an FAA authorization is required for the commercial use of a drone … this includes the selling of field service photos or videos taken from a drone. A Section 333 exemption from the FAA is required. FAA 333 requires that commercial drone operators are to be licensed pilots.
Taking mortgage drive-by photos with a drone (a peak over the fence) under today’s FAA 333 rules requires a pilot license to qualify. You have to learn to fly an aircraft before you can fly a drone for commercial purposes. I can not imagine that drones will be used anytime in the near future for $3 mortgage drive-by inspections or any of the higher fee commercial inspections.
I have a pilot license, but I can not get too excited about using a drone for field services when I consider the cost for a high-quality drone with a camera and drone insurance. Don’t let a vendor manager at a mortgage order mill (MOM) convince you that taking drone photos is not a commercial use of a drone. If you are getting paid … it’s commercial.
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