Congratulations to our firm's BIM Manager & Architectural Designer, Michael Pritchard, for recently becoming an FAA Certified drone pilot!
Mike juggles several responsibilities in our office, and he was proactive in the challenge of becoming licensed. Mike will be documenting many of our projects from the ground and in the air with drone footage.
What does it take to become a licensed commercial drone pilot and why did we decide to invest in the equipment? Here's why:
Why add a drone, and remote pilot to an architect’s workflow?
Drones offer an alternate perspective on architectural projects. Whether it be capturing final photography, filming cinematic videography, or doing preliminary site investigations and construction progress shots; to fly a drone commercially, there are a few steps you must complete prior to taking off.
• First, you must be at least 16 years old, read, speak, write and understand English, and be in a physical and mental condition to operate an aircraft.
• Acquire an FAA Tracking Number, FTN.
• Pass the FAA certified aeronautical knowledge exam based on the rules of 14 CFR Part 107 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which includes guidelines for drone operations, airspace classifications, emergency procedures, communication and weather patterns.
• Once you pass the exam, submit the airmen rating application and receive a TSA background check.
• Once approved, you will receive a temporary certification while the FAA processes the remote pilot’s permanent certification and ships via the mail.
• When received, the Remote Pilot in Command, RPIC, is free to conduct commercial drone operations.
