Is Your "Commercial" Drone Pilot Actually Qualified?.....Probably Not
- Patrick Hurley
- Jul 7
- 4 min read
Another "hobbyist" acting irresponsibly and illegally with a drone. While most don't, the only thing between someone like becoming your "commercial" drone operator or service provider is an FAA written exam that's relatively easy to pass.
If you're going to hire a drone service or operator to support your business operations or enhance your services, don't expose yourself to needless, potentially costly, and reputation-damaging liability. Ensure they're experienced aviation professionals.
Is Your Drone Pilot Qualified? Can you trust them not to put your business at risk? Statistically speaking……probably not
The FAA Part 107 Exam Is Just Bare Minimum
As drones become an increasingly common tool across numerous industries, including construction, real estate, security, and emergency response, the demand for licensed drone pilots is on the rise. Hiring someone with just an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate may seem like a safe bet. After all, the FAA requires this certification, and only this certification, to operate drones commercially.
The high-risk reality is somewhat different – there's a high probability that you're hiring a "hobbyist" who has just passed an exam, not an aviation or sUAS professional.
Passing the Part 107 exam does not mean a drone pilot is qualified, safe, has experience, or good judgment.
Almost 400,000 Part 107 certificates have been issued by the FAA, meaning they are legally "allowed" to fly a drone commercially. But tens of thousands of those, perhaps even the majority, have no prior aviation experience. They came up from the ranks of hobbyists.
Obtaining a Part 107 license requires no prior experience flying a drone, no practical skills test, and no aviation background whatsoever. It is a written, multiple-choice exam that primarily covers regulations, weather theory, airspace classifications, and safety procedures. While it's a required step for legal compliance, it serves only as a theoretical baseline. Unlike other FAA pilot certifications, it does not represent actual flying experience, tested proficiency, good judgment, or safety.
No Flight Test, No Evaluation
Unlike a traditional pilot's license, which requires dozens of hours (at a minimum increasing to hundreds and thousands of hours for more sophisticated certifications) of logged flight time, and a practical check ride with an FAA designated examiner, the Part 107 UAS certification lacks any evaluation of skills, proficiency, or judgement, in-person or remote, by a designated FAA examiner.
A person could study the material, pass the test, and begin flying drones commercially without ever having flown a drone, or even a kite, in a real-world environment.
All the risk and potential liability of hiring one of these possibly untested and inexperienced "pilots" is assumed by the organization hiring them.
Flying a Drone Is Not Ad-Hoc or Haphazard
Operating a drone, particularly in commercial or industrial settings, requires more than just knowing the rules. At a minimum, it requires proficiency with:
Precision flying in dynamic environments
Obstacle avoidance around buildings, people, or infrastructure
Situational awareness to handle wind, interference, GPS loss, operating in active, controlled airspace, and encounters with manned aircraft.
Mission planning for efficient data collection, mapping, or surveillance
Emergency response and management when systems fail mid-flight
None of these critical skills is assessed in the Part 107 certification process.
The Value of Real Aviation Experience in Drone Operations
Drone operators with aviation experience, especially as pilots and crew of manned aircraft, bring an entirely different level of discipline, situational awareness, and risk management, including:
Thinking and acting like a pilot-in-command, making safer decisions under pressure
Communicating clearly and concisely using standard aviation protocols
Interpret weather conditions with a deeper understanding of how they affect aircraft performance
Experience and proficiency in managing risk using proven aviation frameworks like Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)
Anticipate airspace issues and air traffic interactions, and ensure operational regulatory compliance.
This level of professionalism dramatically reduces the risk of incidents and ensures more reliable, safe, and mission-focused drone operations.
What to Look for in a Commercially Qualified Drone Pilot
If you're hiring a drone pilot for a service or to operate your new drone performing a commercial service, don't stop at checking for a Part 107 license. Ask about, and demand, they have experience and can confidently discuss:
Flight experience: How many hours have they logged? In what environments?
Aviation background: Have they flown manned aircraft or had formal aviation training?
Equipment proficiency: Are they skilled with the specific drone and payload you need?
Portfolio or demo footage: Can they show examples of work relevant to your project?
Safety practices: Do they have standard operating procedures (SOPs) and emergency procedures in place?
Industry knowledge: Do they understand the specific needs of your site, whether that's security, inspection, mapping, modeling, real estate, or media production?
Also, consider whether they've received any professional aviation training from FAA-certified flight schools or industry organizations.
A trustworthy professional drone operator will combine legal credentials, real-world flying skills, and a deep understanding of both technology and mission objectives, and won't resist discussing them with you… Most will want to talk your ear off!
Certification Isn't Qualification
The FAA Part 107 exam is a necessary starting point—but it's not a seal of competence. Businesses and individuals who rely on drones for critical operations should go beyond the certificate. Vet your drone pilots carefully. Look for a proven track record, demonstrated flying ability, and especially aviation experience that instills a deep respect for airspace, safety, mission execution, and regulations.
Because when it comes to drones, the gap between licensed and qualified can mean the difference between smooth operations and very costly mistakes that could significantly damage your business's reputation.
Comments