Drones are one of the best ways to capture truly appealing images from various unique perspectives.
Table of Contents
- Required Operating Guidelines
- Finding a Drone-Friendly Property
- Things to Consider Before Using a Drone
A drone can take photographs and videos from angles and locations that help the property look unique in various ways and provides a scenic view of the property and the area surrounding it.
Drones, also known as UAVs or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, have recently begun their popularity in Canada. They have become widely used for commercial and recreational purposes. The regulations and laws apply to commercial drone use are heavily enforced, and compliance must operate the drone with commercial intent.
When operating a drone, it must adhere to specific guidelines and rules for the operating team’s health and safety, the surrounding people, and any crewed aircraft located near the vicinity. Here are a few tips from a Toronto Aerial Real Estate Photography Company
Required Operating Guidelines
- Daylight and good weather.
All drone flights must be taken in both daylight and relatively good weather. - Must remain within sight always.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles must continuously remain within sight. - Stay away from populated areas.
All drones are to stay a safe distance away from airport space, populated areas and any busy roads (30 metres from buildings, people, aircraft, and highways), and they must not go vertically higher than 90 metres. - Respect the privacy of others.
It’s prohibited for drones to be used for spying on anyone without their consent and cooperation.
While most of these regulations are oriented towards safety, they can also affect how someone is allowed to capture any aerial imagery and could be prohibitive of specific properties.
Finding a Drone-Friendly Property
There are a few requirements when looking for properties you can photograph with a drone. First, there needs to be an adequate clear space for the drone to be operated safely. Second, densely populated regions and urban areas, such as those near main roads or close to crowded public places such as parks and schools, should not have drones operating within them unless you can maintain a 30-metre perimeter. Drones are also not permitted in controlled airspace.
Drones are not difficult to attain. It’s easy to get your hands on one, but acquiring the legal documentation required to operate it commercially isn’t. It’s a challenging and time-consuming process that can take up to a month. Most commercial operations regarding drones require an SFOC, also known as a Single-Operation Special Flight Operation Certificate. This document requires the operator to confirm sufficient liability insurance, a good knowledge of meteorology, airspace regulations, and even pilot training.
A realtor should never consider hiring a drone operator unless they have the required documentation. SkySnap, a specialised drone photography Toronto company, stresses the importance of the necessary permits and operational safety planning. The SFOC is needed to operate a drone with commercial intent legally. Emergency management, risk mitigation, and insurance coverage all have the same implications for the realtor as they do for the operator.
Things to Consider Before Using a Drone
- Is the property safe for drone operation?
- Is it in or near a densely populated area?
- Is it next to a busy area or the main road?
- Is the weather ideal for safe drone flight?
Photo by Rodolfo Quirós from Pexels
