As one who began to get my pilot's license back in the 90's but couldn't complete it, and now find myself getting into aerial photography, I'm in full agreement with the FAA proposed requirement for commercial UAS operators to have a pilots license for several reasons:
1. The nature of UAS photography/ videography itself attracts thrill seekers who largely due to age, though there are other variables, (general immaturity,) are inherently reckless/ careless/ ignorant. Many types of commercial use will bring you into proximity of crowds of people large and small, and when one's own safety concerns are generally not factored into the equation, how much less or more, those of bystanders/ subjects?
2. Pilot training generally instills a clear understanding of risk and risk aversion, and much of it is built around developing GO/ NO GO decision making which requires sober risk calculation.
3. Yes a driver's license at 16 puts you in control of a 4000lb vehicle, but then adding the third dimension of altitude increases one's need of awareness exponentially, requiring exponential situational awareness. This, along with increased need for real time risk assessment has to be trained, read: exercised into the human brain. Pilot training does this.
4. As far as governing recreational use; it appears the FAA is confident that state and local authorities can "fill in the gaps" to protect public safety. I know that in the sleepy little town of Apopka, Florida that I live in, the city counsel has already prohibited flying UAS' anywhere other than your private property. This includes city parks. Not saying that it isn't a knee jerk reaction or that I completely agree with it, just an example of local authorities filling in the gaps. Example: Joe Six Pack can't fly his Phantom 3 around the ballpark while Little Joey is playing little league, but a properly trained, insured professional can.
5. Pilot training instills the very definition of "Look before you leap," and ingrains examining every facet of flight from multiple angles to ensure predictability of a safe outcome, and after all that, teaches level-headed quick time assessment and action during contingencies.
6. It develops a strong awareness that you aren't the only one in the sky.
Now you may say none of this has anything to do with you if all you want to do is shoot real estate footage, but once you've been given the authority to operate commercially, who's looking over your shoulder to make sure you are only operating to the level of your capabilities/ training?
As a licensed plumbing contractor, I had to demonstrated the capability of designing systems for 10 story high rises, even though my plan was to use it to build track homes. But once I got that license, there was no one making sure I kept within those parameters because I had demonstrated capability in every facet.
So you see, it's really not the license, but the specific intense training required to get one that is, I believe, the goal of the FAA requirement.
1. The nature of UAS photography/ videography itself attracts thrill seekers who largely due to age, though there are other variables, (general immaturity,) are inherently reckless/ careless/ ignorant. Many types of commercial use will bring you into proximity of crowds of people large and small, and when one's own safety concerns are generally not factored into the equation, how much less or more, those of bystanders/ subjects?
2. Pilot training generally instills a clear understanding of risk and risk aversion, and much of it is built around developing GO/ NO GO decision making which requires sober risk calculation.
3. Yes a driver's license at 16 puts you in control of a 4000lb vehicle, but then adding the third dimension of altitude increases one's need of awareness exponentially, requiring exponential situational awareness. This, along with increased need for real time risk assessment has to be trained, read: exercised into the human brain. Pilot training does this.
4. As far as governing recreational use; it appears the FAA is confident that state and local authorities can "fill in the gaps" to protect public safety. I know that in the sleepy little town of Apopka, Florida that I live in, the city counsel has already prohibited flying UAS' anywhere other than your private property. This includes city parks. Not saying that it isn't a knee jerk reaction or that I completely agree with it, just an example of local authorities filling in the gaps. Example: Joe Six Pack can't fly his Phantom 3 around the ballpark while Little Joey is playing little league, but a properly trained, insured professional can.
5. Pilot training instills the very definition of "Look before you leap," and ingrains examining every facet of flight from multiple angles to ensure predictability of a safe outcome, and after all that, teaches level-headed quick time assessment and action during contingencies.
6. It develops a strong awareness that you aren't the only one in the sky.
Now you may say none of this has anything to do with you if all you want to do is shoot real estate footage, but once you've been given the authority to operate commercially, who's looking over your shoulder to make sure you are only operating to the level of your capabilities/ training?
As a licensed plumbing contractor, I had to demonstrated the capability of designing systems for 10 story high rises, even though my plan was to use it to build track homes. But once I got that license, there was no one making sure I kept within those parameters because I had demonstrated capability in every facet.
So you see, it's really not the license, but the specific intense training required to get one that is, I believe, the goal of the FAA requirement.