What FAA Part 107 Means for Your Project
The Federal Aviation Administration requires every commercial drone operation in the United States to be conducted by a certified Remote Pilot in Command operating under 14 CFR Part 107. This regulation is not optional, and it is not a suggestion — it is federal law enforced by the FAA with penalties that include fines and certificate revocation.
To obtain a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, a pilot must pass the FAA Aeronautical Knowledge Test — a proctored examination covering airspace classification, weather patterns and their effects on drone operations, aircraft loading and performance, emergency procedures, radio communications, federal regulations, and crew resource management. The certificate must be renewed every 24 months through recurrent testing.
For clients, hiring a Part 107 certified operator means several concrete things:
- Legal operation — Your project's aerial data was collected legally under federal regulations, which matters for evidentiary value in insurance claims, legal proceedings, and regulatory documentation.
- Airspace knowledge — The pilot understands how to identify controlled airspace, obtain authorization, and operate safely in complex aviation environments near Florida's airports.
- Safety standards — The pilot follows established pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight procedures designed to minimize risk to people and property on the ground.
- Insurance validity — Aviation liability insurance policies require Part 107 compliance. An uncertified operator's insurance — if they carry any — may not cover incidents during illegal operations.
Airspace Authorization — How LAANC Works in Florida
Florida is home to dozens of commercial airports, military airfields, and controlled airspace zones. A significant portion of the state's most commercially active areas — including downtown Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville — fall under controlled airspace where drone operations require prior authorization from the FAA.
LAANC — Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability — is the real-time automated system that grants this authorization. When we plan a flight in controlled airspace, we submit a LAANC request through an FAA-approved application that specifies the flight location, altitude, time, and duration. The system cross-references the request against the airport's airspace grid — a predefined map of maximum allowable drone altitudes for each grid cell around the airport — and returns an approval or denial within seconds.
This process happens before every flight in controlled airspace. It is not a one-time blanket authorization. Each flight receives its own approval with specific altitude and time parameters. We include the LAANC authorization confirmation in our flight records, providing clients with documentation that the flight was conducted with FAA approval.
For clients with properties near Florida airports — which is common given how many airports the state has — LAANC coordination is a standard part of our engagement. There is no additional cost or separate process required. We handle it as part of flight planning.
Insurance Coverage Detail
The Florida Drone Company carries dual insurance coverage on every operation:
- SkyWatch aviation liability insurance — Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage arising from drone operations. This is a per-flight policy specifically designed for commercial UAS operations.
- General liability insurance — Covers standard business liability for on-site operations, equipment, and professional services.
We provide certificates of insurance (COI) on request before any engagement. For clients who require it — particularly construction companies, government agencies, and property management firms with contractual insurance requirements — we can add your organization as an additional insured on the policy for the duration of the project at no extra cost.
Insurance documentation is included in our standard engagement package alongside the airspace authorization records and flight logs. Your project file contains a complete compliance record from authorization through delivery.
Flight Records & Documentation
Every flight we conduct generates a documented record that includes:
- Pre-flight checklist confirming equipment status, weather conditions, and airspace authorization
- LAANC authorization confirmation (for controlled airspace operations)
- Weather assessment at the time of flight, including wind speed, visibility, and cloud ceiling
- Flight telemetry log with GPS track, altitude profile, and duration
- Post-flight checklist confirming data integrity and equipment condition
These records serve multiple purposes. They demonstrate regulatory compliance in the event of an FAA inquiry. They provide evidentiary support for the aerial data's authenticity and timestamp accuracy. And they give clients a complete chain of documentation from authorization through data collection — which is particularly valuable for construction progress disputes, insurance claims, and legal proceedings where the provenance and timing of aerial imagery may be questioned.
Flight records are retained for a minimum of three years and are available to clients upon request at any time during that period.
Why Hiring an Unlicensed Drone Operator Creates Risk for You
The barrier to buying a consumer drone is low. The barrier to operating one legally for commercial purposes is higher — and that gap creates risk for clients who hire operators without verifying their credentials.
An unlicensed operator is breaking federal law. Any data they collect during an illegal flight is potentially inadmissible as evidence. Their insurance — if they carry any — may be voided by the illegal operation. And if an incident occurs — a drone strikes a vehicle, injures a person, or damages property — the client who hired the operator may share in the liability exposure, particularly if due diligence was not performed.
The practical questions to ask any drone operator before hiring them are straightforward:
- Do you hold a current FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate? (Ask to see it.)
- Do you carry aviation liability insurance? (Ask for a certificate of insurance.)
- Will you obtain LAANC authorization if the flight is in controlled airspace? (Ask for the confirmation.)
- Will you provide flight records documenting the operation? (Ask what records are included.)
The Florida Drone Company answers yes to all four, with documentation provided on every engagement. If a competing operator cannot answer these questions clearly, that is the information you need to make your decision.