5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Drone Pilot/Operator in Dubai

Drone Dubai — Ask before you hire! Hiring a drone photographer anywhere in the world can be a tricky business. Some may be cheap but not good, some may be good but a bit expensive. Behind those price tags, there are reasons. But before you start a project with a drone photographer, consider some essential questions first, so it will be a money well-spent on your side. Always ask questions, you’ve got nothing to lose anyway.

Are you licensed by the DCAA? The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority or DCAA requires all, as in ALL drone owners, whether commercial, professional or hobbyists to register their equipment with them. Unauthorized use of drones can result in massive fines and even jail terms, starting from AED 1,000 to AED 20,000 fine for drone operators, and AED 10,000 to AED 1,000,000 for companies who deal with them. This is for everyone’s safety, as this government body handles qualifying tests, as well as SOPs and rules about no-fly and allowed zones across the UAE.

Are you aware of CamSpeak?It is important to know the qualifications of the Photographer you are hiring. Multi-rotor drones are designed to be manipulated easily, so someone learning how to pilot it will master it in a short period of time. Ask about the photographer’s past projects. Look for someone with a good portfolio of work whether it be aerial or ground. You will need someone who knows what he/she is doing right?

*What equipment do you use? Not all drones perform equally. Just like people, some drones perform well, while others don’t. That’s why pricing and value vary. Always ask your drone pilot what sensors their drones carry. If you want to map a project, you must use the right drone with the right sensors and sensing technology to complete the job.

Insurance on the equipment? A drone pilot must hold certification and provide proof of an insurance policy that covers the drone in case of an accident. The insurance policy should match the level of risk in the project—the higher the risk, the stronger the policy should be.

How many people operate the drone? Mastering the controls builds expertise in everything. One person can man a drone, but complicated shots often make flying it difficult. To cut down costs, people try to manage with a single operator, but that changes things in many ways. Experts always recommend that more than one person operate drone flights: one person controls the drone’s movement and speed, while the other handles the camera.

To sum it up, hiring a drone pilot is serious and can be an expensive business if we don’t ask what are the necessary stuff to know about. So always keep these 5 questions whenever there is a project coming, and always remember to ask before you hire!

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