FAA Compliance

We operate under full compliance of the FAA rules and regulations. As a company and professionals we stay current with the changes in the regulatory landscape and constantly changing technology.

Internal Systems

The Fleet

Our fleet of Commercial (Enterprise level) drones are used to collect the data. The aircrafts are equipped with the latest technology, including infrared sensors, telescopic zoom cameras, and thermal sensors, RTK antennas, etc. These capabilities enable our unmanned aerial systems to detect and uncover details, textures and contrast with millimeter precision level that are not possible with consumer equipment.

Peace of Mind

We carry a 2 million dollar aviation liability insurance. All our pilots hold a current Airman Certificate to operate Unmanned Aerial Systems in controlled airspace and remain current in their knowledge and flying year round. They are trained to acquire the best quality data the systems can provide. This currency is monitored, tracked and documented internally and can be presented during audits or investigations.

Preventative Maintenance

All our equipment is inspected and maintained regularly: preventative maintenance is systematically tracked. We document flight hours of all drone parts; batteries are monitored before, during and after flight. Parameters such as charge cycles, proper voltage, temperature, physical appearance, etc is verified and documented to promote continued safe flights. Software is also validated via firmware updates and aircraft’s tested prior to any missions.

Equipment Integrity

Tracking is important because when a specific piece of equipment is reaching the manufacturer recommended usage limit: we replace it with original parts as soon as possible as a safety measure. Our job is to collect aerial data doing it in the safest way while minimizing risk as much as possible. This is another form of risk management. It is virtually impossible to eliminate risk completely when involved in aviation, having said that, we remove as much risk from the equation as possible.

Mission and Flight Planning

An initial survey of the job site is performed including but not limited to: safe access, airspace users nearby such as aircraft in the air, airports, heliports, hospitals, private airfields, emergency contacts, all NOTAMS (Notice to Airman) that affect the area of operation are read and confirmed. A site plan is created including points of interest, main landing/take off location, backup landing/take off location, restricted areas, no-fly areas, pilot in command locations, visual observers locations (safety marshals), signage, safety cone locations, boundaries, etc. This site plan is mapped and documented for presenting it to the team in the field. This ensures the whole team is aware of the plan, contingencies and hazards. Handheld ultra high frequency radios are utilized to keep the team connected and informed of any fluid situations that may arise during the mission. Air band radios are also used as needed to monitor aviation frequencies in the area of operation. Checklists are used to pack the required equipment including spares. Like NASA, we double up on everything! Pre-flight and post flight checklists are used to insure consistency and safety. An emergency/incident checklist is also available in case something does not go according to plan. So far, we have not had to use it. We want to keep it that way.
That is why we are so thorough every step of the way.

Data Management Starts in the Field

The collected data is verified in the field to ensure quality data was captured during flight. We follow the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy: the original card in the drone is copied to two more locations. Saved to a computer locally and synched over to offsite backup location via Starlink in vehicle.

Industry Standards

The data is processed using the most robust software available for processing photogrammetry and geospatial data. Many products can be created and delivered in a variety of digital formats. From 2D Orthomosaic maps, 3D models (digital twins), digital surface models, point clouds, high resolution, high dynamic range images and video, panoramic or 360 degree images, etc. We can package a product that provides a solution for your specific aerial data needs.

Gone are the days where you can order a drone online, throw it up in the air, take some pictures and charge a person for the work.

More and more law enforcement agencies are enforcing Federal Drone regulations and in many cases prosecuting the offenders. These violations can lead to civil penalties, and in some cases, even criminal penalties, depending on the severity of the infraction. The FAA can assess civil penalties for Part 107 violations, which can range from $1,100 to $75,000, depending on the specific violation and the category of the violator. In some cases, particularly for serious violations, criminal penalties may be imposed, including fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment for up to three years. This is not including any damage you can cause with your drone, you will be liable for that as well.