Abigail Roberts discusses the legal responsibilities appraisers should be aware of when using drone technology in an article published by Valuation Review on Monday, July 23.

“Using drone technology can place an appraiser on the cutting edge of the industry. The imaging technology and programming that can be utilized with a drone can provide a significant advantage over others in the industry who has not yet adopted this technology,” she states.

However, there are a number of operational and airspace restrictions that drone operators need to be mindful of to comply with the Federal Aviation Regulations. “First, every drone pilot must have a license, called a Remote Pilot Certification, from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) before they fly,” she explains. “In addition, there are a number of operational restrictions under Part 107, including that drone flights cannot take place over people who are not in a covered structure or directly participating in the operation, flights must occur within the visual line of sight of the operator, and operations can only take place in the daytime and below 400 feet above ground level (or 400 feet above the top of a structure).”

“Many of these regulations can be waived by the FAA, but an application must be submitted and approved by the FAA prior to flight,” Roberts says. “In addition to the federal regulations, appraisers also need to be mindful of state and local regulations in their area.”

For the full article, subscribers to Valuation Review may click here.