Do you need a drone pilot? Here are 3 things you need to know

Do you want a mapping survey or aerial footage? Before relying on someone, there are three things you need to know.

We have already seen in some previous articles that today SAPR Operators (remotely piloted aircraft system operators), i.e. those commonly called "drone pilots", are in high demand in many fields: from photography and the film industry to civil engineering operations, from security to the mapping of agricultural areas, building land, at-risk territories, etc.

In light of current data, it is certain that in the coming years both public bodies and private companies operating in cross-sector fields will increasingly need to rely on this type of professional.

The boom in purchases of multicopters and small-to-medium-sized model aircraft in 2014 would make you think that Italy and the world are full of drone pilots!

In reality this is not quite the case, and for anyone who needs an aerial filming service or an activity that requires the use of a SAPR, it is wise to always keep 3 fundamental concepts in mind, to avoid unpleasant situations:

#1 - Having a drone doesn't make you a pilot

It is not enough for your trusted photographer to have bought and know how to fly a drone in order to provide services as a SAPR operator. To operate a drone, for your own purposes or on behalf of third parties, you must complete a course delivered by bodies and companies recognised by ENAC and the drone itself must also be properly recognised and "registered". The reason is not that hard to guess: multicopters are real aircraft, and the fact that they can be controlled from a distance means it must be possible to trace them back to their owner and to the operations the latter is authorised to carry out. It is a matter of safety and protection for property and people.
WARNING: if a pilot is not recognised by ENAC (nor is the drone they use), they are not authorised to enter into commercial contracts until this is in order.

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#2 - You can't fly just anywhere

The Italian National Civil Aviation Authority has issued very strict rules not only regarding the certifications required for SAPR operators, but also regarding the areas that can be "overflown" with a drone. The restrictions are the same as those that apply to all other aircraft, and the areas over which you can fly are divided into 3 main subcategories: critical areas, non-critical areas and operations in mixed areas.

Flying over crowds of people is considered dangerous; uninhabited areas, where there is no risk to property or people, are not risk zones (always, however, at no more than 70 metres in height and within a 200-metre radius). Mixed zones are located within or near critical areas where it is nevertheless possible to identify a free zone, i.e. an area of minimised risk.

It is important that the client has an idea of the "plausible" requests to make to their SAPR service provider and does not induce them to commit violations, although a professional operator with good work ethics will be the first to tell the client which operations are unlikely to obtain permission from ENAC.

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#3 - In case of a violation, the client is responsible too

The main responsibility for carrying out the work in compliance with the rules (which are, moreover, shared abroad and even less strict than in other countries) obviously lies with the operator who is commissioned to do the job.

However, in case of a violation of the rules, the law also holds the client responsible.
If the drone pilot or their aircraft are not recognised, if the aircraft is not insured, if the service is carried out over risk areas and without authorisation, the law provides for significant responsibilities for clients as well, as clearly specified in Article 6 of the ENAC Regulation:

"... in the case of specialised operations on behalf of third parties, an agreement must be entered into between the SAPR operator and the client in which the parties define their respective responsibilities and agree on the suitability of the SAPR (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) for the specific flight operation and on any related limitations and conditions, also with regard to the data protection provisions of Article 22 of this regulation)."

You may also be interested in the article ENAC rules explained in plain words

If a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer, a driver, a teacher or a swimming instructor need certifications and authorisations to do their job, it is not so strange that a complex job like the SAPR Operator must also operate while guaranteeing the safety and the interests of their clients, don't you think?