Frequently Asked Questions
Why hire a Drone Pro?
Our pilots are licensed and approved by the FAA to operate commercially. We have invested countless hours in learning the techniques, understanding the safety issues, experimenting and customizing the equipment, and yes, crashing, so that you do not have to. Your focus can be on the creative message while we take care of getting the right shots for you.
Can the Client be on site?
Yes, and we encourage your active involvement. That said, you don’t need to be on site once we agree to the site and video plan.
Can you fly over crowds of people?
We will not shoot directly over a crowd, but we can get great angle shots of crowds from safe distances. If we are on a closed location shoot, then we can hover overhead as long as all people involved are clearly briefed on safety issues. The pilot reserves discretion to adjust the flight lines for the shot to always take safety as the prime consideration.
Will you rent your rigs out to us?
No, we only offer drones as a service. Our rigs come with a pilot/videographer and a producer/observer. We’re not in the business of renting our equipment.
How long does the battery of the drone last?
With one battery we can fly about 6 – 20 minutes depending on the drone model, weather, winds, etc. We have several drones / UAS birds that have quick-change batteries. Often we can change a battery, power up and be back in the air within 2 minutes or less. We carry multiple batteries for each video drone we fly. Actual battery charge time can take about 3-5 hours each. Keep in mind that time airborne (TA) is the total time including initial run up that the drone is live and rotors are in motion. This includes run up, travel to shot, positioning, shot, and return to land time.
Does weather impact your ability to shoot?
Yes. The equipment is filled with sensitive electronics. If there is rain or snow, we cannot fly the craft. Wind above 8-10 mph makes it difficult to have steady shots and we do not fly in winds above 12 mph. We have mobile access to weather radar and other forecasting tools. We will usually know and plan in advance if we have to delay the shoot by hours or by days.
Do you carry insurance for flights?
Yes. We carry $1 million in liability on a standard shoot, and that can be increased if necessary (additional fee).
What if your rig has a technical problem and can’t fly?
We take great care of our rigs in our workshop and maintain them before and after going to the field. But stuff happens. And that is why we always have backup equipment with us.
Do you work for other production companies?
Yes. Getting a drone operator’s license from the FAA to operate commercially is not easy. This is not a widely available skill set. We do contract our services (pilots and drones) to other production companies at industry fees for internal work.
Is it safe, in general?
In the wrong hands or the wrong location or environment any drone be very dangerous, and there is always a small chance for mechanical or electrical failure. Seattle Drone Pros fly only in controlled situations, and we have strict safety procedures and checklists to ensure maximum safety on set. While we perform extensive pre-shoot and pre-flight inspections, shot engineering, run-throughs, in the end it is up to the pilot to provide a final approval of the flight. If we feel it is unsafe to fly, we don’t fly. Period.