Drone Insight: I Got My Remote Pilot’s License, And You Can Too!

If you are contemplating taking your remote pilot’s license test to become certified for using drones in commercial applications, look no further. I’ll be talking to you today about realizing your dreams of being paid to fly drones all day (experiences may vary). I’ve been working with drones since before the the FAA regulations came, out so I’ve been lucky enough to learn all the Do’s and Dont’s of drone flying. What my work didn’t prepare me for on the test was… most of the test. When I started looking up various study guides for the test, I realized that it was going to be a lot harder than I thought. You will have to learn to read sectional charts and Metar reports. I know that sounds scary but there are plenty of resources to help you along your journey.

Let’s start off with the FAA study guide here. It is long, and dry, but it gets the job done. If you are more of a visual learner then I suggest this video. It is comprehensive and it helped me a lot. I think most hard core enthusiasts will be able to pass the exam just based on the video alone. But if you want to get a better score than I did, then you should spend some time learning to read sectional charts. The test itself typically costs around $150 dollars. It must be taken at an authorized testing facility. You can find a test site close to you, here.

If you happen to fail the test, you can take it again 2 weeks later, but you will not be refunded the cost of the test. If you pass the test, then you’re going to have to register your score to get your certificate sent to you by entering in your test information here. Once you get your certificate in the mail, you can now legally use a drone for commercial purposes! Photography is just the beginning. You could use a drone for an immeasurable amount of purposes. Find a commercial application that works for you and capitalize. Good luck on your test and always remember to Know Before You Fly.