01/27/2016
Aerial Oklahoma FAA approved for legal commercial use of drone in Oklahoma
Locally owned, Aerial Oklahoma, is approved for commercial drone use by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Aerial Oklahoma applied for the legal exemption March 30th, 2015 being the first applicant in the state of Oklahoma. By meeting all extensive requirements, Aerial Oklahoma received their exemption on June 5th, 2015 to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to conduct aerial photography and surveying.
Aerial Oklahoma is the local leader in aerial photography and imagery in the state of Oklahoma. Services offered include vertical imagery and mapping, angle and oblique photography, construction progressions, historical decade packages, stock imagery and now commercial drone use.
Since 1996, Aerial Oklahoma is constantly moving with the latest technologies and trends to be the best for their clients. From the latest 50 megapixel digital camera, 177 Cardinal plane with 4 photography windows and vertical camera port, certified pilot and camera crew, even legal UAV and drone photography and video.
Aerial Oklahoma purchased a DJI, INSPIRE 1 PRO model drone/UAS with 16 megapixel camera earlier this year. To continue to follow the FAA guidelines and safety, all aircraft must be registered with FAA. Aerial Oklahoma received their aircraft N number registration on October 23, 2015.
Aerial Oklahoma holds safety as a top concern. As being a local business, Aerial Oklahoma is held to the highest standards by the FAA to insure all safety and privacy of other aircraft and persons are kept. Here are just some of the requirements Aerial Oklahoma must hold to operate a UAS/drone safely.
The UA may not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour).
The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). Altitude must be reported in feet AGL.
The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA-issued airman medical certificate or U.S. driver’s license.
Under this grant of exemption, a PIC must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate.
The operator may not permit any PIC to operate unless the PIC demonstrates the ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be 5 operated under this exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structures.
The UA may not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) or for airports not denoted with an ARP, the center of the airport symbol as denoted on the current FAA-published aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder.
All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification 6 (N−Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. Markings must be as large as practicable.
The UA must remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and activities at all times.
At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this exemption must submit a written Plan of Activities to the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) with jurisdiction over the area of proposed filming. The 3-day notification may be waived with the concurrence of the FSDO. The plan of activities must include at least the following: a. Dates and times for all flights; b. Name and phone number of the operator for the UAS aerial filming conducted under this grant of exemption; c. Name and phone number of the person responsible for the on-scene operation of the UAS; d. Make, model, and serial or N−Number of UAS to be used; e. Name and certificate number of UAS PICs involved in the aerial filming; f. A statement that the operator has obtained permission from property owners and/or local officials to conduct the filming production event; the list of those who gave permission must be made available to the inspector upon request; g. Signature of exemption holder or representative; and h. A description of the flight activity, including maps or diagrams of any area, city, town, county, and/or state over which filming will be conducted and the altitudes essential to accomplish the operation.
Personal drone/UAS are not held to this standard but could have to follow many of the requirements in the future. If you would like to see the exemption or registration information for Aerial Oklahoma please visit their website at aerialok.com. If you have any questions or are interested in working with Aerial Oklahoma and their drone/UVA abilities, please contact Aerial Oklahoma.
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Conditions and Limitations of drone operation was not fully listed. To find the full list specific to Aerial Oklahoma, please see the link to their FAA exemption at aerialok.com.
Contact Details:
Aerial Oklahoma Inc
4501 N Classen Blvd Ste 113
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 840-8977
