Advance warning can avoid delays and costly mistakes
As I have mentioned before, because of the local airports and military bases, around 60 percent of Hampton Roads is restricted airspace.
For example, Oceana's airspace covers most of Virginia Beach, from the oceanfront to almost Town Center.
Where Oceana's airspace ends, Norfolk International Airport's airspace begins, covering most of Norfolk from Ocean View down to Waterside.
After that, with Naval Station Norfolk, Langley, Fort Eustis and Newport News/Williamsburg Airport, restricted airspace covers the Peninsula up to around Yorktown.
When flying in an FAA controlled airspace, such as
Norfolk International Airport, permissions can sometimes be obtained
through the LAANC - Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability - system. If you want to fly higher than that location allows, you have to apply a few days out.
Some of this preparation can take a few days, depending on the exact location, time of day of the shoot, and length of the job.
This is why professional drone pilots like me often need at least a week's notice when being asked to take aerial photos, even for a small real estate shoot.
Having such notice gives us time to get our ducks in a row, and also gives time to plan the shoot for a nice day, so the photos turn out their best.
Having such notice enables the task to be carried out legally and avoid possible fines, not just for the pilot but also for the person hiring them.
Several things have to be considered when you're using aerial photos and video to promote yourself. This is where an experienced, licensed and insured photographer can really make you stand out from the crowd.
Terry Young is an FAA licensed drone pilot and professional photographer and videographer. His 30 plus years of experience in pre- and post-production of both still photography and video, coupled with the latest equipment, enable him to capture amazing, high quality images.
