When evaluating aerial inspection providers, enterprise facilities teams often focus on sensor specifications and report quality — which are important. But there’s a regulatory dimension that directly impacts your organization’s risk exposure: how your vendor operates under FAA regulations.
The Baseline: Part 107
FAA Part 107 is the regulatory framework governing commercial small unmanned aircraft operations in the United States. It requires remote pilots to pass a knowledge test, register their aircraft, and operate within specific constraints — visual line of sight, below 400 feet AGL, during daylight, and away from restricted airspace without authorization.
Every legitimate commercial aerial inspection provider should hold Part 107 certification. If they don’t, they’re operating illegally and your organization inherits that regulatory risk.
Beyond the Certificate
Holding a Part 107 certificate is the minimum. What matters for enterprise clients is operational discipline:
Airspace Authorization. Many enterprise facilities are located near airports or in controlled airspace. The DC SFRA (Special Flight Rules Area) imposes additional requirements for operations in the National Capital Region. Providers operating in these areas need specific LAANC authorizations or direct FAA coordination. Ask your vendor if they’ve operated in your facility’s airspace class before.
Insurance. Part 107 doesn’t require insurance, but enterprise engagements should. Your vendor should carry aviation liability insurance with limits appropriate to the value of the infrastructure they’re inspecting. Request a certificate of insurance before the first mission.
Crew Qualifications. A Part 107 certificate validates knowledge, not proficiency. Ask about your vendor’s crew training program, flight hours, and experience with your specific facility type. Inspecting a 500-acre data center campus requires different skills than photographing a construction site.
Incident History. Ask whether your vendor has had any incidents, accidents, or FAA enforcement actions. A clean record matters — and a vendor willing to share this information transparently signals operational maturity.
What to Ask
Before engaging any aerial inspection provider, enterprise facilities teams should request:
- Current Part 107 certificate for all pilots who will operate on your site
- Proof of aircraft registration
- Certificate of aviation liability insurance
- Documentation of airspace authorization for your facility’s location
- Description of safety protocols and emergency procedures
These aren’t unreasonable requests — they’re standard due diligence for any vendor operating aircraft over your critical infrastructure. A provider who can’t produce these documents quickly shouldn’t be operating over your facilities.