Weather you’re new to the UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) industry or a seasoned veteran, it is absolutely critical to keep your operations safe and legal.

This is a very confusing process, so we’re here to help you figure it out. And by the end, if you have any questions, we’re always happy to answer.

While we’ll go into some detail on our vetting process, our priority here is to show you how to make sure your UAS operators, weather you hire them through Altuera or any third party, are certificated operators.

Verifying Airman Certification

The first step in making sure your operation is done legally is ensuring your drone operator is properly certified. The FAA requires all commercial drone operators to obtain a part 107 commercial operating certificate. They also require all aircraft over 55 grams to be registered. All Altuera, LLC aircraft are registered.

Luckily, the FAA makes verifying airmen very easy. While we at Altuera verify each and every one of our pilots and keep meticulous records at all times, customers should verify the operator for each flight.

To verify airmen, click the button on the left titled “Airman Inquiry” or visit https://amsrvs.registry.faa.gov/airmeninquiry/ and enter the information of the operator assigned to your flight. Visual observers are not required to hold a part 107 certificate.

Verifying Aircraft Registration

All aircraft participating in commercial operations must be registered with the FAA. However, the public is currently not able to search aircraft by registration.

Aircraft registration numbers are required to be printed somewhere on the drone. This is typically done with a standard label printer, although some individuals or companies choose to display their registration number differently. What you’re looking for is a string of characters, typically starting with FA3. If you don’t see this on the aircraft, we suggest asking the operator where it is.

Federal Regulations

All drone operators must comply with the federal regulations set forth in 14 CFR Part 107. There is an easier to read version available here.

While operators may obtain certain waivers from the FAA to slightly deviate from these regulations, these waivers typically do not get approved for standard operations. You, as a customer, are not expected to read or memorize part 107. However, if you become suspicious of the operator, you may choose to read the regulations. If any Altuera, LLC operators are in violation of these regulations, please report it with the form below.

If you are concerned for the safety of any Altuera, LLC operation, please file a safety report. These reports are not used to seek punitive action, they are strictly used to keep our operations safe.