Getting a 333 is not the end of the requirements. There is still state licensing, insurance, flight ops manuals that include checklists, maintenance procedures, and record keeping.
Focus on building up a complete program and operating in the most professional manner that you can.
Once you step into the professional realm, it is no longer a hobby.
Forget making money for now and focus on operating professionally so that when you do get all the paperwork lined up, you will be way ahead of where you would be otherwise.
Once the FAA starts issuing hefty fines to those operating outside the requirements, you will find yourself out in front of the competition.
You can't go wrong by doing it the right way, and you won't have the fear the FAA.
Recce2- where might I find more info on putting together a proper program?
There's lots of great info here- spread out over many topics & posts. But if you can point a few links out that would help me organize it a bit that would be appreciated.
I do more stills than video, though of course I want to provide video for clients that want it.
For me it would be more real estate and added value to corporate and editorial still shoots.
Couple other questions about the 333 rules that I'm fuzzy on :
The COA - is that something that we have to get for every assignment? For many shoots that's not practical as we are so weather dependent- "looks like a good day to fly today/ tomorrow, shoot it while we can...." It would be near impossible to apply for permission to shoot on particular day & location in advance. And how long does that process take?
Or- is a COA something you apply for to allow us to fly in a local area- as in "I need to operate in the Chicago & surrounding area, within the FAA guidelines of course" and if I have an upcoming job is say Pheonix, need to get a COA for Pheonix? Definitely fuzzy about this.
Also, once we have the 333- and of course a Pilot to operate...- all commercial shoots at this point really limited to 200', not 400?
For a lot of real estate 200 might be enough, but many commercial properties really need that 400' that hobbyists can now do.
Often we won't know if we need more than 200' until on site.
Are all of you shooting commercially with your 333' staying under 200'? Can you get permission for a particular job to go higher?
Thx for the info.