I'm still on the fence about taking this test even though I am a licensed pilot.
In CA, being commercial will no doubt entail getting a permit to shoot aerials commercially with the local film commission, especially in So. CA. Having gone through that permit expense in the past, and finding it can costs thousands per day along with maybe establishing a $2K-$5K credit account to draw from with FilmLA in order to shorten an aerial shoot lead-time (That can take forever!), plus mandatory insurance for a permit, the hobbyist side may be more suitable for me.
Since the FAA decided posting on Facebook is "commercial use" since they runs ads (See: The FAA Says You Can't Post Drone Videos on YouTube ), I don't use Facebook so that doesn't entice me either into the commercial realm. Paying $150 for the test just to post on Facebook "commercially" isn't that beneficial if you also factor in the locales permit fees. That and posting in FB what may be an violation of the FAA rules or the city's drone ordinances too which seem to be growing (See photo attached I just got.), or lack of paying off the film commission and permit outfit and and getting caught.
If the commercial side offered some benefits like being a bit lax in the NFZ, night flights, reduced general liability insurance rates if it becomes mandated in CA, etc. then maybe it would entice me. For now, I'm still contemplating and in no hurry as this unfolds. What they come up on the hobbyists side at year's end might be more persuasive to make a move - or maybe not.
In CA, being commercial will no doubt entail getting a permit to shoot aerials commercially with the local film commission, especially in So. CA. Having gone through that permit expense in the past, and finding it can costs thousands per day along with maybe establishing a $2K-$5K credit account to draw from with FilmLA in order to shorten an aerial shoot lead-time (That can take forever!), plus mandatory insurance for a permit, the hobbyist side may be more suitable for me.
Since the FAA decided posting on Facebook is "commercial use" since they runs ads (See: The FAA Says You Can't Post Drone Videos on YouTube ), I don't use Facebook so that doesn't entice me either into the commercial realm. Paying $150 for the test just to post on Facebook "commercially" isn't that beneficial if you also factor in the locales permit fees. That and posting in FB what may be an violation of the FAA rules or the city's drone ordinances too which seem to be growing (See photo attached I just got.), or lack of paying off the film commission and permit outfit and and getting caught.
If the commercial side offered some benefits like being a bit lax in the NFZ, night flights, reduced general liability insurance rates if it becomes mandated in CA, etc. then maybe it would entice me. For now, I'm still contemplating and in no hurry as this unfolds. What they come up on the hobbyists side at year's end might be more persuasive to make a move - or maybe not.