Hi everyone. New to the site, but enjoying it already. I'm wondering if anyone here flies their drone for commercial use and has petitioned for and/or received an exemption to Section 333 from the FAA? I'm a professional photographer by trade and I want to use my DJI Phantom 3 to expand my fine art offerings for my photography business. However, FAA restrictions say that to sell my photos commercially, I must petition for the exemption and acquire at least a sport pilot's license. I have no interest in learning how to fly an airplane, which would be required to earn the license. Is there any way around this? Can petition for an exemption to the specific part of Section 333 that requires the license? Has anyone else done that? Thanks for any input. This law is cumbersome and overbroad.
My suggestion would be to somewhat wait it out. There are various pieces of legislation in the works which will exempt smaller drones such as the Phantom 3 from these ridiculous requirements. Although by the letter of the recommendations you cannot hire yourself out, keep in mind that thousands of people post videos on youtube and pictures on various web sites. Youtube "makes them money" from their video. I don't sell pictures but I use them in books I may write or in articles I make money from. So there are probably some gray areas especially as this is all being worked out in Congress.
