Drone Pilot For Insurance Adjusters: An Innovative Career Guide

Drones are increasingly being used in the insurance industry to aid insurance adjusters in their work. They are a valuable tool for adjusters as they can improve efficiency, safety, and the quality of work.

To become a drone pilot for insurance adjusters, you will need to obtain a drone license or certification. In the US, this is done through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which grants a Remote Pilot Certificate to those who pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test.

It is important to note that drones do not replace human adjusters but rather assist them in their work. Drones have limitations, such as battery life and restricted flight areas, and may require specialized knowledge to operate effectively.

By combining the skills of a licensed insurance adjuster with FAA drone certifications and UAV flight training, professionals can enhance their capabilities and better serve customers in the insurance industry.

Drones are safer, faster, and more efficient than manual inspections

Drones are increasingly being used in industries that require visual inspections as part of their maintenance procedures. They help inspectors avoid dangerous situations and speed up their collection of data. For example, instead of climbing several stories up a cell tower, an inspector can now fly a drone up to capture all the visual data needed to complete an inspection.

Drones are also more efficient than manual inspections. They reduce the number of tools an adjuster has to travel with and help them do their job faster. This, in turn, helps the adjuster assist more people. A drone can perform the duties of a ladder, a measuring tape, a camera, and more. They can provide immediate footage of the condition of tall structures, making case resolution a much faster process.

Drones are also more cost-effective than manual inspections. While there are high-end drones that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, reliable models with good camera quality can be found for a few hundred dollars. These models are more than capable of helping insurance adjusters.

Drones are also safer than manual inspections. They remove the need for inspectors to enter potentially dangerous scenarios, like climbing towers or high scaffolding. Drones can also be equipped with collision avoidance, geofencing, and real-time kinematic (RTK) positioning technology to protect them from damage.

In addition, drones can provide better records than manual inspections. Drone data represents a meticulous record of the condition of an asset over time. By archiving visual data, companies have a digital footprint of the asset’s life history that can be accessed at any time. This can be especially useful for insurance companies, who can use drone data to assess roof damage claims.

Overall, drones offer a safer, faster, and more efficient alternative to manual inspections. They can help inspectors avoid dangerous situations, speed up data collection, reduce costs, and provide better records.

They can access hazardous areas and provide detailed images

Drones are increasingly being used by insurance adjusters to access hazardous areas and provide detailed images. They can be deployed to disaster areas, which can be perilous and stressful. For example, after a hurricane, flood, or wildfire, insurance companies need to quickly assess the damage and pay out claims to affected homes and businesses. In these situations, adjusters may have to climb onto roofs that are no longer structurally sound, which can be dangerous.

Drones can fly over damaged buildings and record footage, providing adjusters with insights into the condition of the roof before they climb onto it. This helps to ensure that adjusters don't encounter any nasty surprises, such as weak floorboards or slippery shingles, when inspecting a roof. Drones can also be used to inspect damaged roofs without the need for adjusters to climb ladders or use third-party ladder assistance companies, reducing the time and costs associated with inspections.

Drones can provide detailed images of damaged areas, with the ability to capture aerial photos and videos in 4K HD quality. This allows adjusters to safely gather the evidence needed to process insurance claims. For example, drones can take high-resolution images of damaged roofs, providing more detailed information than traditional manual inspections. This can help speed up the claims process and improve customer satisfaction.

In addition to providing access to hazardous areas and detailed images, drones offer several other benefits to insurance adjusters. They can reduce the number of tools an adjuster needs to carry, improve efficiency, and lower costs. Drones can perform the functions of multiple traditional tools, such as ladders, measuring tapes, and cameras. They can also help adjusters assist more people by reducing the time required to process each claim.

Drones are affordable, with reliable models available for a few hundred dollars

Drones are an increasingly popular tool for insurance adjusters, offering improved safety and efficiency. They are also highly affordable, with reliable models available for a few hundred dollars.

Drones are now widely used by insurance companies to assess damage and other property issues. They can access areas that are unsafe or inaccessible to humans, such as damaged roofs or stolen vehicles in ditches. This helps to keep adjusters safe and reduces the need for safety equipment like harnesses and third-party ladder companies, which can slow down the inspection process.

There are various affordable drones on the market that are suitable for insurance adjusters. For example, the NEHEME NH525 Foldable Drone is a good portable option for insurance adjusters. It has a full HD camera, a 10-13 minute flight time, and propeller guards for safety. The Holy Stone GPS Drone is another good choice, offering a 46-minute flight time and a 4K ultra-clear camera. The GGBOND Drone for Adults is a beginner-friendly option with an intelligent voice control system and gesture control.

These drones typically cost a few hundred dollars and can be written off as a business expense at tax time. This makes them a cost-effective solution for insurance adjusters, helping to speed up the claims process and improve safety.

Drone pilots must obtain a Remote Pilot Certificate or similar qualification

The FAA's Part 107 rules, launched in 2016, formalised the rules for commercial drone operations, making it possible to make money in the drone industry. The rules cover areas such as registration, certification, and operational limitations. Obtaining the Part 107 certificate is an important step for anyone wanting to work as a drone pilot in the insurance industry. It demonstrates a level of professionalism and ensures that pilots are operating within the legal framework.

In addition to the Part 107 certificate, drone pilots may also need to obtain waivers or additional certifications depending on the specific requirements of their state or region. For example, property near airports, government agencies, or military bases may have restricted drone flight paths. Obtaining these waivers can be a complex and time-consuming process, and it is important for drone pilots to be aware of the regulations in their area.

Drone pilots should also consider joining drone pilot networks or associations, which can provide additional benefits such as access to jobs, networking opportunities, and support. These networks can help pilots connect with insurance adjusters and find opportunities to utilise their drone skills. Additionally, further training and education can help drone pilots stay up-to-date with the latest industry developments and improve their employability.

Drone pilots can join networks to find freelance work with insurance companies

• DroneBase — DroneBase employs pilots for specific drone jobs and also pays for stock aerial images and video. Pilots can use the Drone Pilot Network to communicate directly with clients, set the terms of a job, and receive payment.
• Measure — Measure connects pilots with drone work in the U.S. and is currently looking for certified drone pilots to do mapping and aerial imaging in various industries.
• Droners.io — Droners.io is a network for commercial drone pilots that lets pilots bid on projects and takes a 10% commission from the payout.
• DroneHive — DroneHive is a nationwide network of more than 1,000 professional drone consultants and pilots.
• PrecisionHawk Drone Pilot Network — PrecisionHawk contracts with pilots in the Drone Pilot Network to execute missions on behalf of its clients. Pilots can bid on opportunities in a variety of applications, including mapping, inspections, monitoring, and search and rescue.

In addition to these networks, drone pilots can also find freelance work with insurance companies by joining online communities and forums, such as the Commercial sUAS Remote Pilots Facebook page. It's also important to note that most insurance companies will require drone pilots to have the necessary certifications and licenses, such as the FAA's Part 107 drone pilot license, before they can be hired for freelance work.

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