Hire a verified and insured UK commercial drone pilot

There is no longer a separate UK "commercial drone licence". The old Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) was withdrawn when the UK introduced its current risk-based drone regulations. Being paid for a flight does not, by itself, determine which qualification or authorisation is required.

Instead, the legal requirements depend on the aircraft, the location, proximity to people and the nature of the proposed operation.

Drone Assisted does not apply the same qualification requirement to every pilot or every flight. We verify the core documents required for network membership and then check the additional requirements applicable to each assignment before dispatch.

Where training or refresher qualifications are needed, we point pilots to the official CAA list of approved training providers. Operator and Flyer IDs are issued through the CAA drone and model aircraft register, and Drone Assisted follows the professional standards promoted by ARPAS UK, the UK drone industry association.

• Identity and contact details checked
• CAA Flyer ID checked where required
• CAA Operator ID checked where required
• Commercial third-party insurance checked
• Insurance policyholder and validity dates confirmed
• Drone equipment and capabilities recorded
• Relevant experience and sample work reviewed
• A2 CofC checked where an A2 operation is proposed
• GVC or Remote Pilot Certificate checked where required by an Operational Authorisation
• Operational Authorisation checked where the assignment falls within the Specific Category
• Expiry reminders and compliance holds applied through the platform

A pilot does not need to hold every possible qualification to join the network. They must only accept and complete assignments that fall within their legal permissions, competence, insurance and equipment capabilities.

Businesses should use a properly registered, insured and competent drone pilot whenever imagery, video or aerial data is being collected for commercial purposes. The exact registrations, qualifications and authorisations needed will depend on the planned operation.

• Insurance evidence — claims imagery for property, storm, flood and fire damage
• Roof and building inspections — roofs, chimneys, cladding, cell towers, wind turbines, bridges
• Storm, flood and fire damage — rapid site documentation for insurers and loss adjusters
• Thermal surveys — heat loss, water ingress, electrical hot-spots
• Solar-panel inspections — thermal and visual PV fault detection
• Construction monitoring — progress imagery and volumetric measurement
• Mapping and photogrammetry — orthomosaics, 3D models, topographic data
• Property marketing — aerial stills and video for brochures and listings
• Agriculture and land surveys — crop, boundary and land-use imagery
• Emergency-response support — rapid situational awareness after incidents

Not sure which specialism your job needs? Submit a brief and we'll match it to the right pilot before you pay anything. Drone Assisted works with CAA registered drone pilots across the UK, providing insured drone pilot cover and UK drone services including drone inspection pilot work and specialist aerial data capture.

Tell us what you need and where the work will take place. Drone Assisted will assess the requirements and match your business with a suitably registered, insured and qualified pilot.

Drone regulations and individual operating requirements may change. Eligibility to complete an assignment depends on the aircraft, location, airspace, people present and the proposed operation. Drone Assisted checks pilot credentials and job requirements, but the drone operator and remote pilot remain responsible for conducting each flight safely and legally.