Drone insurance is an important part to being successful in the UAS industry. It’s a crucial component whether you’re a small aerial services start-up or an established corporation, which is why our drone academy recently hosted a drone insurance webinar. Our Co-Founder and CEO, Abby Speicher, spoke with insurance industry experts, Chris Proudlove of Global Aerospace and Jay Bregman of Verifly, on the most important drone insurance considerations, insurance options, how to obtain insurance, tips, best practices and more.

DARTdrones Drone Insurance Webinar

With the growth of the drone industry comes more Part 107 drone pilots flying for commercial drone use. These pilots can experience risks such as crashes from unpredictable weather, UAV malfunction, and more. Watch our new webinar, Insurance Considerations for Drone Pilots Featuring Global Aerospace and Verifly, to discover your options for staying safe in 2018.

What you will learn:

• Drone Pilot Risk Factors
• Why Buy Drone Insurance
• Types of Insurance
• Factors to Consider for Drone Pilots
• Budgeting
• Global Aerospace Insurance
• Verifly Insurance
• Affects of Insurance
• Best Practices

Watch the full webinar here!

About DARTdrones Drone Academy

With 40 expert flight instructors educating drone pilots in 40+ cities across the U.S., DARTdrones Drone Academy is the nation’s leader in drone training, Part 107 test prep, advanced industry specific training, and consultation services. For more information, visit www.dartdrones.com or call us at 800-264-3907.

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Insurance claims adjusters know a thing-or-two about high-risk jobs. They perform on-scene investigations of accidents, fires, crimes and property damages to determine what is or what is not covered by the insurance provider. Natural disasters are a huge problem for insurance companies in general, but for the claims adjuster on the ground, the aftermath of these terrible events makes for a treacherous workspace.

Insurance inspection drones and safety

Insurance companies will no longer have to put agents in harm’s way after natural disasters. Now, claims adjusters can use insurance inspection drones to investigate damages caused by these events from a safe distance. Previously, insurance companies had to send an adjuster to the scene of a disaster with only a digital camera. These adjusters would have to investigate unsafe structures, hazardous materials, or loose electrical wiring.

No longer will investigators need to risk falling from a ladder, trudging through murky water, or injuring themselves on the job. Inspection drones provide on-scene investigators with a bird’s eye view. Instantly, investigators can document the magnitude of the situation and perform accordingly. The pilot can maneuver the drone into risky environments or locations that are not safely reachable by humans.

Claim adjuster drone pilot

An adjuster can not simply buy a drone and take it to a scene before accomplishing a few steps. First, the pilot must become FAA Part 107 certified to fly an insurance inspection drone for commercial use. Second, it is a very important for the pilot to receive drone flight training. It is likely that a pilot investigating natural disaster scenes will face difficult flying conditions. Also, investigating property for insurance purposes is a specific task that only the trained eye knows what to look for.

Cost effective addition

Not only will drones cut down on the risk of employee injury and compensation, but they will save money on equipment. Inspection drones, for these types of situations, can be purchased for $1000 and up. Most drones today carry high-quality cameras with HD and 4k capabilities that provide insurance investigators with clear photographs of whatever they are examining. This takes away the risk of having to replace equipment that was damaged due to being dropped or damaged on the scene.

An insurance drone is a far cheaper and safer method than a manned helicopter or airplane. Also, drones can be equipped with thermal imaging cameras and operate in low-visibility conditions that manned aircraft could not. The size and weight of these devices make them a lot more versatile. The majority of these insurance drones can be transported in a small carrying case. This means that numerous agents can transport these devices to a scene and cover more than one claim at a time. More claims being covered at once means that insurance companies can settle claims at a faster rate.

Learn more

We are here to help. Our expert instructors care about providing the most up-to-date training.  We offer Part 107 test prep and drone flight training programs for people of all skill levels. Our UAV beginner courses are great for anyone who is new to the industry and looking to get started. We also offer unmanned aircraft advanced training courses for the more experienced pilot or anyone looking to learn a specific trade. Check out DARTdrones or call 800.264.3907 to learn more information.

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No, drones will not be replacing claims adjusters. Instead, they will become a new tool in the insurance claims adjusters’ toolkit. Many adjusters are now becoming Part 107 certified drone pilots and using unmanned aircraft to assist them on the job. Here are a few reasons why drones will not replace insurance claims adjusters.

Human sense of insurance claims adjusters

Sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste – the beautiful things that make us human. Taste doesn’t really apply here…but I guess it can in certain situations? Eyesight is shared with our robotic friends. Drones carry amazing cameras that can capture beautiful aerial photography and stream video instantly, but they do not have the eye of an insurance claims adjuster.

Becoming an insurance claims adjuster is no easy task. First, you need to earn a high school diploma, then a college degree, then you need to study, then you need to pass your state exam, and then you can become licensed.It takes years to develop the keen eye for detail that insurance claims adjusters have. Yes, the technology and capabilities of drones are advancing, but any good insurance claims adjuster knows that the rarer the claim, the bigger the reward.

Unnamed aircraft also lack the other senses that make insurance claims adjusters good at their jobs. For instance, the vast majority of drones cannot feel a weak floorboard crack beneath it, recognize distinct smells like a gas leak, or hear water dripping from a leaky pipe.

UAV limitations and restrictions

 As advanced and beneficial as they are, drones are only equipment – and equipment can break. Although most modern drones are known to be pretty reliable; they are built of thousands of little moving pieces that rely on each other to work. A malfunction in one section of the drone can bring the entire device to a halt.

Also, drones operate on changeable battery power and batteries will die. Replacement batteries are relatively cheap and people tend to carry spares but we are human and we forget things. Malfunctions or drained batteries in the remote viewing device (i.e. iPad, iPhone, Android, etc.) may also render your drone useless in the field. Insurance claims adjusters must still be able to complete the job if their drone no longer works.

Drones can’t fly anywhere and everywhere. Insurance claims adjusters must have the proper UAV certifications, such as the FAA Part 107, and proper drone flight training to operate their aircraft. They must also know the airspace they are flying in. Property near airports, government agencies, and/or military bases may be restricted for drone flight unless the operator has the appropriate waivers. These types of waiver are not typically easy or timely for drone pilots to obtain.

Looking upward

Unmanned aircraft will not replace the insurance claims adjuster but become a trusted tool. Drones do offer many amazing safety benefits to an adjuster and may even replace their ladders, but not their jobs. A licensed insurance claims adjuster with proper FAA drone certifications and UAV flight training is a fantastic combination for companies across the country. Together, they will change the entire insurance industry.

DARTdrones is here to help! Whether you need Part 107 Test Prep, In-Person Flight Training, or Drone Consultation Services to ensure your flight operations are properly organized and run smoothly, our expert team of sUAS professionals are ready to help launch your organization’s drone program. Check out www.dartdrones.com or call 800.264.3907 to learn more information.

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Benefits of Insurance Industry Drones

Reduce limitations of insurance inspections

Whether it’s a steep roof or a building that has severe fire damage, flying a commercial drone will reduce the level of risk associated with a traditional inspection and allow the company to proceed with an assessment if safety considerations would restrict their ability to conduct a traditional inspection. If a crop insurer has to inspect a farmer’s fields, it’s easier and more cost effective to fly a drone rather than renting big machinery like cherry pickers and manned aircrafts. Many drone platforms can also utilize advanced camera systems such as thermal imaging and near infrared; both of which can enhance the comprehensiveness of an inspection depending on the type of assessment being conducted.

Increase your team’s efficiency

It’s no secret that drones move faster than humans. Flying a drone for insurance purposes can cover a larger geographic area since drones can travel more quickly than we can. This can help your team with time management and efficiency. Adjusters will be able to visit/inspect more properties per day.

Add to customer satisfaction

Insurance industry drones can provide enhanced, more precise information. Drone training will allow for better customer satisfaction and therefore create a more profitable team.

Increase safety of employees

Manually inspecting roofs can be a dangerous task, especially if the roof is steep or has suffered fire damage. Instead of having the liability of an employee getting injured, send your drone up to do the rooftop inspection. The drone can capture detailed photos of parts of the roof that are not accessible to humans. Insurance industry drones for roof inspections is actually the most common use for insurers and adjusters.

A one-time investment of purchasing a drone and getting commercial drone training can save you from many headaches and issues down the road!

For more information on flying drones for commercial use or getting your Part 107, visit www.dartdrones.com or call us at 800-264-3907.

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