Quick Answer: Look for FAA Part 107 certification, $5M+ liability insurance, PE-certified reports, AI defect detection capabilities, and a track record with buildings similar to yours. Get at least three quotes and compare deliverables, not just price.
Why Choosing the Right Company Matters
The drone inspection industry has grown rapidly, and not all providers offer the same level of service. Some are photographers with drones. Others are engineering-grade inspection firms. The difference matters when your report needs to satisfy SB-4D compliance, support an insurance claim, or inform a million-dollar capital decision.
Are Your Pilots FAA Part 107 Certified?
This is non-negotiable. All commercial drone operations in the United States require FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates. Ask to see certificates — not just claims. Beyond basic Part 107, ask about experience with urban airspace, night operations authorization, and Remote ID compliance.
What Insurance Coverage Do You Carry?
Professional drone inspection companies should carry general liability ($5M+ preferred), drone hull insurance, professional liability (E&O), and workers compensation. Ask for certificates of insurance (COIs) before any work begins.
Do You Provide PE-Certified Reports?
For building inspections in Florida, a PE-certified report means the findings have been reviewed and stamped by a licensed Professional Engineer. This is critical for SB-4D milestone inspection compliance, SIRS documentation, code enforcement submissions, and insurance claims.
What Camera and Sensor Technology Do You Use?
Ask about camera resolution (20MP minimum, 50MP for hairline crack detection), thermal sensors (FLIR radiometric cameras), GPS accuracy (RTK for centimeter positioning), and drone platform (enterprise-grade vs consumer).
Do You Use AI for Defect Detection?
AI-powered defect detection offers automated classification of 15-20 defect types, consistent severity ratings, GPS-referenced defect maps, calculated square footage of affected areas, and rapid processing versus weeks of manual review.
What Is Your Typical Report Turnaround?
Industry standard: 5-10 business days without AI, 24-48 hours with AI processing. If a company quotes 3-4 weeks, they are likely reviewing images manually — which also means higher error rates.
What Percentage of the Building Do You Cover?
| Method | Coverage | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ground-level visual | 5-10% | $2,000 - $5,000 |
| Scaffolding | 10-15% | $15,000 - $90,000 |
| Basic drone photography | 40-60% | $1,000 - $3,000 |
| Professional drone inspection | 90-100% | $4,000 - $12,000 |
Can You Show Me a Sample Report?
A professional report should include: executive summary, GPS-referenced defect map, individual defect photographs with annotations, thermal analysis overlay, repair priority recommendations, PE engineer stamp, and exportable formats (PDF + Excel). If the sample looks like a PowerPoint with aerial photos and no engineering analysis, look elsewhere.
Comparing Drone Inspection Companies
| Criteria | Red Flags | Green Flags |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Under $1,000 for commercial | $4,000-$12,000 with clear deliverables |
| Certification | Cannot show Part 107 | Part 107 + PE-certified reports |
| Insurance | No COI available | $5M+ liability with COI on request |
| Technology | Consumer drone, no thermal | Enterprise drone, 50MP + FLIR |
| Coverage | Cannot specify percentage | Guarantees 90-100% |
| AI | Manual review only | AI defect classification + manual QA |
| Turnaround | 3-4 weeks | Days, not weeks |
Ready to work with a company that checks every box? Request a free quote from AERIALLY.AI — PE-certified reports, AI defect detection, and 90-100% coverage.
Need a Building Inspection?
Get a free consultation and custom quote — 1-hour average response time. PE-certified reports. significantly less than scaffolding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What certifications should a drone inspection company have?
At minimum, all pilots must hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates. The company should carry liability insurance ($5M+ preferred), and for building inspections, they should offer PE-certified reports from a licensed Professional Engineer.
How much should a drone building inspection cost?
Residential drone inspections typically cost $150-$500. Commercial building inspections range from $2,500-$12,000 depending on building size and services included. Be wary of quotes under $1,000 for commercial buildings — they likely lack PE certification and AI analysis.
What is the difference between drone photography and drone inspection?
Drone photography captures aerial images. Drone inspection is a systematic, engineering-grade data collection process that produces actionable reports with defect classification, GPS coordinates, severity ratings, and PE-certified repair recommendations.
Do I need a drone inspection company with AI capabilities?
For building inspections, AI defect detection significantly improves accuracy and consistency. AI identifies hairline cracks, early-stage spalling, and moisture staining that human reviewers might miss when analyzing thousands of images.