Potential Commercial UAV Operator Turns To Ballooning To Get Pilot Certificate | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-07.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-07.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.16.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-07.17.25

AirborneUnlimited-07.11.25

Mon, Sep 07, 2015

Potential Commercial UAV Operator Turns To Ballooning To Get Pilot Certificate

Says It Is The Least Expensive Path To Fulfill FAA Requirement

Lots of people want to use UAVs for commercial purposes, and the FAA has been handing out section 333 exemptions at a brisk pace over the past few months.

But there is a clause in those exemptions that says that the operator of the aircraft must be a licensed pilot, and many of those who have received exemptions can’t meet that requirement. We all know what flying lessons cost, and it’s not cheap. So some have turned to ballooning as being the least expensive way to obtain airman privileges.

Such was the case for Alon Sicherman, who received his exemption in June, but who was dismayed to find the “licensed pilot” clause in the exemption. The Verge reports that Sicherman researched getting a pilot certificate, and found that ballooning was likely the most cost-effective way to get it. But he makes the analogy of practicing driving an 18-wheeler to get a motorcycle license.

Sicherman’s balloon instructor is Bill Hughes, a former Navy helo pilot with over 2,500 balloon hours in his logbook. He said Sicherman is learning a lot about federal aviation regulations and airspace restrictions.

Sicherman does admit that UAV regulations are becoming more necessary as the popularity of the small aircraft continues to grow.

Another recent Section 333 grantee, Arizona realtor Douglas Trudeau, learned of the requirement, he took a less expensive route than getting a pilot certificate himself. Trudeau hired a licensed pilot to fly his UAV for $100 per hour … a solution that is apparently becoming more common in the industry.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (07.15.25): Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach

Charted Visual Flight Procedure Approach An approach conducted while operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan which authorizes the pilot of an aircraft to proceed >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (07.15.25)

“When l became the Secretary of Defense, I committed to rebuild our military to match threats to capabilities. Drones are the biggest battlefield innovation in a generation, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (07.15.25)

Aero Linx: Stearman Restorers Association Welcome to the Stearman Restorers Association. The Stearman Restorers Association is an independent “Not for Profit” 501C-3 Co>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Kjelsrud Gary Kitfox

Airplane Exhibited A Partial Loss Of Engine Power When It Was About Halfway Down The Runway Analysis: The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane was departing from his pr>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Cessna A150L

The Flight Path Was Consistent With Low-Altitude Maneuvering On June 18, 2025, about 0922 mountain standard time, a Cessna A150L airplane, N6436F, was substantially damaged when it>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC