If you have a pilot license, and call into the ATC to get clearance, can you operate a drone for commercial purposes (e.g. taking photos for real estate listings)?
No, under present rules, drones are regulated without consideration of the operator's qualifications in other aircraft types. And for the moment, no commercial use of drones is being permitted, which means the use to which the drone is put is the issue, not who is operating it.
But this is going to change relatively soon -- there's too much public pressure to allow drones wider operational latitude.
But this is going to change relatively soon -- there's too much public pressure to allow drones wider operational latitude.