Sales & services 2 signers 2 pages 22 blanks to fill in

Drone Services Agreement Template

Book a drone shoot with the site, the pilot's credentials, the weather plan and the footage rights agreed in writing.

Use this template — free See the agreement Signers don’t need an account
Drone services agreement
The blanks in brackets are what you fill in. FileIt adds each signer’s signature and date boxes.
Drone services agreement — page 1 of 2
Page 1 of 2
Drone services agreement — page 2 of 2
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Use this template Fill in the blanks, name who signs, and send — from FileIt eSignature.

What is a drone services agreement?

Drone work has more moving parts than an ordinary photo shoot. There's an aviation rulebook, airspace that can close at short notice, a landowner who has to agree to take-off and landing, neighbours who don't want to be filmed, and wind that can ground a flight on the morning of the job. A client booking a drone operator needs to know all of that is handled — and the operator needs the client to accept that the pilot's safety call is final.

This agreement is written for paid drone jobs: real estate photos and video, roof and structure inspections, mapping and survey flights, and event coverage. It records the site and purpose, the flight date with an optional backup and time window, the pilot's certificate or registration and insurance, who arranges landowner permission, privacy steps for neighbours and the public, weather rescheduling at no extra charge, the deliverables and edits, and whether the client gets a licence for one purpose, for any business use, or full ownership. Inspection and mapping results are described as visual records, not a professional survey.

Best for
Aerial photography, video, roof inspection, mapping and event flights
Signed by
The drone operator and the client, with job titles
Footage rights
Licence for the stated purpose, any business use, or full ownership
Length
About 3 pages, initialled on every page

When to use a drone services agreement

  • A real estate agent ordering aerial stills and a video tour of a listing
  • A roofer or property manager commissioning a roof and gutter inspection
  • A construction firm booking monthly progress flights over a site
  • A farmer or land agent ordering an aerial map of fields
  • A wedding or festival organiser booking aerial coverage of the day

What you fill in

22 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: drone operator, client.

1 The parties

  • Drone operator (your business or name)*
  • Client (company or person)*
  • Client's on-site contact and phone

2 The job

  • Type of work* aerial photography and video · roof or structure inspection · mapping or survey · event coverage
  • Site address or location*
  • What the footage or data is for*
  • Planned flight date*
  • Time window
  • Weather backup date

3 Deliverables

  • Deliverables*
  • Delivered within (days after the flight)*
  • Rounds of edits included*
  • Client's right to use the footage* a non-exclusive licence for the purpose above · a non-exclusive licence for any of the Client's business uses · full ownership, transferred on payment

4 Pilot and insurance

  • Pilot's certificate or registration*
  • Liability insurance amount
  • Who gets landowner and site permission* The Client · The Operator

5 Fees

  • Currency*
  • Fee*
  • Booking deposit
  • Extras (optional)

6 Other terms

  • Client may cancel free up to (days before)*
  • Governing law*

7 Who signs

  • Drone operator signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The drone business or pilot doing the flying.
  • Client signature and date, job title, initials on every page · The person or company ordering the footage or data.

What the drone services agreement covers

  1. The job
  2. Pilot, rules and insurance
  3. Permissions and privacy
  4. Weather and rescheduling
  5. Deliverables
  6. Use of the footage
  7. Fees and cancellation
  8. Damage and liability
  9. General

Using the drone services agreement, step by step

1 Describe the job and site

Choose the type of work, enter the site and what the footage is for, and set the flight date. Add a time window for the right light and a backup date in case of weather.

2 Pilot and permissions

Enter the pilot's certificate or operator registration and, if you like, your insurance limit. Decide whether you or the client gets the landowner's permission — airspace authorisations stay with you either way.

3 Deliverables and rights

List what you'll hand over, how many days after the flight, and how many rounds of edits are included. Then choose how the client may use the footage.

4 Fee and send

Enter the fee, any deposit and extras such as travel, set the free cancellation window and the governing law, and send it for signature.

Tips before you send it

  • Check the site on an airspace map before you quote — controlled airspace or a temporary restriction can add days of lead time.
  • If the client is getting landowner permission, ask for it in writing before you drive out.
  • Agree what counts as 'unsuitable weather' for the shot, not just for safety. A grey sky can ruin a listing video even when it's safe to fly.
  • For inspection work, keep your report to what the images show and leave structural opinions to an engineer.

Sign it online in minutes

  1. Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
  2. Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
  3. Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Use the drone services agreement template — it’s free

Drone services agreement: frequently asked questions

Does the pilot need a licence?

In most countries a commercial drone pilot needs a certificate or operator registration — the FAA Part 107 certificate in the US, for example. The rules differ by country and by the drone's weight. The agreement records what the pilot holds and commits them to follow the aviation rules for the site.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The pilot decides on the day. The flight moves to the backup date or another agreed date at no extra charge, and if it can't happen within 30 days either side can cancel with the client refunded, less any pre-agreed travel already spent.

Who owns the drone footage?

You choose. By default the operator keeps copyright and the client gets a permanent licence for the stated purpose. You can widen it to any of the client's business uses, or transfer full ownership on payment.

Is an electronically signed drone contract valid?

Electronic signatures are generally valid for ordinary service contracts like this in the US (ESIGN Act and UETA), the UK, the EU (eIDAS) and Canada. FileIt stores the signed PDF with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion.

Is this template free?

Yes, it's free with the eSignature app in FileIt. Your client signs from an emailed link without creating an account.

Use this template — free