A remote pilot receives a waiver to fly over a moving vehicle convoy for a film production. During the flight, the convoy route changes unexpectedly and takes vehicles into an area the waiver does not cover. The production coordinator tells the pilot to follow the convoy. What should the pilot do?
Why →A Part 107 waiver authorizes specific operations within defined parameters, including geographic limits. When the convoy moves outside the waiver boundary, the authorization no longer covers the operation. The pilot must stop the waiver-dependent activity and either land or reposition within the authorized area. A production coordinator's verbal instruction does not extend or modify a federal waiver. Anti-authority pressure from a client is one of the most common real-world hazards in commercial drone operations.
The trap →Following the convoy incorrectly treats the waiver as applying to the operation broadly rather than to a defined geographic area and set of conditions. The waiver is a specific document with specific limits. Requesting authorization from the production coordinator confuses a ground-based event permit with FAA airspace authorization. They are separate instruments issued by different authorities.
Field note →Before any waivered operation, review the waiver conditions with the entire crew, including the client or production team. Everyone needs to understand that the waiver defines the legal boundary of the operation, not the client's preferred shot list.