ICC’s Senior Loss Control
Representative, Glen Norton, has been a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Certified Remote Pilot since 2016. This certificate requires an understanding
of the regulations, operating requirements, and procedures for safely flying
UAVs (Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles) or drones.
Drones are tools that can
provide improved data collection during the inspection process, including
surveying the roof, site, location, and adjoining buildings and structures. The
use of drones is gaining momentum as a risk management tool in the insurance
industry. They are lightweight and relatively easy to fly.
Glen uses a DJ Phantom
model, which connects to his iPhone and provides live streaming video from the
HD video camera. The model can handle flight times of up to twenty-five minutes
and comes with a rechargeable battery.
According to Deloitte
Consulting LLP, a company that provides a variety of benchmarking, consulting,
and analytical services to the insurance industry, drones offer additional
benefits to insurance companies: “Aerial site assessments can identify property
features that allow the owner to either seek a reduced risk profile or take
appropriate actions to lower overall risk and justify premium discounts.”
Currently, the use of
drones is restricted to low-level airspace (typically 400 feet above ground
level). The FAA also requires that the drone operator and a visual observer be
close enough to maintain a constant line of sight with the drone. This may
limit where and when the Loss Control Team can utilize drones in the field.
Urban areas and severe weather conditions provide additional challenges for
drone usage.
While we acknowledge there
are limitations to the use of drones, we have seen an advantage in using this
technology during the inspection process and believe the claims process,
particularly in fire losses, may benefit as well.
The use of drones can aid
in data collection and potentially reduce the time it takes to prepare repair
estimates.
The Loss Control
Department plans to add two additional drones to its fleet in the year ahead
and extend training opportunities to ICC’s Claims Department.
If there are additional
questions, please contact your agent. The Find
an Agent search on
our website will help you find an ICC agent in your area.
