Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are becoming increasingly more attractive for use in commercial insurance applications, particularly for property review and inspection; however, there are challenges that need to be overcome before it becomes standard operating procedure. The first is just understanding the terminology.

Is it a drone, a UAV or a UAS?

The answer can be somewhat complex. From a strict definition, a drone is an unmanned aircraft that does not have a human in control while flying. Most military drones are very large and built for surveillance and reconnaissance, but by the strict definition they require human interaction, so technically they are not drones. They are unmanned aircraft of which the most well-known is probably the Predator. With a wing span of 49 feet and overall length of 27 feet, it takes a tremendous amount of training to operate and requires direct involvement from highly skilled pilots.