Drone Pilot Quote Template: Aerial Site Documentation Proposal
This Aerial Site Documentation Proposal template is a quote format for drone pilots who document construction sites, real estate developments, infrastructure projects, and industrial facilities from the air. It gives clients a clear scope of work before each flight, from pre-flight planning to delivery of labeled photos, video clips, maps, or progress reports.
Built for commercial UAS operators, this drone pilot quote template lets you bill for site visits, flight time, aerial photography, videography, recurring progress documentation, processing, travel, and required airspace coordination. It helps separate the base mission price from optional deliverables such as orthomosaic maps, edited highlight videos, or expedited turnaround.
Why use this template
- Set a precise flight scope. Define the site location, requested viewpoints, flight objectives, deliverable format, and number of documented areas so the client knows exactly what is included.
- Protect billable field time. Quote mobilization, on-site operations, travel, waiting time, and additional flight days separately rather than absorbing them into a single vague line item.
- Handle compliance clearly. Record responsibility for site access, safety briefings, airspace restrictions, permits, and coordination with the site superintendent or property owner.
- Price recurring documentation properly. Build a repeatable schedule for weekly, biweekly, or monthly construction progress flights, with consistent angles and reporting dates.
- Avoid deliverable disputes. State the image count, video duration, resolution, editing level, delivery platform, and revision limits before the mission begins.
What the template includes
- Client and project details: Client contact, project name, site address, billing contact, proposal number, issue date, and validity period.
- Mission overview: The documentation purpose, such as construction progress, roof inspection support, earthworks tracking, marketing imagery, or post-event condition records.
- Flight scope and coverage: Planned flight zones, exterior or interior areas where permitted, required altitudes, requested camera angles, and expected number of site visits.
- Deliverables: Still photographs, raw footage, edited video, annotated images, 360-degree panoramas, orthomosaics, site maps, or date-stamped progress folders.
- Pricing schedule: Line items for mission planning, each site visit, aerial capture, post-production, mapping or photogrammetry processing, travel, and add-ons.
- Schedule and turnaround: Proposed flight dates, weather contingency process, delivery timeline, and recurring visit cadence when applicable.
- Site access and compliance: Client-provided access, required escorts, site induction, personal protective equipment, safety constraints, and any airspace authorization considerations.
- Terms and acceptance: Deposit or payment schedule, cancellation and weather rescheduling terms, usage rights, limitations, and client approval signature.
How much to charge
Drone documentation pricing depends on site size, travel, airspace complexity, required outputs, and whether the assignment is a one-time mission or an ongoing program. These are North American market guidelines to adjust for your operating costs, insurance, experience, and local demand.
- Pre-flight planning and mission coordination: $150 to $500 per project, including site review, client calls, flight planning, and basic airspace checks.
- Standard aerial site visit: $500 to $1,200 per visit for a straightforward 60- to 90-minute on-site capture session with a curated photo delivery.
- Construction progress documentation: $750 to $1,500 per visit, or $3,500 to $8,000 for a multi-visit monthly or quarterly program, depending on frequency and reporting requirements.
- Aerial photography package: $800 to $2,000 for a defined set of edited high-resolution images covering key elevations, access routes, and site conditions.
- Drone video capture and editing: $1,200 to $3,500 for a half-day shoot and a short edited project update or marketing video. Complex edits, graphics, voiceover, and multiple revisions should be quoted separately.
- Orthomosaic or mapping deliverables: $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on acreage, ground control needs, accuracy requirements, and processing workload.
- Travel and extended site time: Add mileage, lodging where needed, and an hourly or half-day rate for delays caused by site access, shutdowns, or client-requested standby time.
Who this template is for
- FAA Part 107 drone pilots offering commercial aerial documentation services.
- Construction and progress-monitoring operators working with general contractors, developers, and project managers.
- Real estate and land-development drone professionals documenting large properties, subdivisions, and commercial sites.
- Infrastructure and industrial imaging providers serving utilities, civil works, warehouses, and facilities teams.
- Production companies and aerial photographers quoting drone footage as part of a broader photo or video assignment.
Frequently asked questions
Should I quote a fixed price per flight or charge by the hour?
For a clearly defined site visit, a fixed per-flight price is usually easier for the client to approve and better reflects the value of planning, travel, flying, and delivery. Use hourly or day rates for open-ended assignments, extensive standby time, or projects where the scope may change on site.
What should be included in a construction progress drone quote?
Include the visit frequency, required repeatable viewpoints, areas to capture, photo and video deliverables, turnaround time, and delivery method. Also specify who provides site access and whether the price includes editing, annotations, progress comparisons, or only raw files.
How do I address weather in an aerial site documentation proposal?
State that flights are subject to safe weather conditions, including wind, precipitation, visibility, and site-specific hazards. Explain whether a weather cancellation can be rescheduled without charge and when travel or mobilization costs remain billable.
Do I need to mention airspace authorization in the estimate?
Yes. Note that the quoted schedule may depend on airspace review, required authorizations, and site restrictions. If authorization requests, waivers, night operations, or controlled-airspace coordination create additional work, list them as separate billable services or contingencies.
