Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of aerhq.com and any services provided by AER Operations LLC ("AER Operations," "we," "us," or "our"), including both unmanned aircraft (drone) services and manned aircraft pilot services. By accessing our website or engaging our services, you agree to these Terms.

Services

Unmanned aircraft (drone) services. AER Operations provides commercial drone services including aerial photography, videography, mapping, inspection, agricultural monitoring, and related services. These operations are conducted under FAA Part 107 in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Manned aircraft pilot services. AER Operations provides aircraft ferry and repositioning, aerial photography and survey, and infrastructure corridor patrol using manned fixed-wing aircraft. These operations are conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as ferry flights or aerial work within the scope of §119.1(e). Manned flights are flown solo. AER Operations does not carry passengers, cargo, or client personnel.

AER Operations does not hold a Part 135 air carrier certificate and does not provide charter, on-demand passenger service, air taxi, or transportation of persons or property for compensation or hire. Any request falling outside the services described above will be declined and, where possible, referred to a certificated operator.

Manned Aircraft Engagements

The following additional terms apply to any engagement involving the operation of a manned aircraft, including ferry, repositioning, survey, and patrol flights.

Terminology note: these Terms use "manned" and "unmanned" to match the language of 14 CFR and standard aviation insurance policies. Elsewhere on aerhq.com these operations are described as "crewed" and "uncrewed" aircraft services. The terms are interchangeable and carry the same meaning throughout.

Aircraft owner obligations. Where AER Operations is engaged to operate an aircraft owned or controlled by the client or a third party, the client represents and warrants that, as of the date of the flight:

• The aircraft holds a current and valid airworthiness certificate and registration;
• All required inspections under 14 CFR §91.409, §91.411, §91.413, and any applicable Airworthiness Directives are current and complied with;
• All known discrepancies, deferred maintenance items, and inoperative equipment have been disclosed in writing to AER Operations before the flight;
• Required aircraft documents and current logbook entries are aboard or available for inspection; and
• The aircraft is insured, and AER Operations or the assigned pilot has been named or approved under the applicable policy for the flight in question.

AER Operations relies on these representations in accepting an engagement. Undisclosed discrepancies discovered before departure may result in the flight being delayed or declined at the pilot's discretion, and any resulting costs are the client's responsibility.

Insurance and risk of loss. Hull coverage on the aircraft remains the responsibility of the aircraft owner. AER Operations carries non-owned aircraft liability coverage arranged per engagement, and a Certificate of Insurance is available on request. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as AER Operations assuming the role of insurer of the aircraft, or as accepting liability for loss or damage to the aircraft beyond the limits of the applicable coverage and any liability arising from its own negligence.

Airworthiness and pilot authority. AER Operations will conduct a preflight inspection of the aircraft prior to each leg. If in the pilot's sole judgment the aircraft is not airworthy, is not legal for the intended operation, or cannot be operated safely under existing or forecast conditions, the flight will not be undertaken. The pilot in command's determination on these matters is final and is not subject to client direction.

Expenses and delays. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, fuel, oil, landing and ramp fees, hangar fees, en route maintenance, and pilot travel to and from the aircraft are the responsibility of the client and are billed at cost. Ferry timelines are estimates and not guarantees. Delays arising from weather, maintenance, airworthiness discrepancies, air traffic, or airport conditions are a normal incident of the work, and associated reasonable expenses are the client's responsibility.

Condition reporting. AER Operations will provide a pre- and post-flight aircraft condition report, a log of any discrepancies observed or arising during the flight, and receipts for expenses incurred. Discrepancies observed and reported do not constitute a maintenance determination and are not a substitute for inspection by a certificated mechanic.

Passengers and personnel. Ferry, positioning, and maintenance check flights are flown solo; no passengers, client personnel, or cargo are carried on these flights. On aerial work flights, persons essential to performing the aerial work (such as a client photographer, sensor operator, or utility observer) may be carried consistent with 14 CFR §119.1(e) and FAA Chief Counsel interpretations; such flights begin and end at the same point and provide no point-to-point transportation of persons or property. On pilot-services engagements, the client, as aircraft operator, and the client's guests may be aboard; AER Operations provides piloting services only. AER Operations does not provide transportation of persons or property for compensation or hire on any flight.

Pilot-services engagements and operational control. On contract pilot and safety pilot engagements, the client remains the operator of the aircraft and retains operational control, including selection of destinations and schedule and the decision to initiate, continue, or terminate a flight, subject to the pilot in command's overriding safety authority under 14 CFR §91.3. Fuel, landing and ramp fees, and other aircraft operating costs are paid by the client directly. AER Operations is compensated for piloting services only, and does not obtain, arrange, lease, or refer aircraft for any client.

Quotes and Agreements

Submitting a quote request through aerhq.com does not constitute a binding agreement. Services are confirmed only upon written agreement between AER Operations and the client, including agreement on scope, pricing, deliverables, and timeline. AER Operations reserves the right to decline any project at its discretion.

Payment

Payment terms are specified in each individual service agreement. Unless otherwise agreed in writing:

• A deposit may be required to secure scheduling
• Final payment is due upon delivery of completed work
• Late payments may incur additional fees as specified in the service agreement

Deliverables and Intellectual Property

Upon receipt of full payment, the client receives a license to use the deliverables (photos, video, data, reports) for the purposes agreed upon in the service agreement. AER Operations retains the right to use deliverables for portfolio and marketing purposes unless the client requests otherwise in writing prior to the project.

Weather and Rescheduling

AER Operations reserves the right to reschedule or cancel flights due to weather conditions, airspace restrictions, equipment issues, airworthiness concerns, or safety concerns. In such cases, AER Operations will work with the client to reschedule at the earliest mutually convenient time at no additional service charge. For manned aircraft engagements, this includes en route decisions to divert, land, or hold; reasonable expenses incurred during such a delay are handled as set out under "Manned Aircraft Engagements" above.

Client Responsibilities

The client is responsible for:

• Providing accurate information about the project location, scope, and requirements
• Obtaining any necessary property owner permissions for flight operations
• Notifying AER Operations of any known airspace restrictions, hazards, or special conditions at the project site
• Ensuring personnel are clear of the flight area during operations
• For manned aircraft engagements, the representations and obligations set out under "Manned Aircraft Engagements" above, including airworthiness, disclosure of discrepancies, and insurance

Limitation of Liability

AER Operations carries commercial liability insurance on drone operations and arranges non-owned aircraft liability coverage for manned engagements. Except as provided below, our liability for any claim arising from services provided shall not exceed the total amount paid by the client for the specific project giving rise to the claim. AER Operations is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including loss of use of an aircraft, lost sale proceeds, or delay-related costs.

With respect to manned aircraft engagements, liability for loss of or damage to the aircraft is limited to the extent of applicable insurance coverage and any liability arising from AER Operations' own negligence. Nothing in this section limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

FAA Compliance

All drone operations are conducted in compliance with FAA Part 107 regulations and applicable airspace authorizations. All manned aircraft operations are conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 within the scope of §119.1(e).

AER Operations does not conduct operations that would violate federal aviation regulations. Clients may not request operations that would require violation of applicable law. The pilot in command retains sole and final authority over the operation of the aircraft, including the decision to delay, divert, or terminate any flight, and that authority may not be overridden by client scheduling or commercial considerations.

Model Releases and Privacy

When aerial operations may capture identifiable individuals in footage intended for commercial use, the client is responsible for obtaining any necessary model releases or permissions prior to the flight. AER Operations will make reasonable efforts to avoid capturing identifiable individuals when not required for the scope of work, but cannot guarantee complete exclusion in public areas. The client assumes responsibility for compliance with applicable privacy laws regarding the use and distribution of delivered imagery.

Data Security and Delivery

AER Operations delivers project files via secure methods including password-protected download links or encrypted cloud storage. Raw project data is retained for 30 days after delivery and then permanently deleted. Clients requiring longer retention, specific security protocols, or data handling agreements for sensitive projects should notify AER Operations prior to project commencement. AER Operations is not liable for unauthorized access to data after delivery to the client.

Cancellation Policy

Either party may cancel a scheduled project with at least 48 hours advance notice at no charge. Cancellations with less than 48 hours notice may result in a cancellation fee equal to 25% of the project total to cover planning, scheduling, and preparation costs. Projects cancelled after flight operations have commenced will be billed for the portion of work completed. AER Operations reserves the right to cancel any project at any time due to safety concerns, weather, regulatory restrictions, or equipment issues without penalty.

Force Majeure

AER Operations is not liable for delays or failure to perform services resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to: severe weather, FAA-issued temporary flight restrictions, airspace closures, equipment failure, acts of government, natural disasters, or other events that make safe flight operations impossible or impractical. In such cases, AER Operations will work with the client to reschedule at the earliest feasible opportunity.

Indemnification

The client agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless AER Operations LLC and its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses — including reasonable legal fees — arising from: (a) inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the client regarding the project location, scope, or site conditions; (b) the client's failure to obtain necessary property owner permissions; (c) the client's use or distribution of delivered imagery in violation of applicable law; or (d) any third-party claims arising from the client's direction of flight operations.

Dispute Resolution

In the event of a dispute arising from these Terms or any service agreement, the parties agree to first attempt resolution through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, the parties agree to non-binding mediation before pursuing litigation. Any litigation shall be conducted in Franklin County, Ohio under Ohio law. The prevailing party in any litigation shall be entitled to recover reasonable legal fees.

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Ohio. Any disputes arising from these Terms or our services shall be resolved in the courts of Franklin County, Ohio.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of our services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

AER Operations LLC
hello@aerhq.com
aerhq.com