FAQs
General Questions
What exactly does GET High Drones do?
GET High Drones provides two distinct but complementary services: FAA Part 107 aerial drone operations for construction, renewable energy, and utility environments; and technology-enhanced property inspections combining Level II certified thermography, aerial drone surveys, and InterNACHI/CCPIA inspection methodology. Most operators do one or the other. We do both — and we can combine any of our capabilities to match exactly what your property, transaction, or project requires.
Who is behind GET High Drones?
GET High Drones is owned and operated by Gary Tellish, a 30-year veteran of construction safety, training, and field operations. Gary holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate, Level II Infraspection Institute Certified Thermographer credentials, InterNACHI Certified Professional Inspector (CPI) and CCPIA Certified Commercial Property Inspector designations, and a portfolio of advanced safety credentials including CSP, CIT, CUSP, CFPS, and CRIS. GET High Drones is a veteran-owned business.
Are you insured and licensed?
Yes. All drone operations are conducted under an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot certificate. GET High Drones carries commercial general liability insurance and drone/UAS-specific hull and liability coverage. Certificate of insurance is available upon request for project or contract purposes.
What areas do you serve?
We serve Fargo ND, Pittsburgh PA, and Nashville TN as our primary markets, with travel support available across the Eastern and Midwest U.S. Construction and renewable energy projects are welcomed nationwide. Contact us to confirm availability for your location.
How do I request a quote or schedule a service?
Use the contact form at gethighdrones.com/contact, call (724) 601-0220, or email gary@gethighdrones.com. For construction and commercial engagements, include project location, type of service needed, and timeline. For property inspections, include the address, property type, and what you are trying to document or confirm. We respond promptly — if the request is time-sensitive, call directly.
Residential Inspections
What makes a GET High Drones residential inspection different from a standard home inspection?
A standard home inspection involves a walkthrough of accessible areas. GET High Drones adds two capabilities most inspectors cannot offer: Level II certified aerial thermal imaging from a drone-mounted Autel EVO II 640T, and handheld IR thermography throughout the interior and envelope. These tools identify moisture intrusion, insulation deficiencies, heat loss, and electrical anomalies that are invisible to the naked eye. The Level II certification — the highest field-level thermography credential — means findings are interpreted by a qualified thermographer, not just flagged by a camera.
What is Level II Thermography and why does it matter for a home purchase?
Level II Infraspection Institute Certified Thermographer is the industry standard credential for interpreting thermal imagery in building and electrical applications. At Level I, a technician can capture images. At Level II, the thermographer can interpret what they mean — distinguishing a moisture anomaly from a thermal bridge, or an overloaded circuit from ambient warmth. For buyers and lenders, Level II findings carry professional weight that uncertified thermal imagery does not. It is the standard lenders and attorneys increasingly reference by name.
Can a drone replace the inspector getting on the roof?
For documentation, observation, and condition assessment purposes, aerial drone imagery eliminates the need to physically access the roof in most cases. This reduces risk to the inspector, avoids potential damage to roof surfaces, and often provides better overall coverage — particularly for steep-slope, high-pitch, or multi-story roofs. Drone observation does not replace any manned access required by inspection standards or specifically called for by the client. All services are observational and non-diagnostic.
What combinations of services do residential buyers typically use?
The most common pre-purchase scope includes all four capabilities: aerial visual documentation, aerial thermal imaging (drone-mounted), handheld thermal IR walkthrough, and full InterNACHI-standard inspection. Buyers closer to closing who already have a report sometimes request aerial thermal only — to confirm or rule out roofing and envelope concerns. Contractors and roofers typically request aerial visual documentation only, for pre-work scoping and condition record. Every scope is confirmed before mobilization.
Can GET High Drones work with my real estate agent?
Yes. We regularly work with residential agents who refer buyers to technology-enhanced inspections. Level II thermal findings before closing reduce post-closing disputes, provide documentation for negotiation, and differentiate the agent's offering. Agents who refer buyers receive timely scheduling and organized, professional deliverables. If you are an agent interested in establishing a referral relationship, contact us directly.
How soon can I get results after the inspection?
Deliverables are typically provided within 24 to 48 hours of the inspection date, depending on scope. Aerial thermal reports include annotated imagery, a PDF summary of findings, and an organized image folder. Full inspection reports are delivered in standards-compliant format. Rush delivery is available — discuss timeline requirements when booking.
Commercial Property Inspections
What standard do you follow for commercial inspections?
GET High Drones performs commercial property inspections in accordance with the CCPIA Commercial Standards of Practice (ComSOP). Findings are documented, organized, and presented in a format that professional and institutional reviewers recognize and rely on.
What types of commercial properties do you inspect?
We inspect office buildings, retail and mixed-use assets, industrial and warehouse facilities, multifamily properties, institutional buildings, and any commercial asset where aerial and thermal documentation adds value. We are particularly well-suited to assets with large roof areas, deferred maintenance concerns, PV systems, or complex envelopes.
What does a commercial inspection engagement typically include?
Most commercial scopes include aerial visual documentation of the roof and exterior envelope, aerial thermal imaging for moisture and anomaly detection, and a CCPIA ComSOP-compliant inspection walkthrough. For institutional acquisition and CMBS transactions, handheld thermal IR is added for interior envelope and electrical panel coverage. Scope is confirmed for every engagement.
Can GET High Drones support CMBS or institutional due diligence timelines?
Yes. We understand that CMBS and institutional acquisition timelines are compressed and that deliverables must meet lender and underwriter formatting requirements. CCPIA ComSOP-compliant reports, organized thermal imagery sets, and clear annotated findings are standard. Contact us early in the due diligence process so we can confirm availability and scope.
What does the commercial inspection report include?
For commercial engagements we produce a formal Commercial Property Inspection Report structured to CCPIA ComSOP standards, incorporating aerial and thermal findings alongside the physical walkthrough. The report includes a property summary, system-by-system findings using DDID methodology, photographic documentation, and condition ratings. Delivered in PDF format suitable for lender, attorney, and investor review.
Construction & Drone Operations
How do drone operations work on an active construction site?
Every construction flight begins with a pre-flight coordination meeting with site supervision and safety leadership. We review site rules, exclusion zones, active work areas, and logistics constraints. During flight, we maintain visual line of sight, avoid overflight of uninvolved personnel, and operate within altitude and lateral boundaries appropriate for the site. Flights are sequenced around crane picks, concrete pours, and other critical operations. Post-flight, all data is labeled to site terminology and reviewed before delivery.
Can drone operations replace manned access for inspections or required safety procedures?
No. Drone operations supplement — they do not replace — required manned access, safety inspections, or procedures determined by the project team, owner, or applicable regulations. Drones reduce unnecessary exposure for documentation and observational purposes. Any access required by contract, code, or safety program must still be performed by qualified personnel.
What aircraft does GET High Drones use and how is the selection made?
The fleet includes the Autel EVO II Enterprise Dual 640T V3 for thermal and visual documentation; the DJI Mavic 2 Pro for high-resolution visual progress tracking; the Autel EVO Lite+ for active construction environments; and the Autel EVO Nano+ for constrained urban or access-limited sites. Aircraft selection is driven by operational need and risk management — not convenience. Factors include site size, proximity to workers, required deliverables, weather, and the safety controls needed to maintain uninterrupted operations.
Do you perform thermal inspections on solar PV arrays?
Yes. We provide screening-level aerial thermal imaging for PV array anomaly identification and comparative condition review. The Autel EVO II 640T captures calibrated 640-resolution thermal imagery suitable for cell-level anomaly screening. Thermal imagery is observational and non-diagnostic, and is influenced by operating conditions, irradiance levels, load state, and ambient temperature. We recommend scheduling PV thermal surveys during peak irradiance hours for best results.
Will drone flights interfere with site operations?
No. UAS operations are coordinated in advance with site supervision and conducted to avoid interference with ongoing work, personnel, and equipment. We follow established site protocols, maintain exclusion buffers, and sequence flights around critical activities. If site conditions change during an operation, we have immediate abort capability and will reschedule at no additional charge.
What deliverables do construction and owner clients receive?
Standard outputs include: labeled high-resolution visual imagery organized by area, phase, and date; annotated issue documentation with summary notes; PDF progress or condition reports for stakeholder review; thermal observation summaries with paired visual and IR imagery; and organized folder structures for project closeout or O&M documentation. All deliverables are reviewed for clarity and usability before delivery.
Scope, Limitations & Liability
Do you provide engineering or safety conclusions?
No. All GET High Drones services are limited to visual and thermal observation and documentation. We do not perform engineering analysis, provide safety evaluations, or issue professional engineering or safety conclusions. Assessments and determinations based on our findings should be made by appropriately qualified professionals — structural engineers, licensed contractors, or safety professionals with relevant credentials and jurisdiction.
What is the difference between observational findings and diagnostic conclusions?
An observational finding identifies what is visible or thermally anomalous — a moisture-pattern signature on a flat roof, a temperature differential at an electrical panel, a visible separation at a flashing joint. A diagnostic conclusion states what caused it and what should be done about it. GET High Drones provides observational findings. Diagnostic conclusions require a licensed professional with full access, context, and professional liability. Our findings are designed to support — not replace — that professional evaluation.
Are thermal imaging findings guaranteed to be accurate?
Thermal imaging findings are observational and influenced by environmental conditions including ambient temperature, solar loading, wind, surface emissivity, moisture state of the substrate, and timing relative to heating or cooling cycles. Findings represent conditions observed at the time of the survey. They are not a guarantee of the presence or absence of any defect. All thermal findings should be interpreted by a qualified professional in the context of the specific property and conditions.
What happens if weather prevents the flight on the scheduled day?
If weather conditions fall outside Part 107 operating limitations or site-specific safety requirements, we will reschedule at no additional charge. We monitor weather proactively and will contact you in advance if conditions are marginal. For time-sensitive transactions, we recommend scheduling with buffer days and discussing contingency windows when booking.
What happens if a finding requires further investigation?
GET High Drones documents observational findings; we do not perform diagnostic testing or destructive investigation. If a finding suggests further investigation is warranted — for example, opening a wall to confirm moisture intrusion — we recommend the client engage a licensed contractor or specialist in that trade. Our report can be shared directly with any follow-up professional.
Who owns the deliverable files after the engagement?
All deliverables are the client's to use. GET High Drones retains copies for our records and for potential future reference, but clients have full rights to share, archive, or incorporate deliverables into their own records.
What is your insurance coverage?
GET High Drones, LLC carries commercial general liability insurance including coverage for UAS operations. Certificates of insurance are available upon request for commercial and institutional engagements.
Still Have Questions?
Every engagement is scoped to your property, your site, and your purpose. If you don't see what you're looking for here, reach out directly — we'll give you a straight answer.