Flying a drone at work? Now there's insurance specially made for commercial UAVs

If you're in charge of operating UAVs or drones for your employer (or your own business), you may want to pass the word on that insurance for commercial operators is about to get a whole lot more comprehensive.

With the commercial UAV industry set to hit $127 billion globally in areas as vast as media, film, surveying, real estate and logistics, back home the rules and regulations around insurance and risks have been 'patchy', says Delta Insurance.

There are no legal requirements for UAV operators to hold insurance, and current insurance solutions don't cover risks that operators face.

Delta Insurance has decided to fill the gap with a full insurance policy that covers privacy breaches, cybersecurity threats and liability insurance that provides risk management for UAV operators. It also provides ability to cover UAV damage while in transit.

Aeronavics co-director Linda Bulk says it's a common misconception that UAVs are covered under a general commercial insurance policy, but that's not always the case.

"For the market to reach its full potential it needs a secure operating environment, it needs insurance that reflects its realities, so we are really happy to see Delta launch this product," she says.

Craig Kirk, Delta Insurance GM, says the company understood the demand for more comprehensive cover.

"To us it made sense to create an insurance solution that addressed all of the industries' requirements," he concludes.