I don’t understand why they can’t find a licensed commercial pilot. They are a dime a dozen around most rural airports.
If the feds won’t let them use an ultralight, get a J-3 or an Aircoupe and paint it up like the ultralight. Flying speeds will be about the same, and these planes can be used for this type of commercial flight.
I’m glad to see that while the entire country is going to total and irreversible hell, the government is like white on rice over a national crisis as described here.