Airobotics receives FAA exemption for BVLOS drone flight during coronavirus lockdown

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded the exemption for a BVLOS drone flight to to use the unmanned aircraft to inspect vital infrastructure for an oil and gas company.

The first coronavirus related waiver for the drone flight was granted by the FAA to allow an oil and gas company in Houston to use drones instead of humans to inspect vital facilities while their employees remain in lockdown.

The waiver allows drone operators to fly the drones beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS). This usually is not permitted by the FAA. Airobotics, a US-Israeli startup, make the unmanned aircraft that will be used in these inspections.

Waivers are commonly used within the commercial , but this is the first time, according to the Financial Times, that a waiver was explicitly related to the pandemic. The news outlet also reports that drone use for aerial surveillance and contactless deliveries has dramatically increased during the coronavirus outbreak.

According to a spokesperson for Airobotics, the request was “expedited because of the virus”, receiving FAA approval within 24 hours of an April 5 application. “That is amazing for the FAA. They understood the urgency,” the person added.

Airobotics receives FAA exemption for BVLOS drone flight during coronavirus lockdown

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The waiver extends until June 30 or “the expiration of the federal, state, or local COVID-19 recommendations or requirements”.

Strict drone regulation in the United States has held back the utilization of commercial drones. However, many companies now hope that in light of this FAA exemption, a precedent has been set for more wide-scale drone applications.

A White House directive that, issued on March 17, calls all government agencies to relax regulations wherever they might ease the impact of COVID-19 on business. According to William Walsh, a partner at Cozen O’Connor this waiver represents the first time the FAA responded to the directive.

“The institutional culture of the FAA weighs against doing anything quickly,” he said. “I think what this crisis provides is an opportunity to change that paradigm.”

Other are also making plans to expand their drone operations in the hopes of gaining expedited regulatory approval.

Andreas Raptopoulos, chief executive of , a drone delivery company that has partnered with UPS to transport medical supplies between hospitals, said that he plans to fast-track the expansion in the from a handful of trials to servicing 10 hospitals by the end of the year if the FAA allows it.

“We continue to work with the FAA on everything they request from us to prove that this is safe,” he said. “We hope that we get authorization in time so it’s still relevant to be able to help with the crisis.”

Another drone company that is looking to expand its medical drone delivery services in the US is . They are currently working with the FAA to get the necessary approvals. to start making deliveries by drone.

Airobotics Receives Faa Exemption For Bvlos Drone Flight During Coronavirus Lockdown 1


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Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is a leading drone industry expert and Editor in Chief of DroneXL.co and EVXL.co, where he covers drone technology, industry developments, and electric mobility trends. With over nine years of specialized coverage in unmanned aerial systems, his insights have been featured in The New York Times, The Financial Times, and cited by The Brookings Institute, Foreign Policy, Politico and others.

Before founding DroneXL.co, Kesteloo built his expertise at DroneDJ. He currently co-hosts the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and podcast platforms, sharing industry insights with a global audience. His reporting has influenced policy discussions and been referenced in federal documents, establishing him as an authoritative voice in drone technology and regulation. He can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

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