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 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

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 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 United States 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

Follow DroneXL.co on your Google News feed.

Get your Part 107 Certificate

Pass the test and take to the skies with the Pilot Institute. We have helped thousands of people become airplane and commercial drone pilots. Our courses are designed by industry experts to help you pass FAA tests and achieve your dreams.

pilot institute dronexl

Copyright © DroneXL.co 2023. All rights reserved. The content, images, and intellectual property on this website are protected by copyright law. Reproduction or distribution of any material without prior written permission from DroneXL.co is strictly prohibited. For permissions and inquiries, please contact us here.

FTC: DroneXL.co is an Amazon Associate and uses affiliate links that can generate income from qualifying purchases. We do not sell, share, rent out, or spam your email.

Haye Kesteloo
Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Founder of DroneXL.co, where he covers all drone-related news, DJI rumors and writes drone reviews, and EVXL.co, for all news related to electric vehicles. He is also a co-host of the PiXL Drone Show on YouTube and other podcast platforms. Haye can be reached at haye @ dronexl.co or @hayekesteloo.

Articles: 2596

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap
%d