The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the first permit for commercial drone flights over land to BP. Drone manufacturer AeroVironment and BP teamed up in order to get the permit.
They will use a hand-launched drone, called the Puma AE Drone, originally designed for military use. The Puma AE Drone will perform surveys of pipelines, roadways and equipment in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the first step by the FAA to begin approving a wider array of commercial drone use across the country.
Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says, “These surveys on Alaska’s North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial use of unmanned aircraft. The technology is quickly changing, and the opportunities are growing.”
Puma AE Drone:
