Previously in the US, those looking to use drones for commercial operations have been hindered by highly restrictive regulations and slow moving progress, which has ultimately stunted the growth of the region’s drone sector when compared with many other areas of the world, such as Europe.
On August 29 however, this is set change. Back in June, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a series of new rules which mean that subject to passing a written exam, would-be operators will be able to fly drones weighing up to 55lbs during daylight hours, providing this is lower than 400ft in the air (or higher if within 400ft of a taller building). The aircraft must remain in continual sight of the operator, or an observer who is in sight of the operator. The operator must also re-sit the aeronautics test every 24 months.
This is a major step forward for the US, as the world continues attempting to integrate drones into everyday life.
In general, the new rules have been welcomed by industry and mean that commercial operation of drones in the US is likely to “take off”. Many view this move as the FAA finally endorsing the huge benefits that drones offer, which Cyberhawk has been spearheading for many years.
In the offshore sector, drones are being used to inspect assets such as live flares, platform underdecks, internal tanks and wind turbines. There are huge safety benefits on offer through removing the need for personnel to work at height, in hazardous areas, near live assets and in confined spaces. Similarly, cost savings can run into seven figures, loss of production time can be avoided, the speed of inspection is far quicker than traditional methods and the eagle-eye of a drone-mounted camera can pick up a level of intricate detail far greater than the human eye can safely achieve.
Without doubt, these much anticipated new rules mean we will see many companies in the US get into the business of flying drones for commercial purposes. However, this may also encourage a rise of the less experienced UAV operator. With the US economy set to generate more than US$82billion in the next decade through drones, many will be looking for a piece of this pie.
The most important thing to remember is that safety and track record should not be sacrificed for cheap prices or influenced by a good, but unsubstantiated sales pitch. Do your homework – make sure your pilot is not only qualified, but also experienced.
Failure to do so could result in a whole host of problems, from the safety of personnel to collisions in the already congested US airspace. Similarly, an inexperienced pilot may leave you with not only disappointing results, but a lack of engineering analysis and direction on how to actually interpret these results.
Drones are already among us, and this will continue to increase exponentially in the coming years. The opportunities for drone applications are endless and exciting, however safety must always remain at the front of mind.
Philip Buchan is commercial director at Cyberhawk’s. He has built and manages a sales team based in Europe, Middle East and Asia which has developed blue-chip customers in more than 20 countries in multiple industries. Part of the founding management team, Philip is a Chartered Engineer and holds an MBA.
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Look out for our special feature on drones in the October issue of OE.
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