Unmanned Aircraft Systems – Commercial Approvals Gaining Pace

As the FAA approves commercial operations of unmanned aircraft systems in the U.S., which industry sectors are taking the lead, and whose UASs are they using? Aviation Week takes a look at who and what is being approved under the FAA’s so-called Section 333 process. Credit: Skycatch

As of late March, 69 operators have been granted exemptions from airworthiness requirements to allow tightly controlled, low-risk UAS operations in national airspace, but 771 petitions are awaiting approval. To speed things up, the FAA is streamlining the Section 333 process, granting exemption holders blanket approval to fly below 200 ft. anywhere in the U.S. outside restricted airspace. Credit: FAA

The FAA has dropped the requirement that UAS operators have at least a private pilot’s license and will now accept a recreational or sport pilot certificate. The agency has also streamlined the processing of petitions that are similar to operations for which exemption has already been granted. The most recent approvals have covered an increasing wide range of types of small UAS and operations. Credit: Kansas State University-Salina

Of the approvals granted so far, operations in support of utilities lead the field with 17 exemptions for UAS inspections of power lines, wind turbines, generating facilities and other infrastructure. Credit: San Diego Gas & Electric

A close second in number of approvals so far is the movie and television industry, with 16 exemptions allowing small UAS to be used for aerial filming, mainly over closed sets. Credit: Aerial MOB

A rapidly growing category of UAS operations is in support of precision agriculture, with 14 exemptions so far. Aerial surveying accounts for another seven approvals. Credit: Woolpert

The oil and gas industry is another growing user of small UAS, mainly for the inspection of flare stacks, many of them offshore, a task that can be hazardous for humans. Credit: Sky Futures

The list of approved uses is growing as the FAA grants more exemptions, and includes bridge, railway and roof inspections, construction-site and open-mine monitoring, and real-estate photography. Credit: Trimble

Multicopters make up the majority of small UAS approved for commercial operations so far, and include the Aeryon Scout and SkyRanger, the Skycatch and eight-rotor Gryphon Dynamics X8. Credit: Aeryon

The second most-approved UAS is the fixed-wing eBee produced by drone-maker Parrott’s SenseFly subsidiary. The hand-launched eBee is popular for operations in support of agriculture. Credit: New Mexico State University

Exemptions involve small UAS from around 40 manufacturers, illustrating the explosive growth of this sector. But who has the most approvals? The answer is China’s DJI, with its Phantom 2, Inspire 1, S900 and other multicopters used in 21 approved operations. Credit: DJI