Iris Automation BVLOS Approval City of Reno

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

On behalf of the City of Reno and the Reno Fire Department (RFD), Iris Automation has been granted approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly a small drone autonomously beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight (BVLOS), without the aid of any observers or additional ground-based detection equipment. Testing will begin over unpopulated areas before moving to urban areas. The BVLOS waiver covers a rural, unpopulated area south of Reno and was submitted by Iris Automation for the use of its Casia X detect and avoid solution.

“This is an exciting project, working with the BEYOND program and the latest technologies to open the skies both for our community and the broader public,” said Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve. “It’s a unique teaming of public and private interests to achieve breakthrough operations for a wide range of…