Spright earns “first of a kind” FAA BVLOS waiver for drone surveys

Drone services and delivery company Spright says it has obtained what it calls a “first of a kind” waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for specific beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) inspection missions.

A division of medical helicopter transport company Air Methods, Spright said its FAA waiver provides open-ended authorization to operate BVLOS drone inspection missions across the US. Specifically, the non-geospecific Certificate of Waiver allows the company to fly its UAVs up to four nautical miles to perform critical utility infrastructure surveys. It described the approval as the first of its kind to be accorded by the US regulator.

The FAA decision will afford Spright a great deal more flexibility in operating BVLOS drone flights for clients covered by the waiver. It is also expected to decrease the time between a customer’s request for inspection work and Spright being able to plan and execute it.

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