Unprecedented BVLOS waiver allows drones at any US infra site

Leading drone-in-a-box solution provider Percepto has received an unprecedented waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This new approval allows the company to operate autonomous drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) in shielded airspace, and that too without expensive ground-based or airborne detect and avoid (DAA) systems.

Percepto’s new BVLOS drone flight waiver is valid for inspection and monitoring operations at all critical and noncritical infrastructure sites across the United States.

Under the waiver, low-risk “shielded” BVLOS operations are authorized 200 feet above and around assets located on critical infrastructure sites. At noncritical infrastructure sites, shielded BVLOS operations are permitted 50 feet higher than the tallest obstruction located within a half-mile of the site.

Percepto says its achievement will benefit the whole drone industry and serve as a crucial step in fully integrating drones into…