FAA Issues BVLOS Exemptions for uAvionix, UPS Flight Forward: Why These are Different

As FAA representatives at Commercial UAV Expo speak about the agency’s plans to speed and streamline the permissions process, two new exemptions for commercial drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) have been announced.  uAvionix has received authorization to fly their Rapace within North Dakota’s Vantis network to test detect and avoid technologies.  UPS Flight Forward, a wholly owned subsidiary of logistics company UPS, has received authorization for BVLOS small package delivery using the type-certified Matternet M2.

The authorizations follow quickly upon the August 24 authorization of Phoenix Unmanned to operate a large UAS for linear infrastructure inspection.

As FAA Head of Aviation Safety, David Boulter indicated in his Commercial UAV Keynote address this morning, the new approvals could serve as templates to smooth the way for future companies, and as a means of gathering more data on BVLOS operations.

In a press release, uAvionix…