Drones are starting to make more positive appearances in the news and this is a great start.
In 2017 the FAA rolled out the Integration Pilot Program (IPP). This program brings together governments (state, local, tribal) together with private entities (drone operators or manufacturers) to successfully and safely integrate drones. ‘The program has created a meaningful dialogue on the balance between local and national interests related to drone integration, and provide actionable information to the USDOT on expanded and universal integration of drones into the National Airspace System.’ – FAA website (author unknown)
The 9 IPP Lead Participants are evaluating a host of potential operational concepts like:
- Fying at night operations
- Flying over people
- Beyond the pilot’s line of sight (BVLOS)
- Delivering packages
- Obstacle avoidance technology
- Reliable & secure data links between pilot & aircraft
There are some fields that could see immediate opportunities from this program, such as:
- Commerce
- Photography/Videography
- Emergency management
- Agricultural support
- Infrastructure inspections
There are so many practical and useful applications for drones and that’s one thing we love to do is help industries figure out how to create safer & ore efficient workflows. Have questions? Reach out! We would love to problem solve with you!
Interested in reading more about this program? Click here . (All this information was provided by the FAA website.)
