FAA Approves PrecisionHawk to Fly Drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight
The FAA’s approval of PrecisionHawk’s BVLOS exemption comes as a major milestone for the drone industry, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to supporting the safe and responsible integration of drones into US airspace. This exemption opens up exciting possibilities for drone operators, particularly in agriculture, where drones can be used to efficiently survey vast fields and collect valuable data.
PrecisionHawk, based in North Carolina, specializes in fixed-wing drones designed for agriculture and offers cloud-based software called DataMapper for analyzing aerial images and information collected by drones. The company has secured $29 million in venture funding, with Verizon Ventures, an investment arm of TechCrunch’s parent company, being a key stakeholder.
While PrecisionHawk’s BVLOS exemption is a significant achievement, it’s important to note that the company must still adhere to other regulations outlined in the FAA’s Part 107 regulation. This includes requirements such as yielding to other aircraft, avoiding flying over people, and operating only during daylight hours.
PrecisionHawk employs a system called LATAS (low altitude traffic and airspace safety system) to ensure safe flight operations, which uses air traffic data from Harris to automatically avoid obstacles and air traffic during flight. The exemption for PrecisionHawk is the first BVLOS waiver granted by the FAA, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to creating a framework for the safe and responsible operation of drones in US airspace.
