Editor’s note: Readers may also like to know of the Commercial UAV Expo scheduled for Oct 31 to Nov 2 in Las Vegas. For the event, register here: http://www.expouav.com/
The introduction to the e-book, authored by Jeremiah Karpowicz, is here:
What does flying a drone mean to you? For some professionals, it means using a tool that will allow them to decrease expenses in an incredibly powerful way. For others,
What does flying a drone mean to you? For some professionals, it means using a tool that will allow them to decrease expenses in an incredibly powerful way. For others, it means finally being able to perform tasks that simply were not possible using any other method. For many though, flying an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) enables the creation of new procedures that impact everything from operations to the bottom line.
Regardless of intentions and objectives, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has essentially banned flying a drone for commercial purposes ever since the technology matured to the point where it became widely available. Section 333 exemptions have been granted by the FAA to allow UAV operations for commercial purposes, but the requirement around having a pilot’s license, coupled with the cumbersome and lengthy approval process, left many professionals searching for alternatives. These sorts of limitations have done nothing to help the development of drone technology or the way in which these tools can be utilized.
2016 is the year when all of that will change for the better. The FAA is set to issue a final ruling by midyear that will ease the requirements and process with regard to flying UAVs commercially. This comprehensive set of rules will redefine what flying UAVs for commercial purposes means to professionals in various industries, whether it’s oil & gas, construction, precision agriculture, process & utilities, mining & aggregates or civil infrastructure.
While that development is going to be the most critical aspect for 2016, it’s certainly not the only thing to look out for. New developments in sensor technology along with redefined approaches and thinking around drone safety will also be major issues and topics of discussion. All of these changes are going to create both uncertainly and opportunity, which is why I talked with a handful of experts to find out what they have on their radars for 2016. They shared insights around what they’re looking forward to seeing, what they’re especially excited about and plenty more. The forthcoming information is taken directly from conversations with industry authorities that are working with UAVs today, but are committed to ensuring the creation of new opportunities for commercial uses of this technology far into the future.
For the six predictions, register here: http://goo.gl/JYotEO
Filed Under: O&M
