The FAA has granted Airbus Aerial a waiver to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) UAS operations without the need for a visual observer in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Airbus Aerial will perform these flights under the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s UAS Integration Pilot Program (IPP). 

“UAS are a critical aspect of the future of aviation in America – and, in fact, globally. We are honored to be a part of such an important, historic effort,” says Jesse Kallman, head of Airbus Defense and Space’s Intelligence business activities in North America.

Under the waiver, Airbus Aerial will work with Xcel Energy—whom also recently received a waiver from the FAA to conduct a wider range of UAS flights without a chase plane or other visual observers—to deploy a SenseFly eBee Plus fixed-wing UAS to fly BVLOS over the right-of-ways of Xcel Energy’s distribution networks in residential neighborhoods.

According to Airbus Aerial, this work allows the utility industry to appropriately assess and utilize UAS, while also taking advantage of the benefits of a “cost effective and scalable program” across their entire network.

Airbus Aerial says that BVLOS and operation over people (OOP) flights “are the only way to appreciate a significant increase in ROI with UAS technology.” The company adds that “as the scale grows, the lessons learned and benefits will expand into new markets.”

“Waivers to this magnitude are not achieved unless you have an innovative team of partners that are extremely dedicated, working for the advancement of UAS integration initiatives while keeping safety at the forefront,” says Russ Buchholz, UAS program administrator for NDDOT’s Integration Pilot Program.