Taking Drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight - BVLOS

Drone operations seem pretty simple.  Let the Drone do the work…

In reality, for the Drone ‘to do the work’ requires people, equipment, and a great deal of planning.

Mission planning for a Drone operation to be successful is an elaborate orchestration of getting permitted by the FAA to fly the area, taking into account uninvolved parties and permissions.  Most operations must abide by CFR 91.113 which requires Detect and Avoid – DAA compliance.  The operation must be safe, first and foremost. Taking Drones Beyond the Visual Line of Sight is currently a difficult process at best through the FAA.  Regions outside the US, come with their own challenges. 

Drone Operation Planning:

Planning the operation, whether it be inspection, surveillance, or delivery, must take into account the hardware abilities and limitations such as range and/or duration, payload, and sensor requirements.  Once the planning is complete and approved, Mother Nature gets in the act.  All flying objects, manned aircraft or unmanned aircraft, are affected by the weather.  Wind, precipitation, sunlight, and temperature can affect the mission.

Here’s a handy checklist for planning your drone operation. 

• Define the operation scope.

• Where will the mission be taking place?

• Who owns the property where the drone will be flying?  Over-flight permissions?

• What are the range and duration limitations of the hardware?

• What certifications and permissions are needed for this mission?

• How will the weather potentially impact the mission and operation of the hardware?

Location challenges:

Location challenges such as inaccessible terrain, uninvolved parties like Military bases (MOA - Military Operations Areas), or adjacent property owners and inhabitants need to be covered in the permitting process regardless of the altitude. 

Even if you are operating a personal drone, doing so without permission on another person’s property can get you into legal trouble. Think unauthorized surveillance, stalking, or trespassing. So be sure to gain permission before flying your homemade or personal drone into your neighbors’ backyard. 

Current regulations state drones must remain within the line of sight, which means terrain must be accessible by foot or vehicle to keep a visual on the drone. 

Ultimately, efficiencies will be gained once the FAA permitting and certification process is streamlined to allow for Beyond Visual Line of Sight, BVLOS.  Presently in the US, BVLOS is available through an intensive FAA, permitting process.  Most of the activity is through ‘pilot’ programs.

Switzerland and others are a bit ahead of the US with smaller control areas allowing for limited but meaningful operations.

BVLOS is the Holy Grail for the Drone Business.  Operating safely is the top priority.

**** CFR 91.113 Link to https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2017-title14-vol2/CFR-2017-title14-vol2-sec91-113