Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Aerovironment Gets First Commercial Drone Flight Okay

Monrovia, California-based unmanned aircraft manufacturer Aerovironment has received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, to conduct the first, commercial unmanned aircraft flights over land, the FAA announced Tuesday. According to the FAA, energy company BP and Aerovironment will be allowed to use the Puma AE for aerial surveys in Alaska, related to oil pipeline, road, and equipment tracking. The FAA said the approval is a step towards broader, commercial use of unmanned aircraft. Aerovironment's Puma AE has a wingspan of around 9 feet, and has previously been used by the military.