FAA regulatory breakthrough that enables BNSF Railway to remotely operate dock-based Skydio drones
www.skydio.com
in a nutshell,
THIS is what the
FAA now allows for
BNSF:
Understanding the Approval
Under the waiver, BNSF may remotely operate
Skydio drones in
docks beyond line of sight above rural portions of its network for purposes of infrastructure inspection, patrol, and training. Operations will take place below 100 feet of the ground or obstacles, minimizing the risk of crewed aircraft encounters. The waiver is not geographically limited; it applies to areas above BNSF’s private property located more than 3 nautical miles from airports. BNSF will utilize detect and avoid technology when conducting BVLOS operations.
Critically, this waiver permits
real-world operations--it is not limited to R&D, unlike certain past waivers for remotely operated drones in docks. The waiver expires on June 30, 2023.