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FAA Approves First Commercial Flight Over Land

Posted by Mustafa TULU on June 10, 2014 at 11:30am

2014-06-10_0941.png?w=738The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration today announced that it has given approval for the first commercial drone flights over land. Energy corporation BP and unmanned aircraft systems manufacturer AeroVironment will now be able to legally fly a drone for aerial surveys over BP’s Prudhoe Bay oil field on Alaska’s North Slope.

Here is the rest of the news: http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/10/faa-approves-first-commercial-drone-flights-over-land/

Tags: commercial, faa, flight
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  • Pedals2Paddles June 11, 2014 at 4:14am

    Are we supposed to be happy with the FAA now?  Congratulations.  You granted approval to use an extremely expensive UAV over an unpopulated deserted sheet of ice by a company with more money than they know what to do with.  Progressive and forward thinking right there.  That abandoned deserted ice cap definitely benefits from UAV operation.  Unlike silly meaningless uses such searching for missing children, mapping natural disasters, or photographing corn husks.

  • Moderator
    Chris Norris June 11, 2014 at 1:57am

    I like the fact that the 2nd video he shows has been auto subtitled, the subtitles are hilarious. 

    Oh and BP are as American as any other company that's listed on the stock market, their website says that as of 2012 they were 38% American owned which was the largest share http://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/investors/share-information/o... 

  • Nikola Rabchevsky June 10, 2014 at 8:05pm

    I'm guessing that the FAA is seeing dollar signs.  Companies like BP can afford expensive license fees and won't flinch at paying them.

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer June 10, 2014 at 2:35pm

    @UAVStuff they were not allowed over land

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  • UAVStuff June 10, 2014 at 12:48pm

    What am I missing here... Weren't the Conoco flights in Alaska a few months ago officially FAA approved?

  • Pedals2Paddles June 10, 2014 at 12:19pm

    But a 2lb toy taking pictures of corn husks or looking for a missing toddler in the forest.... can't have that.

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer June 10, 2014 at 12:18pm

    There have been oil exploration flights going on for years under the flag of conservation flights. Worst kept secret in the industry. Lets not forget at the very first offshore flight in front of I think it was Jim the aircraft went in.

  • Gary McCray June 10, 2014 at 12:14pm

    It is ironic that one of the most reviled (Gulf Oil Spill) companies (not even American) should be given the first permission by the FAA.

    All the government that money can buy.

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer June 10, 2014 at 11:59am

    All it takes is an airframe that meets the military surplus rules and has all the STANAG documentation.

This reply was deleted.