The North Carolina Department of Transport (NCDOT) has secured a second waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct routine drone inspections in beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) mode. This authorization will enable NCDOT to deploy drone stations near construction sites across the state, facilitating continuous and timely inspections of transportation assets undergoing work. By leveraging BVLOS flights, NCDOT can station drones at strategic locations, ensuring that pilots can conduct monitoring missions as required by project supervisors.
The newly obtained FAA waiver for BVLOS drone flights marks the second one acquired by NCDOT. The initial waiver, secured in 2020, allowed the agency to conduct UAV inspections of bridges using remotely located pilots. To support these operations, NCDOT relies on Skydio 2 docked solutions, which have been enhanced with automation and artificial intelligence capabilities over time.
With the combination of the updated capabilities of the docked drone stations and the new FAA BVLOS approval, NCDOT operators will have the flexibility to carry out inspections at any time while benefiting from the automated features of the technology. This not only saves time and money but also mitigates the safety risks associated with fieldwork for employees.
Becca Gallas, Director of NCDOT’s Division of Aviation, emphasized the advantages of the FAA’s latest waiver. She mentioned that the waiver eliminates the need for specialized drone teams to travel long distances to transport and observe the craft for inspection flights. Instead, drone monitoring of project sites can now be done remotely, without requiring pilots to travel to the sites and set up drone systems.
As NCDOT continues to leverage the capabilities provided by the FAA waivers and the docked drone stations, the agency is committed to sharing the insights gained through its participation in the FAA’s BEYOND program. NCDOT is one of 18 partners in the initiative, and its pilot program will serve as an example of the transformative potential of remote drone operations to advance infrastructure projects.
In conclusion, the second FAA waiver received by NCDOT for routine BVLOS drone inspections brings significant time, cost, and safety benefits to the agency. The ability to remotely monitor project sites using docked drone stations eliminates the need for on-site set-up, resulting in improved efficiency and reduced risks for employees. With this new tool in their toolkit, NCDOT aims to contribute to the advancement of the state’s infrastructure projects while demonstrating the potential of remote drone operations.
