AMY ROBERTSON FOR VIRGINIA TECH; REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION
may someday lead to drones delivering parts to offshore oil rigs and transporting human organs for transplant surgery. Of course, challenges remain for BVLOS drone operations.
WATCH
Timberland Use Drones to Inspect Power Lines
UASs operating beyond the visual range of their remote pilots must be able to detect and avoid other drones and aircraft, requiring licensed radio frequency spectrum, Jones says. But BVLOS operations will be a game changer. “Te drone operations we’re seeing today just barely scratch
the surface of being able to conduct efficient operations, because they’re almost all line-of-sight operations,” Jones told the webinar audience, adding that achieving BVLOS capability will advance the drone industry’s reach. “Tat’s where things are going to open up and we’re going to see a much greater gain in efficiency with drone operations.”
A Shared Culture Some of the strengths that helicopter operators bring to drone operations include their expertise in low-altitude aviation, maintenance, operational control, and handling external loads, says Jonathan Daniels, CEO of Praxis Aerospace Concepts International. Praxis is involved in drone devel- opment and testing, and Daniels has two decades of UAS experience in the US Department of Defense. He was named UAS special advisor to HAI’s Board of Directors in July 2021. Helicopter operators also know how to do flight following and oversight, adds Daniels. “We’re used to operating our
own centers and facilities, and that’s very useful for UAS work,” he said at the webinar, noting that only eight of more than 5,000 heliports are public-use facilities. “As a former helicopter pilot myself, we’re used to being
the unloved red-headed stepchildren and having to figure out our own ways to make things work,” he added. “Tat’s a great mentality and culture for us to move into UAS operations.” Burgess says advancements in UAS technology will lead
to autonomous air taxis in urban areas and delivery of larger-scale packages. “If you pay attention to this industry, you can see how fast
things are moving. Te biggest thing that will hold us back is going to be the regulatory aspects,” he told event attendees. “I think the research and development will facilitate us being able to get there fast.” Gibson said Timberland doesn’t want to lose business or
dilute its crewed helicopter operations. But he knows that when a utility company looks to gather data from the air, it’s going to look for more efficient and less expensive options. “No matter how you cut it, if a drone can do the job, it’s
going to be a little bit more cost effective,” he said. As a matter of survival, a helicopter operator should look into drones. “If the company doesn’t have anyone in their organization who knows about UAS, that’s a perfect opportunity to partner with someone who does.”
WATCH Drone
Research at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech MAAP engineer Jeremy Spink (left) and
undergrad intern Matthew Foran deliver a radar-
equipped drone to its launch site during NASA tests of a
system designed to enable a drone to
autonomously detect and avoid other
aircraft, a necessity for BVLOS operations.
44 ROTOR SEPTEMBER 2021
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