Rules regarding drone use will hopefully become less strict in the near future, paving the way for great application of the technology
The real estate adage “location, location, location” rings true for companies working in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone industry. Rules and regulations vary widely from country to country, and in no better place are the differences more visible than between the United States and Canada.
In Canada, to operate a drone commercially a company only needs someone with a Special Flight Operating Certificate from Transport Canada. That process typically takes about 20 days to be approved once paperwork is filed, says Richard Allen, financial operations coordinator for the Jack Doheny Companies UAV venture, Doheny Drones. In addition, operators need to follow basic rules such as only flying drones during daylight hours, staying under 295 feet and staying away from busy areas where they could distract drivers.
In the United States, however, the rules are much tighter. Currently, the Federal Aviation Administration only has six sites nationwide where drones can operate, including locations in Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia. Each of those areas are researching different aspects of drone usage that could be used as the FAA considers possible rule changes.
Outside of those areas, businesses wanting to use drones can file for a 333 exemption. Once a business receives a 333 permit, UAVs cannot go higher than 200 feet, can fly only during the daytime and need to weigh less than 55 pounds. The drones cannot be used in major cities or restricted airspace around airports or specific areas, such as around the White House and government buildings.
In March, the FAA dropped the requirement that companies with the 333 exemption needed to file a flight plan and designate the space in the air they were planning to use up to two months in advance each time they planned to fly. That requirement was a stumbling block to many businesses since it handcuffed when and where the drones could be used, says Kyle Daniels, general manager for Doheny Drones.
So far, fewer than 60 entities in the U.S. have received 333 exemptions, according to the FAA. More are going through the approval process, which Daniels says can take a while.
“You have to wait awhile for the paperwork to go through and it can be months,” he says.
Earlier this year, the Federal Aviation Administration released a set of proposed guidelines for drone usage that could lead to additional changes, such as increasing how high drones can fly (up to 500 feet) and making the process of obtaining a 333 exemption easier. But a final decision – and implementation – is likely more than a year away. The FAA took comments on their proposed changes until mid-April and will wade through those before issuing a final decision.
Allen says it’s definitely more challenging to use a drone for commercial use in the U.S. vs. Canada.
“Canada is a lot more progressive when it comes to using drones for commercial use, although I think the FAA announcement will open up the market,” he says. “Companies are definitely more interested in using drones in Canada to inspect what’s happening out in the field.”
Drones are definitely more popular in Canada because of the rule differences, says EJ Burrows of Skymatics, a Canadian-based company that uses drones to provide aerial inspections and surveys.
“I think we’re going to continue to see an increase in companies who are willing to try something new like using drones,” he says. “I think drone usage is also more popular among smaller companies since they may be looking to get a leg up on the competition and using drones is one way to do that.”
Despite the regulations, Steve Gitlin, vice president of marketing strategy and communications for California-based UAV manufacturer AeroVironment, says using drones is the preferred way to check out sites in the field.
“They are more cost-effective and you can get a clearer look at what’s going on,” he says. “They are also very portable and you can take them anywhere. The output of information you’re getting and the insight that it brings is something you can’t find anywhere else.”
While rules differ between the United States and Canada, one thing is common – neither country allows drones to be operated outside the line of sight. In Europe, however, that is allowed and is one reason Amazon plans to use its delivery drones there first.
“Once the line of sight rule is lifted, the applications for drone use will be endless,” Daniel says.
For more on how drones are changing the oil and gas industry, check out the Tech Perspective feature in the June issue of Gas, Oil & Mining Contractor.
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