Aerial Production Services teams with Iris Automation on UAV pipeline inspections permission

SAN FRANCISCO - Helping a client switch from expensive satellite and airplane-based inspections to drones, service provider Aerial Production Services (APS) was able to improve inspection frequency by 350% and dramatically reduce costs. These efficiencies were enabled by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) waiver for beyond line of sight (BVLOS) flights, achieved by enlisting regulatory professional services from Iris Automation, who cut the time taken to receive approval by an estimated six months.

APS, a drone service provider for telecommunications, natural gas and oil, and construction industries, aims to provide the safest, most innovative and precise solutions for aerial inspections of pipelines, cellular and utility towers. The company has flown over 17,000 sites in 49 states, leveraging pilots with specialized expertise flying specific, sensitive assets. However, commercial drone operations are limited by VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) rules, which severely restrict the distances they can cover.

APS's BVLOS waiver application was built using Iris Automation's Regulatory Resource Center (RRC), creating a robust risk assessment, mitigation and CONOP package for BVLOS flights for the safest flight operations program possible. The RRC provides a structured workflow to help address regulatory and safety concerns that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) require, with an online portal to build, test, and audit complex and advanced operational approvals supported by a team of UAS regulatory experts.