First-ever FAA-approved ‘Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight’ drone flight completed in Alaska


As part of the UAS Integration Pilot Program, the University of Alaska completed the first-ever ‘Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight’ drone flight without a visual observer to inspect a four-mile stretch of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. The BVLOS drone flight was made possible with Iris Automation’s onboard detect and avoid system – called Casia.

FAA UAS Integration Pilot Program partners, including The University of Alaska Fairbanks, Iris Automation, Skyfront, Echodyne, and Alyeska Pipeline Service Company achieve a milestone in the drone industry.

The University of Alaska’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP) conducted the first-ever ‘Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight’ (BVLOS) drone operation without visual observers, an industry milestone powered by Iris Automation’s on-board, and Echodyne’s ground-based, detect-and-avoid systems integrated onto a Skyfront Perimeter UAV.

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