uav

Gowdy Brothers Aerospace has received approval on behalf of its 20 customers to fly 1,120 drones or small unmanned aerial vehicles (sUAV) under Section 333 exemption petition from the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) airman and airspace rules division.

According to the FAA guidelines, individuals and companies intending to fly a drone/sUAV for commercial purposes will have to petition the FAA and secure a Section 333 exemption grant.

Last August, the federal agency granted such exemption to drone as a service (DAAS) company Measure for 324 drones.

Gowdy Brothers Aerospace president Jason Christenson said: "Virtually every drone or sUAV every manufactured under 55lb is on the Gowdy Brothers approved lists of 1,120 drones."

"Virtually every drone or sUAV every manufactured under 55lb is on the Gowdy Brothers approved lists of 1,120 drones."

FAA is currently reviewing to approve 3,799 Section 333 petitions from 13,712 submissions over the last year to allow drones/sUAVs to fly for commercial purposes.

A FAA airman and airspace rules division source said: "This new process of adding 1,120 approved sUAV to Gowdy Brothers Aerospace’s customers petitions will expedite the commercial UAV operators approval process and meet both the FAA, Airman and Airspace Rules Division’s objectives and Congress’ Modernization and Reform act of 2012, to safely integrate UAS/UAV’s into the National Airspace System."

Image: To date, FAA is reviewing to approve 3,799 section 333 petitions. Photo: courtesy of Victor Habbick via FreeDigitalPhotos.net.