Drone technology solutions provider PrecisionHawk has released its final Pathfinder Report, which will act as a blueprint for enterprises to carry out beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operations.

The report was prepared under the Pathfinder Programme by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and not-for-profit organisation MITRE.

It includes a comprehensive safety case and standards, as well as technologies required to conduct BVLOS drone operations.

The report has generated critical information on drone operations for FAA. It combines the findings of various research and testing applications.

“In 2016, PrecisionHawk secured a BVLOS Part 107 Waiver to perform commercial BVLOS drone operations.”

PrecisionHawk CEO Michael Chasen said: “PrecisionHawk has spent the past three years conducting BVLOS safety research to demonstrate a corporate commitment to research activities that support the data-driven growth of safe unmanned air systems operations.

“We believe that the ability to fly drones BVLOS represents the next big opportunity for commercial drone operators across such industries as energy, agriculture, insurance, construction and government, and with the proper assistive technology, training and hardware, BVLOS operations can be conducted safely.”

PrecisionHawk submitted the data from the Pathfinder Report to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The report is currently available to the public and any drone company that seeks to obtain its own Part 107 Waiver from FAA to fully achieve the benefits of BVLOS drone operations.

In order to obtain the waiver, operators are required to prove to the FAA that their drone operations can be conducted safely without endangering other aircraft, people or property on the ground and in the air.

In 2016, PrecisionHawk secured a BVLOS Part 107 Waiver to perform commercial BVLOS drone operations.

So far, FAA has received more than 1,200 BVLOS waiver applications from commercial drone operators. However, 99% of the applications have failed to show an acceptable level of safety.