Regulation from the Federal Aviation Administration set to significantly transform energy infrastructure inspection processes has received a significant lift.
The energy sector is on the cusp of a transformative shift, as a new executive order aims to expedite the approval process for Part 108, the regulation governing beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) commercial drone operations. This move is set to revolutionise the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in critical infrastructure inspections.
The FAA's forthcoming regulation, Part 108, is designed to standardise when drones can fly outside of an operator's visual range for use cases such as critical infrastructure inspection or drone deliveries. The new executive order, issued by President Donald Trump on June 6, mandates a proposal within 30 days and a final rule within 240 days. It also establishes clear metrics for BVLOS safety assessments and directs the FAA to use AI tools to expedite waiver reviews.
This expedited Part 108 rulemaking will have profound implications for the energy industry. Utilities and infrastructure companies can expect fewer regulatory barriers and faster authority to operate drones beyond visual range, improving inspection efficiency, safety, and reach. The order is expected to bring these advanced inspection capabilities to market much sooner, offering a safer and more cost-effective alternative to traditional methods like manned helicopter flights.
Key impacts include the introduction of standardised approval pathways, with operating permits for lower-risk BVLOS operations and operating certificates for higher-risk, larger-scale operations. The new rule may also reduce pilot certification requirements, lowering operational hurdles. AI tools will speed the approval of complex BVLOS flight authorizations, accelerating deployment timelines for commercial inspection drones.
With regulatory certainty and simplified approval, more utilities and infrastructure firms can integrate UAVs into routine inspection workflows, enhancing data collection and operational safety. UAVs can detect early indications of equipment failures, such as erosion based on minor terrain movements, potentially improving the safety and efficiency of energy infrastructure inspections.
The time is now for utilities and infrastructure management companies to evaluate what integrating UAVs into their inspection capabilities will look like. The widespread use of UAVs for energy infrastructure inspections has not yet become the industry standard, but the potential benefits are clear. UAVs can reduce crew risk, fuel burn, and are more cost-efficient compared to manned helicopters for energy infrastructure inspections.
Large UAVs, designed for critical infrastructure inspections, can fly identical flight patterns repeatedly and capture vast quantities of data from the same vantage points. This automation, combined with AI technology, can be used to evaluate UAV data and identify changes, potentially improving the safety and efficiency of energy infrastructure inspections even further.
The order also explores options to ensure that UAS flights in the U.S. can operate without being subject to onerous requirements of manned aircraft engaging in international navigation. This could open up new possibilities for cross-border inspections and collaboration, further enhancing the potential of UAVs in the energy sector.
In summary, the executive order drives faster FAA rulemaking for Part 108, transforming BVLOS drone approvals from slow, individualised waivers to a streamlined, standardised framework. This change will enable widespread, efficient UAV use in critical infrastructure inspections, likely expediting the adoption of safer and more effective drone-based monitoring solutions across energy and utility sectors.
- The energy sector is poised to leverage advancements in renewable-energy technology, as the new executive order aims to accelerate the approval process for drone operations beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
- The impending Part 108 regulation could revolutionize the finance aspect of the energy industry, as utilities and infrastructure companies may encounter fewer regulatory barriers and faster authority to operate drones, potentially leading to cost-effective alternatives such as drone inspections instead of traditional methods like manned helicopter flights.
- The integration of data-and-cloud-computing and technology, such as AI tools and automation in drone operations, will bring significant improvements in the energy sector, particularly in terms of enhancing data collection, operational safety, and efficiency in energy infrastructure inspections.
