Small commercial UAS to survey BP pipelines in Alaska
OtherJune 12, 2014
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted the very first commercial Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operation over land to BP and UAS manufacturer AeroVironment. Together, the companies plan to use AeroVironment’s Puma All Environment (AE) UAS for aerial surveys in Alaska.
The FAA issued a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization for the Puma UAS to survey BP equipment, pipelines, and roads at Prudhoe Bay, AK, which is the largest oilfield in the U.S. AeroVironment performed the first Puma AE flight for BP on June 8, 2014.
Using the information generated by the Puma’s sensors, BP hopes to target maintenance activities on specific roads and infrastructure, which will save time and support safety and operational reliability goals, while helping to protect the sensitive Alaskan North Slope environment.
“These surveys on Alaska’s North Slope are another important step toward broader commercial use of unmanned aircraft,” says Anthony Foxx, Transportation Secretary. “The technology is quickly changing, and the opportunities are growing.”
The Puma AE is a 4.5 foot long, hand-launched UAS with a wingspan of 9 feet.
For more information on UASs and the FAA’s Arctic Implementation Plan, visit http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/media/suas_arctic_plan.pdf
