Hyperdrive
FAA Clears Drones for Longer Flights, Opening Door to Deliveries
- UPS, uAvionix and Phoenix Air Unmanned can fly beyond sight
- Approval for more automated flights marks major step forward
This article is for subscribers only.
Two more companies have been granted approval to fly drones beyond the sight of ground operators in a key step that could eventually enable widespread package delivery and other commercial uses for the aerial devices.
United Parcel Service Inc.’s UPS Flight Forward division and uAvionix Corp. received permission to operate more automated, longer distance flights, the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday. Phoenix Air Unmanned LLC won similar approval on Aug. 24 and another applicant, Zipline International Inc., is awaiting action from FAA.