Drone services provider IN-FLIGHT Data has been granted a year-long beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) waiver by Transport Canada to conduct public safety missions and monitor wildfire activity. The company has selected Unmanned Air Traffic Management (UTM) services providers AirMap UTM services to support operations.
Under the waiver, IN-FLIGHT Data is permitted to conduct BVLOS flights in public safety-designated airspace anywhere in Canada. The drone operator can fly anytime of day or date, above and below 400 feet. AirMap supplies the contextual airspace information, including airspace geometries, relevant rules and restrictions, and live air traffic movements and weather conditions, to allow IN-FLIGHT Data’s operators to conduct safe BVLOS operators.
“BVLOS capabilities can help public safety authorities respond to wildfires and other natural disasters—but they need high quality airspace information in order to conduct safe operations,” added Andre de Vertieul, AirMap’s Vice President of Field Engineering.
IN-FLIGHT Data’s BVLOS missions are primarily focused on wildfire monitoring and mitigation. Wildfires caused billions of dollars in damage in Canada over the last ten years, and it can be challenging for public safety officials to deploy limited firefighting resources across vast, unpopulated areas. “Drone technology is critical to fighting wildfires in an efficient, cost effective way,” Healy added. “We’re excited to lower the cost of fire management by introducing a new, automated system of air traffic management to an industry that’s traditionally combatted wildfires with manned aviation.”
For more information visit:
