API and NRECA applaud FAA approval for drone usage
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) applauded the Senate on Tuesday for passing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization, which will allow unmanned aerial vehicles to fly over energy facilities.
“Allowing co-op line crews to use UAVs for infrastructure repairs, maintenance and protection will reduce risks to co-op employees, shorten outage times and save money for their member-owners,” NRECA interim CEO Jeffrey Connor said. “We greatly appreciate Sens. James M. Inhofe (R-OK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) for championing these provisions.”
The FAA reauthorization will allow unmanned aircraft systems to assist in maintenance and risk reduction at oil and gas facilities, pipeline sites, refineries and energy emergencies. Drones provide a cost-effective tool to monitor energy facilities and infrastructure, better allowing response teams to identify and foresee risks.
“Protecting the public and the environment is our industry’s top priority,” API Midstream Director Robin Rorick said. “Our number one goal is zero incidents, and we are always looking for new tools to achieve that goal. The use of unmanned aerial system technologies will give us another means to safely conduct preventative inspections and response activities.”
For security purposes, the Senate also created an FAA provision restricting drone access within certain distances of critical infrastructure, including electricity facilities.
