FAA authorizes Florida-based drone operators to assist in hurricane recovery efforts

Following the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Irma throughout the southeast, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted 132 airspace authorizations to fly drones in affected areas in order to assist with disaster recovery operations.

As part of federal response efforts, the U.S. Air National Guard began utilizing drones normally tasked for combat operations to perform aerial surveys in order to prioritize which areas are most in need of assistance.

In a similar operation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) used a series of drones to help map areas of Key West, Miami, and Jacksonville using radar technology to survey infrastructure and power plants for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

While the federal efforts were considerable, the private sector has also played a significant part in disaster response. In particular, Airbus Aerial assisted insurance companies facilitate claims coming from homeowners by combining data from drones, manned aircraft, and satellite data.

Effects of the hurricane left approximately 6 million Floridians without power. In order to address grid issues more quickly, the Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) used drones to assist in power restoration surveys and to ensure the safety of its crews. According to JEA, the company was able to get all damage assessments completed within 24 hours after the storm passed through.

“Essentially, every drone that flew meant that a traditional aircraft was not putting an additional strain on an already fragile system,” FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that the hurricane response will be looked back upon as a landmark in the evolution of drone usage in this country.”