Percepto Receives FAA Approval for Remote Operation of Full Drone Fleet

Percepto, a leading autonomous inspection and monitoring solutions provider, has obtained a significant nationwide waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This approval empowers Percepto to remotely operate a complete fleet of up to 30 drones with a single operator, marking a notable advancement in drone automation and remote operations.

Previously, each Percepto drone required individual monitoring and operation by a dedicated pilot. The new approval streamlines commercial drone operations, enabling simultaneous control of multiple drones by one pilot. This development is particularly impactful for heavy industries like oil & gas, utilities, and energy, offering substantial reductions in operational expenses and enhanced operational efficiencies.

The approval has strategic implications for Percepto’s heavy industry clientele, facilitating large-scale drone fleet inspections with cost-effective scaling of their drone programs. Additionally, it fosters a more accessible entry point for new market players, encouraging the establishment of drone programs at a lower cost.

Building on Percepto’s extensive regulatory efforts, this waiver allows for nationwide drone Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations without on-site human presence or the need for expensive radars. The company achieves this through remote pre-flight checks, comprehensive automation, and the capacity to operate up to 30 drone-in-a-box systems simultaneously.

Ariel Avitan, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Percepto, emphasized the company’s leadership in the remote inspection revolution, predicting that large-scale remote inspections will contribute to fewer safety and environmental failures across critical infrastructure.

Neta Gliksman, Percepto VP of Policy and Government Affairs, expressed gratitude for the FAA’s approval, highlighting the collaborative efforts and describing the approval as the “true holy grail” for industrial drone operations at scale. “This is opening doors for critical inspection operations for our clients, expanding the possibilities and scale of autonomous inspection technology,” said Gliksman .

Ido Biger, Chief Information and Data Officer at Delek US, acknowledged the transformative potential of Percepto’s FAA approval: “Percepto’s approval from the FAA to remotely operate drone fleets sets the stage for transformative advancements in various industries,” says Biger. “Delek plans to utilize remote inspection technology to minimize our environmental footprint and boost employee and community safety at scale.”

This milestone not only allows Percepto’s customers to scale up their drone usage while reducing operational costs but also marks the final regulatory step towards achieving remote drone operations at scale.

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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

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