Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Bill Walsh was quoted in an article in the Financial Times titled, "US Regulator Grants Exemption for Drone Flight During Lockdown." This article discusses a new coronavirus-related waiver for drone flight which allows an oil and gas company in Houston, TX to use unmanned aircraft instead of humans to inspect its facilities while the staff remains in lockdown. The waiver allows for flying beyond the pilot’s line of sight — something usually banned by the FAA. “The institutional culture of the FAA weighs against doing anything quickly,” Bill says. “I think what this crisis provides is an opportunity to change that paradigm.”