Dive Brief:
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Five construction industry companies have received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones for their businesses.
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Danis Building Construction Co. is the latest to win an exemption to the FAA rule prohibiting the commercial use of drones. The third-largest commercial construction company in Dayton, OH, will fly its drone to survey and photograph the locations of future buildings; show clients what the view from their top floors will look like; and inspect damage on buildings that are unsafe to send crews into, a company executive told The Dayton Business Journal.
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The other construction companies with exemptions are: Los Angeles-based Build Imagery, which uses video to document the progress of large-scale construction projects; construction and engineering giant Bechtel; Carlisle, KY, roof inspector Mike Johnson; and Chicago commercial and institutional design/build firm Clayco.
Dive Insight:
Until the FAA publishes rules to govern the use of drones for commercial use — expected within the next two years — it is illegal for companies to fly the unmanned devices without permission from the FAA. Hobbyists, however, are allowed to fly them for fun.
Still, it’s possible more contractors will win FAA exemptions. While few construction-related businesses have been granted permission to fly, the FAA has been issuing approximately 20 Section 333 waivers a week.
