UPS Receives FAA Approval to Operate Drones Beyond Line of Sight

UPS has received a major boost for its drone delivery ambitions, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted it permission to fly its drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of human operators. This means that UPS can now operate its drones over longer distances and reach more customers without the need for constant monitoring.

The FAA announced on September 6, 2023, that it had authorized UPS Flight Forward, a subsidiary of UPS, to use its Matternet M2 drones to conduct small package delivery using BVLOS operations. The approval was based on the data collected from the company’s previous drone delivery trials, which involved delivering medical supplies to hospitals and retirement communities.

To ensure the safety of BVLOS operations, UPS will use a ground-based radar system developed by uAvionix, another company that received FAA authorization to test its detect and avoid technology. The radar system will scan the airspace for potential conflicts with other aircraft and alert the drone operators if necessary.

The FAA said that the approval was part of its ongoing efforts to integrate drones into the national airspace system and develop standard rules for BVLOS operations. The agency also said that it was reviewing the final report from the Beyond Visual Line of Sight Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which was formed in June 2021 to provide safety recommendations to the FAA.

UPS said that it was proud to be the first company to receive FAA approval for BVLOS drone delivery and that it planned to expand its drone services to more locations and industries in the future. The company also said that drone delivery could reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.