In recent years, the use of unmanned aircraft systems
(“UAS” or drones) has exploded. Although
hobbyists fly drones for pleasure, businesses are developing new
uses for drone technology daily. Most drones sold for both
hobby and commercial use are equipped with a video camera mounted
below the drone. These cameras have allowed companies to use
drones as a safe, low-cost way to conduct inspections without
having to send workers to scale towers or hire helicopters, which
can cost thousands of dollars an hour to operate.
In February, Xcel Energy, Inc. became the first utility to be
licensed by the FAA to operate drones in beyond-visual-range
deployments to test fly drones to inspect the utility’s 7,000
miles of transmission lines and check natural gas pipelines
for small leaks. Other companies have dispatched drones to
look for cracks in wind turbine blades, scan oil pipelines with
thermal cameras for hot spots that may indicate structural
weakness, maintain
