MFE Inspection Solutions, the leading provider of advanced inspection tools, has been granted a broad BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) waiver by the FAA to operate the Skydio X10 and Dock for X10. Skydio’s Regulatory Services team secured the waiver in partnership with MFE.
MFE’s new waiver is expansive, allowing it to fly drone inspections BVLOS all across the U.S., with the ability for pilots to connect to and fly the drone remotely, even from several states away. MFE plans to use the waiver to conduct demonstrations of remote drone operations with Skydio’s drone technology at client locations around the country.
“We’re excited to offer our clients immersive, real-world demonstrations of remote drone ops that will showcase the power of the Skydio X10 when paired with its Dock to make a full drone-in-the-box solution,” said Cody Menchaca, sUAS Product Line Manager at MFE Inspection Solutions. “This BVLOS waiver will let us do demos that reflect actual operational conditions, giving clients a firsthand experience of the power of autonomous drones for monitoring and visual inspections at their own facilities.”
Skydio’s regulatory expertise was key in securing the waiver for MFE. The application process involved a high degree of complexity, which would have been almost impossible to navigate without help from Skydio’s regulatory experts. Through close collaboration with the FAA, Skydio ensured MFE’s waiver contained the specific requirements it needed to leverage the full potential of the X10 and its Dock for remote operations.
“Skydio is dedicated to helping partners like MFE conduct advanced drone operations,” said Daniel Jenkins, Regulatory Program Manager at Skydio. “This waiver will allow MFE to demonstrate the unique capabilities of Skydio’s autonomous drone technology, helping industries better understand the potential for remote operations to support them in collecting the data they need, with greater precision and efficiency. The Skydio Dock for X10 with BVLOS approval is a force multiplier for inspections and continuous monitoring.”
The demonstrations MFE will conduct with the waiver will be fully remote. To do these demonstrations, MFE will ship a Dock and X10 to a client, instruct them on setup, then fly the inspection mission remotely from its Houston office. Clients can see the full value of having a remote command center—which could be located on-site, 100 yards from the inspection, or hundreds or even thousands of miles away, in Houston, Texas—letting them collect visual or thermal data remotely.
The BVLOS waiver is an important milestone for MFE as it continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with cutting-edge inspection technology, including drones. Looking ahead, the waiver positions MFE to lead the way for drone inspections as the FAA prepares to launch its Part 108 rule for BVLOS missions, which promises to streamline BVLOS drone operations for the industry.
Read the story of how we secured the waiver—and how we plan to use it.
About MFE Inspection Solutions
MFE Inspection Solutions stands as a leading provider of NDT, RVI, Environmental, and UAV technology solutions. Their team of dedicated specialists collaborates closely with clients, guiding them from the selection of the right equipment through its implementation and ongoing assessment. With a commitment to delivering the latest in inspection technologies, MFE Inspection Solutions maintains a large inventory from top manufacturers, including Boston Dynamics, Flyability, DJI, Voliro, ThermoScientific, FLIR, and Skydio. This ensures that customers always have access to the most advanced and innovative technologies available. Operating across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East, MFE Inspection Solutions is well-positioned to meet diverse global needs.
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