Beyond VLOS (legally)

[BlackCoffee]

looks like a power company has convinced the FAA to allow BVLOS drone inspections of their lines near Denver.

Xcel Energy Announces a New Milestone for Drone Technology

 

[SxSmith]

Ironically one of the Part 107 exam questions involves asking if a utility company can fly beyond line of sight. Guess they will have to change the test.

This is where I live so I hope their drone doesn't hit my drone.

 

[neggy]

You can fly BVLOS with a waiver , if you have the time to deal with the FAA BS, multiple rejections, stupid questions from some FAA nit wit, etc

 

[dirkclod]

I would think if you stayed away from their lines and you were in LOS you wouldn't have any issue SxSmith .

 

[skadee]

BLOS waivers happen all the time. They were especially necessary during the hurricane relief to support utility crews last year. Don’t expect it as a hobbyist, though.

 

[locoman]

My MP had an encounter with a power line, even with LOS, and my MP lost.

 

[RayOZ]

When you are trained, with proper license and have a co-pilot for redundancy, permits can be granted. In such scenario, we are talking about using drone for work applications, not fooling around. I am a client of a energy company that have some of their employees trained to fly drones. But if I am not mistaken, they need 2 operators, 2 RC, etc. Plans and permits needs to be lodged prior to getting airborne. They would most likely fly in a predicable path, not exceeding certain speed and height.
Some of these drones would be larger than the Mavic, and probably sending telemetry data like small manned aircrafts, so other pilots can be aware of these drones in the same airspace.