Sensurion Magpie UAS
Blue-Chip Unmanned Aerial Solutions, Inc., a company that facilitates cost-effective integration of unmanned aerial systems into its clients’ businesses, has announced that it is the first company in the U.S. to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for Section 333 exemption across multiple industries. Blue-Chip UAS received the coveted authorization to provide service solutions across the Oil and Gas, Wildlife, Agriculture and Aerial Photography industries utilizing the FAA-certified Sensurion Magpie UAS.
“We are excited by the FAA’s decision,” said Clint Stevens, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Blue-Chip UAS. “It enables us to leverage our expertise in the UAS industry and integrate the technology to benefit multiple commercial markets.”
Blue-Chip UAS notched another industry first, as its Section 333 exemption authorizes UAS flight operations within 5NM of any airport or airfield inside Class E airspace with an approved COA, airport manager approval and issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).
“The fact we are approved to operate inside 5NM truly shows the FAA’s willingness to continue moving forward with the integration process,” Stevens noted. “This provides our company with a significant opportunity, as it dramatically increases our operational area.”
Blue-Chip UAS’s initial customer engagement is within the oil and gas exploration industry for Paragon Geophysical. Proof of concept test flights were successfully executed in November of 2014 at the Nellis AFB UAS test range in conjunction with Sensurion Aerospace, Paragon and the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems.
“With the approved exemption in hand, Blue-Chip UAS is now poised to move to market,” confirmed James Burns, Technology Director and Co-Founder. “This approval enables us to build a solid operational model and employ the Magpie, not only within oil and gas, but in several other industries as well. We intend to build on that model and integrate swappable sensor payloads to meet any requirement our customers may have.”
