VTOL Drone Flies Over 300 Miles for BVLOS Pipeline Inspection Demo

Event 38 Unmanned Systems successfully completed a BVLOS pipeline patrol demo with its E455 drone, showcasing long-range capabilities and advanced equipment integration for efficient utility inspections By Joe Macey / 04 Feb 2025

Inspection Drones

Discover cutting-edge solutions from 33 leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
VTOL Drone Flies Over 300 Miles for BVLOS Pipeline Inspection Demo
Follow UST

Event 38 Unmanned Systems, a prominent U.S.-based producer of mapping drones, has completed a BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) demonstration for pipeline patrol using the E455, the company’s largest fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) drone.

The E455 covered 320 miles in just under 7.6 hours of flight time. Phoenix Air Unmanned (PAU), a drone service provider specializing in aerial inspections and surveillance for utility sectors, conducted the demonstration.

This test aimed to validate PAU’s ability to patrol a 300-mile stretch of pipeline, owned by Shell Pipeline Corporation, in a single day using drone technology.

Will Wheeler, Phoenix Air Unmanned Director of Operations, said, “We woke up to a two-hour delay with fog, so we crossed the 300-mile mark at noon on the second day. But our goal was achieved within a day of flying time, so it was a success.”

In preparation for the demo, Event 38 trained a group of six PAU pilots over three days and successfully integrated the E455 into PAU’s operational command stations in less than a week. The demonstration was carried out the following week.

Wheeler credits much of the demo’s success to the user-friendly design of the E455, saying, “Ease of use and reliability is a big deal for us. We have the foundational knowledge of how to execute BVLOS flights at scale, however we had never flown the E455 before. We received training, the E455 was integrated, and then we were out there doing 300 miles. What will we be capable of once our whole crew has experience with this platform and it’s truly integrated into our workflow? It’s repeatable and scalable.”

For the trial, the E455 was equipped with an Iris Casia 3-camera system, essential for BVLOS operations, two backup radio links, and an ADS-B receiver, in addition to the standard live gimbaled camera. Three ground control vans facilitated smooth communications, ensuring efficient operations, with continuous live video streaming from the drone’s onboard cameras. The E455’s bonded radio system maintained a stable connection with PAU throughout the mission.

Despite the complex setup required for BVLOS missions, the E455 demonstrated an impressive 60-minute flight time on a single charge with all necessary equipment. In standard configurations, it can fly for over two hours on one charge and, under ideal conditions, can achieve speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

Mathew Wright, Event 38 VP of Engineering and Operations, added, “We are incredibly proud of what PAU accomplished with the E455. This demo was an excellent opportunity for us to learn more about how the E455 operates in real-world scenarios and make some other modifications that will translate to a better user experience going forward.”

Posted by Joe Macey Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Loitering Munitions to be Integrated with Trillium Drone Camera Gimbals

Trillium Engineering has secured a Phase One contract with Raytheon to supply its HD25-LV drone camera gimbal for loitering munitions, supporting operations with tactical EO/IR solutions

Feb 18, 2025
Enhancing USV Navigation with 3D Forward Looking Sonar Technology

FarSounder’s Argos series 3D Forward Looking Sonars enhance USV navigation by providing real-time underwater awareness, overcoming charting limitations, and improving safety across diverse maritime applications

Feb 18, 2025
Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Powered VTOL UAV Introduced

BlueBird Aero Systems introduces the WanderB-VTOL Mini-UAS, built for rapid deployment in any environment and powered by new PEW Fuel-Cell Technology

Feb 18, 2025
Product Spotlight: XPedite7770 High-Performance Single Board Computer

The XPedite7770 from Extreme Engineering Solutions delivers secure, high-performance computing for unmanned systems, featuring Intel® Xeon® D-1700 processors, advanced networking, and SOSA-aligned architecture

Feb 18, 2025
European Drone Battery Maker Opens U.S. Operations

Tulip Tech, a European drone battery manufacturer, is expanding into the U.S. to meet rising demand, offering advanced, high-performance power solutions for drones

Feb 18, 2025
ArduSimple NTRIP RTK Setup for High-Precision Autopilot Navigation

In this tutorial, learn how to use ArduSimple's simpleRTK receivers with Mission Planner and QGroundControl to send NTRIP RTK corrections to your autopilot for improved accuracy

Feb 18, 2025

Featured Content

Gremsy & Nokia to Showcase UAV Integration at XPONENTIAL Europe

At XPONENTIAL Europe 2025, Gremsy’s gimbal and payload technology will be paired with Nokia’s connectivity solutions, creating smarter, more efficient UAV systems

Feb 13, 2025
Military Vehicles to Feature Small Tethered UAS from Elistair

Elistair has secured a €3 million contract to equip military vehicles with tethered UAS, enhancing real-time intelligence and operational awareness

Feb 13, 2025
Ellipse Series Enhanced with Latest Firmware Upgrade

The new firmware update from SBG Systems integrates the latest World Magnetic Model (WMM) to improve navigation precision, even for first-generation Ellipse sensors

Feb 11, 2025