Aug. 29, 2016, marked a historical day for the drone industry as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enacted the first operational rules for routine non-hobbyist use of drones. Named Part 107, the regulations allow anyone who passes the remote pilot certificate exam to legally fly drones for commercial purposes. By implementing Part 107, the FAA encouraged the notion that drones represent true value to a number of commercial industries.
Electric utility companies like St. Louis-based Ameren Corp., wasted no time taking advantage of new FAA rules. The reasons for that are two-fold. First, the value Ameren sees in applying new technology within day-to-day workflow aligns with the company’s core principles of delivering services with safety, speed and efficiency. Second, to remain competitive in a market that PwC’s 2016 Utilities Industry Trends report says will quadruple by 2020 and reach $6 billion worldwide, innovation is a necessity …
Electric Light & Power | Jan. 17, 2016
