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FAA Approves First Commercial Use Of Drones

Posted at 10:46 AM, Jun 10, 2014
and last updated 2014-06-10 10:46:16-04
06-10-14 BP drone courtesy Houston Chronicle

(@jendlouhyhc)

WASHINGTON (CNN, June 10, 2014) — A drone that just started flying for energy giant BP in Alaska is the first commercial drone operation authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration, the agency announced Tuesday.

The FAA said Tuesday it approved BP’s plan for a drone to survey pipelines, roads and equipment at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the largest oilfield in the United States.

The drone’s manufacturer, AeroVironment, conducted its first flight for BP on Sunday, the FAA said.