Botlink Receives FAA Waiver for Operations Over People to Monitor Flood Conditions

Fargo, ND (April 17th, 2019) - Botlink, an unmanned aircraft operations platform, based in Fargo, ND, received a two-month waiver to fly sustained operations over people with an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in collaboration with the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) and Northern Plains UAS (NPUAS) Test Site. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued the waiver under the FAA’s UAS Integration Pilot Program in an effort to assist local officials in Eastern North Dakota to monitor overland and urban flooding events utilizing operations over people with a UAS (drone).

The UAS Integration Pilot Program was recently launched by the United States Department of Transportation and the FAA to safely advance the integration of UAS into the national airspace. Under the FAA’s program, regulations and operational concepts, including night operations, flights over people and beyond the pilot's line of sight, package delivery, and detect-and-avoid technologies will be evaluated. “Botlink, as a ND company, along with law enforcement, NDDOT, the NPUAS Test Site, and media, has an opportunity to play a leadership role in assisting and defining nationwide safety and security in the UAS industry” said Terri Zimmerman, CEO of Botlink. 

Botlink, in collaboration with NDDOT and NPUASTS, was able to gain a two-month FAA waiver to operate drones over people. This is the first time the FAA has granted a waiver to fly UAVs along the Red River from Canada to Wahpeton, ND, the James River in Jamestown, ND, and over the Missouri River in Bismarck, ND.

Botlink is one of a select number of companies nationwide working with Department of Transportation (USDOT) and FAA to help create new rules that allow more complex low-altitude operations. The UAS Integration Pilot Program is an opportunity for state, local, and tribal governments to partner with private sector entities to accelerate safe integration with unmanned aircraft systems.

Zimmerman offered, “In the future, as regulations and technology continues to advance drones will increasingly become a reliable tool for many applications that will have a positive impact and influence on lives and businesses”.

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About Botlink
Botlink was founded in Fargo, N.D. by military pilots and engineers with the intent to safely share the benefits of drones. Botlink is a cloud-based operations platform that links drones to industry in real time. The platform allows users to capture, process and deliver aerial imagery. Botlink also provides automated drone control and safety features allowing operators to remain safe and compliant with complex flight regulations. For more information visit: https://botlink.com/

Media Contact:
Matt Sather - Director of Sales
matt.sather@botlink.com