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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) limited permission to use drones in parts of San Diego County. SDG&E is a Sempra Energy utility, and is the first utility in the nation to be granted FAA approval for the technology.
The FAA granted the company an experimental certificate, also known as a Special Airworthiness Certificate for a small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). That certificate specifically allows SDG&E to use drones for research, testing and training flights in sparsely populated airspace in Eastern San Diego County. Current FAA regulations restrict the use of drones to hobbyist flights, and a limited number of commercially approved flights in the arctic.
A Special Airworthiness Certificate is the only certification means available for civil (non-government) operators to use drones. Since July 2005, the FAA has issued 94 certificates, to 13 civil operators covering 20 unique types of drones.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) limited permission to use drones in parts of San Diego County. SDG&E is a Sempra Energy utility, and is the first utility in the nation to be granted FAA approval for the technology.
The FAA granted the company an experimental certificate, also known as a Special Airworthiness Certificate for a small Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). That certificate specifically allows SDG&E to use drones for research, testing and training flights in sparsely populated airspace in Eastern San Diego County. Current FAA regulations restrict the use of drones to hobbyist flights, and a limited number of commercially approved flights in the arctic.
A Special Airworthiness Certificate is the only certification means available for civil (non-government) operators to use drones. Since July 2005, the FAA has issued 94 certificates, to 13 civil operators covering 20 unique types of drones.
