Harris Corp., which operates a network that helps the agency monitor manned aircraft, is developing systems that would extend the coverage to below 500 feet for drones, including through use of the cellular telephone network.
“The challenges of moving beyond visual line of sight shouldn’t be underestimated,” said Carl D’Alessandro, president of critical networks at Harris, which is assisting PrecisionHawk.
Companies including Google Inc. and Amazon, which has received permission to test flights beyond line of sight in the U.K., have pushed the FAA to move more quickly. Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd. last week said it teamed up with drone operator Flirtey to deliver a pizza in New Zealand and plans to test the service there later this year.
“We work with regulators and policy makers in many countries and will continue to do so,” Kristen Kish, a spokeswoman for Amazon, said by e-mail. “We look forward to using drones to safely deliver parcels in 30 minutes to customers around the world.”
Crop Dusters
The risks of flying autonomous planes long distance are substantial. The drones must be able to detect other aircraft and objects, such as crop dusters or hot-air balloons, and then take action to avoid them. Operators also have to determine how drones can land safely if they lose communications with people on the ground.
BNSF isn’t ready to reveal how it plans to overcome these challenges, said Graetz, an airplane pilot. The company and its partners are working on the final proposal to the FAA for full operation beyond line of sight, he says. Today, some of the railroad’s methods are low tech, such as e-mails, phone calls and visits to small airports along the rail route to warn people of drone flights.
“There’s the process of good old shoe leather to get to know the airport managers and spreading the news about what we’re doing,” he said.