Two Georgia Companies Approved For Agricultural Drone Usage

Two Georgia companies have received clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for agricultural imaging and data collection services.

Vision Services Group (VSG) of Norcross and Phoenix Aviation Unmanned of Cartersville were notified in late March that the FAA had granted their requests for exemptions under FAA rules governing UAS use. The exemptions are good for two years.

VSG's exemption request, submitted in August 2014 and granted on March 24, was for the purpose of collecting data for use by agronomists, crop consultants and forestry professionals. The company indicated it would operate only in unpopulated areas.

Phoenix Air's exemption request was submitted in September 2014 and granted on March 26. The company plans to operate UAS to conduct aerial services for a variety of industries and applications, including precision agriculture, wildlife and forestry monitoring and aerial surveying.