Record-Breaking Solo Flight Sets New Milestone In Unmanned Pipelines Patrol

Phoenix Air Unmanned Pioneers 320-Mile Pipeline Patrol in Record-Breaking Solo Flight

A major milestone in the world of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) has been achieved by Phoenix Air Unmanned, as its single aircraft successfully completed a 320-mile pipeline patrol in just 7.6 hours. Conducted for Shell Pipeline Company under the company’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) regulatory approval, this achievement surpasses the project’s goal and highlights the significant progress being made in critical infrastructure inspection.

The FAA Waiver that Enables Scalable Operations

The patrols were conducted under a certificate of waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which allows for BVLOS flights without visual observers. This authorization is a game-changer for infrastructure inspections, enabling the inspection of pipelines, utilities, railroads, and canals on a larger scale.

Since 2019, Phoenix Air Unmanned has inspected over 16,000 miles of linear infrastructure under multiple authorizations. The company’s expertise in BVLOS operations has been instrumental in advancing the field. In Fall 2024, PAU received a new FAA waiver supporting scalable and repeatable BVLOS operations, which solidifies the business case for routine UAS inspections.

The significance of this achievement cannot be overstated. According to Will Wheeler, Director of Operations for Phoenix Air Unmanned, “Many FAA authorizations are site-specific or limited in scope due to restrictive criteria. We built upon years of BVLOS operations and proposed a viable alternative to traditional pipeline patrol methods. This authorization solidifies the business case for routine UAS inspections required for regulatory compliance, as we achieved a substantial increase in assets patrolled beyond visual line of sight with UAS.”

This milestone supports ongoing FAA validation of UAS technology, emphasizing the safety and public benefits of advanced drone operations. The use of BVLOS flights has the potential to revolutionize the way infrastructure is inspected, making it faster, more efficient, and cost-effective.

Technology and Mission Planning

For the patrol, Phoenix Air Unmanned used its Event 38 E455 UAS, a fixed-wing drone equipped with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. The aircraft weighed under 55 pounds and carried a high-resolution camera providing live video feeds. In 16 BVLOS flights, PAU logged 7.72 hours and covered 332.4 miles, including right-of-way transit and check flights.

Careful mission planning ensured the patrols stayed within designated rights of way across southern Louisiana. Real-time video data collected during the flights was provided to inspectors and archived for further analysis.

The Success Story Behind the Patrol

Phoenix Air Unmanned credits its success to extensive safety risk analysis, rigorous FAA approvals, and close coordination with Shell Pipeline Company and aviation teams. The patrol demonstrates the potential of UAS for improving efficiency and scalability in infrastructure inspections.

About Phoenix Air Unmanned

Founded in 2014, Phoenix Air Unmanned specializes in utility inspection services and has conducted over 16,000 miles of unmanned linear infrastructure inspections. The company leverages BVLOS operational experience, FAA authorizations, and project management expertise to deliver innovative solutions.