Calling All Drone Operators FAA issues Clearance for Drone Assessments for Houston Response and Recovery

The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) had issued 43 unmanned aircraft system authorizations, by Thursday morning (08/31/2017), for clearance to fly supporting the response and recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

The authorizations are geared towards actions by authorities who are assessing the catastrophic damage of infrastructure such as homes and businesses and any other critical structures. It is the hope that these clearances will help in the expedition of the recovery activities and help target and prioritize their recovery efforts.

Currently the FAA issued eight approvals to a railroad company to assess the damage to a large railway that is located in the center of Houston. Oil and energy facilities to look for damage to fuel tanks, power lines, and other infrastructure of the local power grid.

Drones are being used everywhere to find damage to underpasses, roads, bridges, treatment plants, and any municipal property that may need repairs. Insurance adjusters are using drones to speed up the damage assessments so recovery will come faster to those affected. State environmental quality inspectors are flying drones to assess the flooding and drainage areas so that improvements can be made for future events should they happen.

This is a statement directly from the FAA:

Operating Drones in the Response and Recovery Area:
If you need to operate and unmanned aircraft system or drone in direct support of the
Hurricane Harvey response and recovery, you must contact the FAA's System Operation Security Center (SOSC)
to operate in any areas covered by a Temporary Flight Restriction.

Qualifying applicants of public UAS operations should contact the SOSC at 202-267-8276 for assistance. A backup request should be sent to the SOSC via email at: [email protected].

Qualifying applicants of civil UAS operations must:
Secure support from a governmental entity participating in the response relief, or recovery effort, to which the proposed UAS operations will contribute.

Contact the SOSC at 202-267-8276 for assistance.

Send a backup request to the SOSC via email at [email protected].
Requests should be initiated with the SOSC as far in advance as practicable.

So if you are a drone operator you can assist in the recovery efforts.
Just contact the FAA.

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Thank you very much!
KC