Electrical Utility Line Inspection using Unmanned Aircraft

Ron Ogan IEEE Life Senior Member and Captain Civil Air Patrol, a USAF auxiliary

The Federal Aviation Administration recently released 14CFR Part 107 rules for operation of
small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in the US airspace. These rules apply to both
commercial and non-commercial operation of sUAS but exclude hobby or recreational operation
matching guidelines set by the Academy of Model Aeronautics (http://www.modelaircraft.org,0.
Dennis Lott HINDS Community College Aviation UAS Director has lead the development,
training and operation of sUAS for more than 5 years.
(http ://news.hindscc.edu/index. php/tag/ dennis-lott/ )
Electrical Utility Line Inspection using expensive manned helicopter operations is rapidly, being
replaced by cost effective, safe sUAS inspections. These SUAS may be flown autonomously or
by remote piloting. Accuracy and programming techniques will be discussed as supports
requirements for inflight inspections and data recording. Miniature autopilots sense data from
compass and GPS signals to control flights. The expanding list of companies performing these
inspections includes Aibotix, Edison Electric Institute, Hill Country Aerial Vehicles and
Dominion Energy, and more. Careers in this field offer autonomous programming, sUAS
maintenance, aerial photography, navigation, and flight systems

Location:
Alcorn, Mississippi
39096