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Do you have your Part 107 certificate? If you're a drone pilot, the answer had better be yes. But what if you're not a drone pilot? Well, the BVLOS ARC has something to say about that. Their latest report recommends that all new Part 107 certificates include provisions for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operation. If you want to get your Part 107, you need to be prepared to fly your drone beyond your line of sight. Here's what you need to know.

 The BVLOS ARC is a committee of aviation experts formed in 2016 to study the usefulness of drone operations beyond visual line of sight. Their latest report recommends that the FAA include BVLOS provisions in all new Part 107 certificates. This would require all current and future drone pilots to be trained and certified to fly their drones beyond their line of sight.

The BVLOS ARC is recommending this change because they believe it will make drone operations safer and more efficient. Currently, drone pilots are only allowed to fly their drones within their line of sight. Meaning that you need to keep your drone in view at all times, which can be difficult, especially if the drone is flying at a distance.

If pilots were able to fly their drones beyond their line of sight, they would be able to use visual aids, such as First Person View (FPV) goggles, to keep track of the drone. This would make it much easier for pilots to see and avoid obstacles, and it would also allow them to fly the drone for longer periods of time.

The BVLOS ARC's recommendation is just that, a recommendation. It's up to the FAA to decide whether or not to include BVLOS provisions in the Part 107 certificate.

So what would this mean if the FAA made these recommended changes?

This new level of Part 107 certification would require pilots looking to fly beyond line of sight operations to attend online training and then take an online exam to earn a new certificate. This certificate would be an advanced form of Part 107 operations. With this new certificate, the need to have a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor) for beyond line of sight operations would disappear. Which is good news because it's not economically viable to obtain a manned certificate, let alone a CFI certificate.

It's important to remember that these are recommendations and are currently not being enforced by the FAA. If you have any questions about getting your Part 107 or if you would like more information on what a Part 107 license is, you can click here for more info or call and speak to a Lucid Bots rep today.

Sunbelt Rentals has entered into a strategic partnership with Lucid Bots. 

The agreement calls for Sunbelt to make Lucid Bots cleaning drones available to the company’s rental customers nationwide. The two organizations will collaborate on an approved solution program for their clients, and the drones will be backed by Sunbelt’s support and service to maintain the equipment for optimal use.

“Partnerships like the one with Lucid Bots are what has enabled us to bring innovative solutions to our customers,” said Adam Camhi, Sunbelt vice president of flooring solutions. “With the Lucid Bots cleaning drone, our customers will have safer operations, reduce their environmental impact, and increase overall operator efficiency, while still completing tough exterior cleaning jobs.”

About Sunbelt

Fort Mill, South Carolina-based Sunbelt Rentals supplies a wide variety of rentals for the facility services market. For more information, visit www.sunbeltrentals.com.

Is the Lucid Bots cleaning drone easy to fly? The short answer is yes! 

In fact, no prior drone experience is needed. Many of our customers had no prior drone flying experience and they are now flying successfully to complete larger jobs!

If you know how to use a video game controller, then you should be able to fly a Lucid Bots Cleaning Drone successfully. The RC controller has knobs that control flight directions such as forward and backward motion, side to side motion (left or right), height (up or down), rotation (to make the drone turn a different direction), and throttle (speed).

The drone is also equipped with avoid distance quick-select switch, which allows you to choose between multiple distance options while keeping the drone a safe distance from the building, and urban flight capabilities, which allow you to fly safely in urban environments. The drone also has a forward facing radar which can detect objects in front of it and reduce the risk of crashing, as well as fail-safe battery systems. If your battery dies mid-flight, it will automatically land in a safe location!

Sounds easy enough, right? With proper training, you should be able to fly a drone in no time. Lucid Bots partnered with DroneU to provide an easy-to-use, ongoing training through an online training portal. This online training educates you on how to operate the soft washing drone and window washing drone competently and confidently, such as:

• Battery charging
• Flight skills
• Transportation guidelines
• Safety protocols
• And more

Additionally, the ability to receive your Part 107 License is included in our training!

We also offer in-person flight demos at our Charlotte, NC facility where you can see first hand just how easy it can be. Contact us today to schedule yours!