MFE Inspection Solutions has been granted a wide-ranging Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing the company to operate Skydio X10 drones and Dock for X10 systems remotely across the United States. The approval significantly expands MFE’s ability to deliver drone-powered inspections from afar, streamlining data collection for clients in sectors like energy, utilities, and infrastructure.
The waiver was secured in collaboration with Skydio’s Regulatory Services team, which played a pivotal role in navigating the complex application process and tailoring the approval to meet MFE’s operational requirements.
The waiver enables MFE to remotely pilot drone missions from multiple states away, offering clients real-time, on-site demonstrations of remote inspection capabilities using autonomous drone technology.
“We’re excited to offer our clients immersive, real-world demonstrations of remote drone ops that will showcase the power of the Skydio X10 when paired with its Dock to make a full drone-in-the-box solution,” said Cody Menchaca, sUAS Product Line Manager at MFE Inspection Solutions.
The approach enables MFE to ship a Skydio X10 and Dock directly to a client, guide them through basic setup, and initiate a live inspection from MFE’s Houston-based control center, collecting both visual and thermal data as needed. The company sees this as a practical showcase of the operational power of autonomous drone systems in real-world environments.
“Skydio is dedicated to helping partners like MFE conduct advanced drone operations,” said Daniel Jenkins, Regulatory Program Manager at Skydio. “This waiver will allow MFE to demonstrate the unique capabilities of Skydio’s autonomous drone technology, helping industries better understand the potential for remote operations…”
The FAA waiver also positions MFE ahead of the curve as the aviation authority moves toward implementing Part 108, a new regulatory framework aimed at standardizing and simplifying BVLOS operations for commercial drones.
This milestone underscores MFE’s continued investment in next-generation inspection technologies, expanding its capabilities in a market increasingly reliant on automation, remote sensing, and real-time data.
Reference: https://mfe-is.com/skydio-mfe-bvlos-waiver-pr/
