VAI/Mark Bennett Image Integrating Drones into Your Operation Use these aircraft to supplement your helicopter operations while improving safety and lowering costs. By Andrew Parker Unmanned aircraft systems (UASs), or drones, are making their way into a variety of vertical aviation applications that include teaming with helicopter fleets for public service and utility operations. Are you considering adding drones to your fleet? Follow the suggestions below to help smooth the process of launching, or expanding, a UAS program. 1 DO map out how you plan to use drones. “The first question is, do you want to build [your program] in-house, or do you want to contract it out?” says Craig Stenberg, program manager for remote sensing and unmanned aircraft at Southern California Edison. “If you’re going to contract it out, what’s the size of your operation? Does it make more sense to use helicopters instead? You have to look at the cost–benefit analysis across [the operation].” 2 DON’T overlook in-house resources when searching for UAS operators. Training an existing line worker can be much more cost and time efficient than seeking an external operator. “Take a lineman who already knows their trade very well and spend a fraction of the time training them to be a competent UAS pilot,” notes Stenberg. 3 DO consider safety and risk reduction when exploring UAS applications. Using drones for inspections traditionally done by helicopters, such as overhead electrical system patrols and infrared inspections, helps reduce risk to employees and the public, says Kellen Kirk, manager of UAS and fixed-wing operations at Pacific Gas and Electric. He recommends using drones in areas that can lower costs across an organization and increase safety for pilots, crews, and team members. 4 DON’T leave traffic coordination to the pilots and drone operators. As your operation grows, use a central dispatch for air traffic control services. “Otherwise, you’re going to have too many different people making decisions trying to send aircraft,” says Stenberg. 5 DO communicate with the public. Tell people what your drones are doing in their communities. Let them know that your aircraft are there to inspect the infrastructure, not to spy on residents or workers. Andrew Parker is VAI’s copy editor. Thanks to Kellen Kirk and Craig Stenberg for the tips above, which are based on their presentations at the Oct. 10, 2024, VAI webinar, “Integrating UAS Aircraft into a Helicopter Operation.” To learn more, watch the recording of the webinar at verticalavi.org/webinar.
