FAA Grants Hylio Regulatory Exemption for Heavy-Lift Drone Swarm Operation with One Operator

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently granted Texas-based drone manufacturer Hylio a regulatory exemption, allowing it to operate its heavy-lift drones in a swarm with only one operator in control. This development means that one operator can now control multiple drones simultaneously, leading to an increase in productivity and a decrease in labor requirements for drone operators applying material to crops.

Hylio’s co-founder and CEO, Arthur Erickson, views this as a positive step towards regulations catching up with existing drone technology. Previously, if a drone weighed over 55 pounds, it required a pilot and a visual observer for operation. This meant that for three drones, six people were needed, which contradicted the very nature of autonomous technology. With the new exemption, one operator can now control three drones at once, resulting in significant boosts in productivity.

While the exemption currently applies only to Hylio and its drones, Erickson believes that the FAA will soon establish a general set of requirements that will include other manufacturers producing similar drones. This development is expected to revolutionize the drone industry by allowing operators to control multiple drones efficiently and effectively.